Manila socials

Despite the "air des coups" I spent a memorable week in Imperial Manille with Mama, socializing with relatives and friends, unmindful of the turmoil that was supposed to be happening in the area. It was nice to see the original Lacson belles together again. Tita Nelly Gonzales just got in from her winter vacation in New York and Tita Inday Gabaldon was preparing for a shopping trip to Vietnam. No trip to Manila would be complete without a luncheon with Tita Meding Benedicto, our matriarch of the Conlu clan. Tita Meding always has the latest news on the Ilonggo group in Imperial Manille. Of course, talk is rampant on these two Ilonggo brothers who are having torrid love affairs, one with an Ilongga super rich heiress, and the other with a sexy businesswoman. All these were held in the Urdaneta residence of La Infanta Cristina, who served delicious Ilonggo fare.

Grande Dame-Doña Letty del Rosario hosted an intimate dinner with her Ilongga friends and Gamboa cousins at her Forbes Park residence. Grandson Alvaro prepared the tasty hors d'oeuvres for cocktails and the dinner menu that consisted of classic osso buco, steamed lapu-lapu and pesto pasta with parsley rice. The Gamboa gals-Sonia Santos and Celia Jison - made an early exit for some games in the casino. Legendary beauty Conchita Uriarte sounded her trademark laughter when I told National Palangga Maurice Arcache that she is the familia Garcia's pambato to the Arcache beauties.

Lovely couple Al and Carla Tengco gave another dinner at their stylish residence for our Boracay groupie that consisted of Choy and Marissa Cojuangco, Iñigo and Maricris Zobel, Johnny Velasquez and Maripi Muscat, Mike Sandoval, Freddy Olbes and of course, Maurice A. Over lobster and fine wine, we kept on teasing Iñigo Z that he upstaged everyone when he appeared on national television during the Marine stand-off. Of course, Mr. Green-eyes demurely answered that he only followed the request from Malacañang to help calm down Col. Querubin, who happens to be a close friend of his. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Zobel to be our next president?

MY PRAYER

O God, whose only begotten Son purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant that we may imitate the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.*