Yearenders
For many a time I’ve danced with abandon to lively music, but it was only yesterday when my hubby and I realized that our favorite dancing songs, “Wake Me Up Before You Go”, and “Last Christmas”, were authored by George Michael, who passed away recently, leaving millions of fans around the world in despair.
Our spirited research revealed that George, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotu, was an English singer songwriter. He became popular in the 1990s as part of the duo Wham! He sold more than 100 million records, some of his greatest hits including Faith, Careless Whisper, and Jesus to a Child.
Our research showed these songs, among others, made the world fall in love with the “troubled superstar.” He was supposed to have trouble relating to fame and fortune. It was Frank Sinatra who led him in the right direction, telling him to “hug, embrace, nurture, and share (your) talent . . . lest it be taken away from you as fast as it was loaned to you.”
George died last December 26 at 53 years old.
Let me print the lyrics of his song “True Faith.” I wish you could listen to the song to appreciate its beauty and message.
“I feel so extraordinary
Something’s got a hold on me
I get this feeling I’m in motion
I don’t care ‘cause I’m not there
I don’t care if I’m here tomorrow
Again and again and again I’ve taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much
I used to think that the day would never come
I’d see the light in the shade of the morning sun
Don’t you know, the sun’s really got a hold on me
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
When I was a very small boy
Very small boys wouldn’t talk to me
Now that we’ve grown up together
Can you believe they’re afraid of what they see
That’s the price that we all pay
When valued destiny comes to nothing
I can’t tell you where we’re going
I guess there’s just no way of knowing
Oh, I now, I know, I know, I know it’s just so bitter
Feels so wrong, feels so wrong”
* * *
“75 is not just a ‘passing grade’, it is a remarkable milestone.”
The quotation is by Ancheta “Chet” K. Tan Sr. who was honored with a big party on the occasion of his 75th birthday the other night at a five-star hotel. A milestone indeed has been made during his 75 years of existence, beginning with his birth in Sulu, to his getting academic awards at Silliman University (1962, magna cum laude), and at the University of the Philippines College of Law as among the top 15 of Class 1966 and where he was editor of the Philippine Collegian, and chancellor of the Order of the Purple Feather, the UP law honors society. There followed some private law practice, and his becoming partner of the prestigious Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose law firm, his field of practice special projects and labor.
His expertise led to involvement in professional associations, as vice president and general counsel of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; president, ASEAN Confederation of Employers; president emeritus, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and titular member of the governing body, International Labor Organization Geneva.
Quite admirable is Chet’s attributing his triumphs to the inspiration and support of his wife, Cora de Jesus, a former Ms. Quezon City; the night of the party, he declared his love and caring for her till eternity. The written word being mightier than spoken declarations, Chet wrote a book of poetry solely devoted to his lady love. Shades of Robert Browning.
But Cora, a superior cook, did not confine herself to household duties. She was president of the UP College of Masscom Alumni Association and the Inner Wheel Club of Makati North; District chair Inner Wheel Club; president of Zonta Club of Makati & Environs and Area Director, Zonta International. Chet was not relegated to the backburner, however, as Cora, in a manner of speaking, dropped everything when Chet came home.
Chet’s birthday is actually May 8, but for the whole AKT clan to be present, the celebration was held the other night, December 27. Surely present were no less brilliant than their father Yasmin Schleider, Marinisa Ringel, and Chet Tan Jr. Chet calls the three the family ‘’ jewels.’’
Yasmin is a lawyer in Singapore. She has a master of law from Harvard. Her husband, Andrew Schleider, is a partner in the New York law firm Shearman & Sterling. Their children Dominique and David are both studying at the American School in Singapore.
Marinisa is a graduate of Sorbonne and London School of Economics. Her husband, Matthias Ringel, is a partner of McKinsey & Company in Brussels, and their three young daughters are Charlotte, Chloe and Clara.
Son Chet Jr. finished law at the UP, where he was a member of the Upsilon fraternity (Batch ’94) like his father (Batch’63). He has a master of law from George Washington University. A chip off the old block, he is a partner at the Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose law firm, where Chet admits his son is better than the father. Chet Jr.’s wife Abigail Sese (LLM Columbia), is head of legal at Citadel Group of Companies. They have a young son, Chet Albert III.
Let me give you a sample of Chet’s poetry -- “Come walk With Me,” from his book, An Evening Walk and Other Poems.
“Come walk with me
To fields unknown
Where lie the roots of prophecy
Of what was green
And voiceless like the language
Of quiet lilies in the sun
“Come hold my hands
They cup the scent
Of bids and vagabond desires
Like courtiers bowed and happy
In the mercy of your kingdom”
* * *
A tinge of sadness crept into our Christmas gathering with the passing away of a dearly beloved cousin, Virginia S. Orais, of Imus, Cavite, and Manila. Virgie was a well-respected nursing educator.
Virgie finished BS nursing at the UP, Diliman, in 1952, and master of science in nursing at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, in the US, with maternal and child health nursing as her clinical major.
Her engagement with the Department of Health covered being nurse instructor in all levels, ending in 1994 as Director IV of the Health Manpower Development and Training Service.
After retiring from government service, she served as consultant at various health and national family planning programs, and acted as dean of the College of Nursing of the Fernandez College of Arts and Technology in Baliwag, Bulacan.
Virgie is survived by three sisters, Ning, Alice and Patty.
- Latest
- Trending
