ISABEL NERI AT 18
- Jaime Picornell
- Feb 17, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 17, 2019
The invitation said 6 PM, and there I was at the Glass House of the Montebello Villa Hotel, all sparkling with fairy lights, golden Tiffany chairs, and tables draped with fine napery.
"Am I the first to arrive?" I asked. "No," the lady at the door said, glancing toward Isabel Neri tinkling away on a grand piano a score-perfect piece by Chopin. "Valse Brilliante?"
I sat on the indicated seat and listened to more, including "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" by Rimsky-Korsakov.
It was Isabel's 18th birthday and she looked lovely beyond words. In no time at all guests started streaming, mostly family and very dear friends, 18 of them giving testimonials about what a fine lady she is.
Proud papa Jerome "Jed Boy" Neri was beaming as he expressed his happiness over what an accomplished lady his daughter turned out to be.
Equally glowing were paternal grandparents Julius and Nelia Neri. Nelia looked very chic in a gown from Lord & Taylor which spelled New York all over it.
Nelia spoke about Isabel to whom she has been a veritable mother. Nelia recalled, "It used to be that on nights Isabel would wait for me to get home and tuck her in bed. Now I am the one who is awake, waiting for her to get home."
A buffet was served at the lawn adjacent to the Glass House; every dish was superlative. There was Cebu lechon too, of course.
Highlight of the evening's program was Isabel's rendition of the above-mentioned classical piano pieces which were greatly applauded. They had been well rehearsed.
Whenever I go to Zaragoza (Spain), I go to its main shopping street, Calle Alfonso I, which goes straight to the Basilica de la Virgen del Pilar.
I always visit the store Bellostas, which has been there for a hundred years. They sell all manner of souvenirs, and fashion accessories. Last October, I went to Zaragoza with my son Jimmy and one of the first things we did was go to Bellostas.
It was fiesta time and they were briskly selling shawls that go with the regional costumes. We bought some along with some head bands for my nieces, Choco and Darwin Laplana's two girls - Alya and Andrea.
They were in white metal with a double row of faceted crystal stones, which shone like brilliants. I added a third one just in case I needed one for someone I may have forgotten.
I placed it in a bag together with some other extra souvenirs, and stored it somewhere in my cluttered room. On January 2019 came the invitation to Isabel Neri's 18th birthday.
What to give her? I am lazy to go shopping, so I thought about the one liter bottle of Spanish cologne Gotas de Oro of which I have a case on hand. The thought persisted in my mind as January 25 approached.
A few days before that I asked my secretary Nora Cabaluna have one of the bottles wrapped. That night I dreamt of my late wife Cecilia, telling me, "Regala la diadema... regala la diadema," which meant "Give the diadem... give the diadem..."
But where was it? Since Cecilia died on July 1, 2015, I had never had a dream of her instructing something specific. I found the sparkling head band and on January 25 put it in a recycled envelope addressed "to Nelia Neri, for Isabel Neri, from Jaime Picornell."
Nelia quickly sent it to Isabel's stylist, who found a place for it at the back of her head, where the diadem shone all night.
As we write on this on the morning of February 16 comes an invitation from the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum to witness the ceremonial donation and turn over of the GT/Metrobank Foundation.
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be the guest of honor on February 18 at 10 AM at the Gotiaoco Building in MC Briones and P. Burgos streets.
My daughter-in-law Charmaine posted a photo us the night we went to El Comedor of Casino Español de Cebu for the Valentine Day plated dinner.
I had planned on not going anywhere on Valentines Day as the traffic can be gargantuan. But May Ocaba, the club's general manager, can be persuasive, so there we went - myself, Louie and Charmaine.
We feasted on what Food/Beverage Consultant Bernardo Losada had prepared. Spanish cold cuts and cheeses came before the delicious soup - Shrimp Bisque.
As main course, Charmaine and Louie chose the juicy tenderloin steak while I opted for Bacalao al Pil-Pil. Perfect with chilled white wine.
Two days before, over lunch at El Comedor of the Casino, the officers of Amigos de España en Cebu met to discuss its forthcoming meeting.
That will be on February 28 at noon, at the Casino's Salon Barcelona, with a film showing on the agenda. Present were president Myra Gonzalez, vice president Susan Sala, treasurer Julina Muertegui and assistant secretary Chinggay Utzurrum. Joining them was Amparito Lhuillier, president emeritus.
Myra Gonzalez and her son Bernardo Losada are leaving on March 9 for an extended stay in Spain. Home base is Sevilla where they will experience "Semana Santa." A few weeks later is Sevilla's famous "Feria de Abril."
Reminder for Saturday, February 23 at 8 PM at the ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino: the Arts Council presents Libera. This is a concert of the London-based boys' choir famous for its angelic voices and dramatic lighting. They have a following of enthusiasts all over the world.
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