Loren’s celebration of life and nature

By Winchelle C. Nacague

Surrounded by good friends and well-wishers, Senator Loren Legarda recently celebrated her 49th birthday at Makati Shangri-La’s Red restaurant.

With the atmosphere strongly tinged with politics, it was not surprising that the former vice presidential candidate took the opportunity to hint at her future plans, though stopping short of declaring her candidacy outright.

Though declaring herself “ready” to be President, Legarda said the global economic crisis, the grave corruption problem in the Philippines and the threat of climate change “must take precedence in the minds of all Filipinos.”

“While our readiness to lead cannot be contested, while the call of higher office is without question an alluring quest, the current context dictates that we should look beyond ourselves and our narrow ambitions so we can truly dedicate our energies into building from what we have,” the senator stated.

“I call on our public leaders to set aside their narrow ambitions, the disease of ‘presidentialitis,’ the quest for self-glory and self-gratification so that, with God’s help, we can work to overcome the current crisis,” says Legarda. “There is a time to be ambitious. This is the time to truly serve the people.”

Legarda’s birthday wish is “for all Filipinos to be able to work collectively to save jobs, stabilize the financial system, keep factories open, and make farms more productive.”

The celebration coincided with the launch of Loren: A Celebration of Life and Nature.

The coffee table book is a gift, conceptualized by publisher and author Bing Carrion-Buck and put together in six weeks. It is a compilation of the senator’s beliefs, principles, thoughts, and advocacies on women, children, the environment, governance and nature which has evolved throughout her 30 years as a broadcast journalist, a two-term senator, daughter, mother, friend and sister.

The 17th book of Carrion-Buck and her second on Legarda, the coffee table book is, in essence, Loren’s personal conversation with the Filipino people, sharing her life’s works through the quotations contained within the 200 pages in full color.

As the readers peruse the book, they can feel Loren’s passion as a public servant and a humanitarian to serve the Filipino people and the global community, which is both remarkable and inspiring.

The book can be bought through Seagull Philippines Inc. by calling telephone numbers (02)824-7505 or (02)776-0607. A portion of book sales has been allocated for the educational fund for marginalized children, which is one of the advocacies of both the author.

A copy of the book will also be donated to all public schools nationwide. All the 17 books of Bing can be found in the US Library of Congress, the San Francisco, California USA Main Library, as well as colleges and universities in the Philippines.

Among those who attended the celebration were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Jamby Madrigal, Senator Migz Zubiri, Rep. Mary Ann Susano, Rep. Ed Zialcita, former Rep. Imee Marcos, Rep. Bong Bong Marcos, Rep. Martin Romualdez, Rep. Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna, Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, presidential legal counsel and Mrs. Jesus Dureza, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Manila Bulletin president Atty. Mike Varela, Unilever chairman Fernando Fernandez and wife Silvia, Unilever general manager Chito Macapagal, Filipino Chinese Federation’s Donald Dee and Michael Tan, Zestair chairman Fred Yao, businesswoman Doris Magsaysay-Ho, Atty. Mike Toledo, San Francisco California commissioner Puchi Carrion-Di Ricco, socio-civic leader Pat Jacinto, SM Investments’ vice chairman Tessie Coson-Sy, URC’s Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Philip and Ching Cruz, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonwa, Consuls Louie and Mellie Ablaza, media personality Mother Lily Monteverde, Inquirer’s Isagani Yambot, People Asia’s Babe Romualdez, Philippine Star’s Ching Alano, columnist Maurice Arcache, professors, scientists and environmentalists from UP Los Baños who won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore and young professionals like Globe Wimax Product Group head Miko de Vera and Globe Wimax senior product manager Aris Cebrero, RFM’s Harold de Leon, Vanessa Cebrero of Skycable, Island Gas CEO Cesar Monastreal and Philippine Airlines’ Aryssa Cebrero.