LADIES FIRST Woman Power is, more than ever, alive, strong, and palpable.
Michelle Obama WEARING a magenta silk sheath dress by Jason Wu, who also designed her inaugural gown, United States First Lady Michelle Obama graced the cover of Vogue’s March issue. Interviewed by Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley, Michelle discussed her role as a mom to 10-year-old Malia, and 7-year-old Sasha. Annie Leibovitz took the photos.
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Model turned singer-songwriter Carla Bruni surprised the celebrity world when she said “I do” with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Italian-born Carla Bruni met the divorced Sarkozy in November 2007 at a dinner party. After a brief romance, they married at the Elysee Palace in Paris on February 2, 2008. With the marriage, Bruni obtained French nationality.
Korina Sanchez “The Love of my Life-Miss Korina Sanchez!” With this introduction during a recent dinner party for the media, Senator Mar Roxas ended all doubts that he and the broadcast journalist are an item. Roxas is the president of the Liberal Party and is expected to be its standard bearer on the 2010 elections. The senator did not deny the possibility of tying the knot with Korina before the start of the election campaign-which will make her potential First Lady.
CYNTHIA VILLAR Senator Manny Villar is determined to become President, so that makes Congresswoman Cynthia Villar candidate for First Lady. But the picture above is the other image of Cynthia as entrepreneur, one of 55 women featured in the book Go Negosyo, authored by business expert Joey Concepcion, with Joanne Rae Ramirez as editor. In the book, Cynthia says her success in business began with “baby steps.”
Lani Mercado Another lady who might be first is actress Lani Mercado. Hubby Senator Bong Revilla Jr. is rumored to be eyeing the presidency, as Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, the administration party, is said to be considering him as standard bearer. The latest buzz, however, is the senator is not running. But he can always change his mind and Lani may have to start thinking of her FL wardrobe.
DARING ENTREPRENEURS Sharing honors with Cynthia Villar in Go Negosyo is Advertising icon Yolanda Ong (right), who, the book narrates, was one of the “crazy” entrepreneurs who dared put up an advertising agency despite the economic instability in the country following the EDSA 1 Revolution. Joey Concepcion (above, extreme right), and Ramon Lopez (extreme left), executive director of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, publisher of Go Negosyo, introduced the book in a recent Bulong Pulungan forum at the Sofitel. With them are entrepreneurs also featured in the book, from left: Merle Alferez, whose first business was selling ginataan and kangkong when she was 12 years old, is now owner of MSA Academic Advancement Institute; Mylene Abiva, president of First in Educational Learning Trends Always (FELTA) Multimedia Inc., who has succeeded in the technical niche traditionally dominated by men; and Myrna Yao, founder and chief operating officer of Richwell Trading Corp., distributor of Barbie dolls and other children’s products, who first incurred losses when she worked for her father’s copra business.
FEISTY GOV IN 2008, Galing Pook named the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA) as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs. AVLDA is a multi-sectoral alliance of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato to reverse damage in the 252,034-hectare Alley Valley watershed. Flashfloods and massive soil erosion had affected 65 barangays along the Allah and Banga Rivers as well as 30,000 hectares of irrigated rice land. Members of the Alliance-the two provincial governments, eight municipalities, non-government agencies, national government agencies, international development agencies, and communities-have solved problems in the Allah Valley by implementing an environmental management plan. At the forefront of the Alliance is feisty South Cotabato Governor Daisy Fuentes. In a recent Bulong Pulungan forum, Fuentes said she has pursued her development programs for South Cotabato amid obstacles mainly caused by political rivalries in the area.
GETTING REAL ACTRESS Claudine Barretto is also a successful wife to Raymart Santiago and mom to Santino and Sabina. Her new secret? The new Knorr Real Sarap seasoning mix, a fine powder mix with visible flecks of flavorful spices and tangy herbs. “My secret recipe is really very simple-I choose only quality ingredients and, of course, Knorr Real Sarap,” Claudine tells Christine Bersola-Babao, who hosted the recent press conference launching Claudine as Knorr Real Sarap endorser.
