Last week, I attended Christmas parties every night. There were overlapping schedules rin. Because of heavy traffic, It was tiring to hop from one party to another. I skipped Philexport’s Christmas party held at the Midas Hotel in Roxas Blvd. I just stayed at the Philcoman awarding of Management of the Year.

The party was held at the Hotel Intercontinental in Ayala. I didn’t know that this hotel is scheduled to be torn down end of this month. Sad.

As soon as I walked in the lobby, I saw Professor Noli Santos. He’s leaving to go to another party at the Tower Club.

Dr. Noli, me, and Dr. Phed
My dress is big on me. It’s medium but loose on the upper body. Eksakto lang sa tyan.
Noli Santos, Annie Tan-Yee, Phed Salvador

If you know Dr. Noli Santos well, you would discover that he’s actually a very nice fellow. Kind, supportive and compassionate.

One time nainis ako sa kanya and he knew it. Kasi ba naman I saw my picture in the newspaper, I attended a Christmas party hosted by him. He had some photos published in the Manila Bulletin. The caption was “billionaire….” I was seated kasi beside Rey Carpio, the owner of Grand Monaco. Rey is a rising star, following in the footsteps of his idol Manny Villar. Maybe the billionaire caption was for Rey Carpio, unfortunately, they included me.

My God. I was fuming mad. Inaway ko si Dr. Noli sa text lang naman. I will always be respectful of him because I know mabait sya and no bad intention. He’s been really really nice to me.
Pero sino kaya yung billionaire? I was shocked. I am not a billionaire. I don’t remember praying for massive wealth. If I become one, I would probably donate most of my money.

I was so embarrassed when I saw the caption. Baka sabihin nung mga nakabasa na napaka hambog. Baka habulin ako ng mga mangungutang at magtitinda ng condominium.

Hindi na ako pwedeng ampunin ng mga tunay na bilyonaryo tulad ni Ricky Razon, Andrew Tan, Ramon Ang and Henry Sy, kasi over-aged na ako.

Kasi he is fond of exaggerating people’s stature. Eh ayaw ko non, gusto ko simple introduction lang. Especially if it’s not true naman. He only has good intentions but I just didn’t like to be introduced with superfluousness. Minsan he would also introduce ordinary individuals as millionaires. I knew that those were not wealthy individuals. They may be successful as career individuals but it’s utterly excessive to introduce them as millionaires. One time we were having a group photo with General Ermita, Noli told him that we’re a group of billionaires. Dyos ko, halos matunaw ako sa hiya. Eh karamihan dun sa nasa litrato puro kami akinse at katapusan.
Prof. Noli has no bad intentions he is just proud of his friends’ accomplishments but to use being a millionaire or a billionaire in the introduction, eh super nakaka hiya. Lalo na hindi totoo. Even if it were true, I am sure those people would not want to be put on the spot.

Having said that, we still love and respect Professor Noli Santos.

Professor Noli Santos

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