Demi Moore with her famous pet Pilaf, a micro Chihuahua. Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
DEMI Moore has been one of my favorite actresses since I saw her in the romance-thriller 1990 film “Ghost,” also starring Whoopi Goldberg and Patrick Swayze.
In the film “The Substance,” she won at the Golden Globes this year as best actress.
I am hoping and praying Demi will capture the Oscar’s best actress accolade this year.
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Foremost Filipino glass sculptor Ramon Gahol Orlina celebrated his 81st birthday recently at Two Roxas Triangle in Makati City.
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February is the month of love. I will feature different stories of love. I asked each respondent: (1) How do you define love? (2) Are you in love with whom and why?
Their replies (the second batch) are as follows:
Noted actress Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel, who is Switzerland-based: (1) “To answer your question on love, let me share the message of my husband when he was courting me overseas. According to Kahlil Gibran, love gives naught but itself and takes naught from itself, love possesses and not it would be possessed for love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’ And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must need to have desires, let these be your desires: to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night; to know the pain of too much tenderness; to be wounds by your own understanding of love and to bleed willingly and joyfully; to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstacy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”; (2) “He courted me for two years. But it was not easy for me since it was the height of my career as a theater and film artist. Finally, he proposed and sent me another quote of Kahlil Gibran on marriage. He was former festival artistic director of Fribourg International Film Festival for 15 years. We met in the Hawaii International Film Festival and I never wanted to uproot myself but we both found love and respect that we decided to be wed. In 1997 after the Cannes Film Festival, we were married. There were many adjustments but we are happy to face any challenges that come our way. Thanks and praise God for His guidance, love and compassion!”
2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Remarkable Achiever awardee and Better Boneless Chicken and Beyond entrepreneur Cheska Bansil Costes, who is married to Mac Costes, and they have two kids Clay and Caly: (1) “For me, love is about passion, dedication, and unconditional support. It’s the driving force that motivates me to work hard, overcome challenges, and make sacrifices for the people and things that matter most.”; (2) “I am in love with my family and my passion (my business). My family is my rock, my safe haven. They provide me with unwavering support, encouragement, and love. My family inspires me to be a better person and to work hard for them. My business is my passion. I am deeply invested in its success and dedicated to making it grow. I love the thrill of entrepreneurship, the challenge of solving problems, and the satisfaction of creating something from scratch. My business allows me to pursue my dreams, and make a positive impact. So, my love is rooted in a deep sense of commitment, responsibility, and care. I strive to nurture and grow these loves every day.”
Engineer Boyet Jose, who has been happily married to Merle Jose for 47 years, and together they have three children: (1) “For me, the example of true love is the selfless love of our Lord Jesus, who offered and sacrificed His self to save us. Love must be felt through action with a heart not by mouth, with humility. He or she can forgive and forget without resentment, helping others with no return.”; (2) “Yes, I’m always in love first to God, to my family, to my wife and children and to everybody. Life is short and I must do the right thing to save my soul and everyone’s soul.”
John Michael Gahol, married to Mercedes R. Gahol, through the test of time: (1) “It’s an unconditional love. It’s not necessarily without expectations. It’s love that survives and thrives. A comforting love that understands.”; (2) “I have still fallen in love with my wife despite us having already seven children. She is so very understanding in many ways.”
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It has caught my attention and interest on women power in U.S. President Donald Trump’s Cabinet: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Next month is Women’s Day, March 8.
Ms. Leavitt, 27, a Catholic, is the youngest White House press secretary. She previously served as the national press secretary for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. She was an assistant press secretary and presidential writer during the first Donald Trump administration as well as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump Super PAC.
She is married to Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer, and she gave birth to their son on July 10, 2024. She had planned to go on maternity leave, but changed her mind after seeing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, and resumed her professional duties. She advocates for private education and credits her Catholic schooling (at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire) for instilling pro-life values, discipline, and the importance of public service.
On the other hand, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem served as U.S. representative for South Dakota and became the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018.
Noem, a Protestant, is also a farmer and a rancher. She published her first autobiography, “Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland,” in 2022.
She married Bryon Noem in 1992 in Watertown, South Dakota. They have three children. In 2011, when Noem moved to Washington D.C. to take her congressional office, her family continued to live in a ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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