Twelve golf-centric women arrived at Tagaytay Highlands one Thursday morning, just before the summer sun scattered its painterly tropical sheen across the fairways. Half were meeting each other for the first time. But after a few hits and misses, putts that sank and others that strayed, the humid air began to soften.
Then, voilà—between introductions and laughter, the threads that bind began to reveal themselves: shared friends, overlapping stories, missed hangouts, and the spark of fairway friendship.
UN peacekeeper Lette Alejandro (left) found instant common ground with newbie Francine Ermita, whose grandaunt also braved missions in Kosovo and Kashmir.
Newbie Francine Ermita, 24, sent her drives soaring way past her flight mates—women old enough to be her mother or grandmother. Golf runs deep in her veins: her grandmother, a Midlands regular, played until the age of 84, passing away just two weeks after her final round.
By hole five, the chirping of golden orioles blended with the rising pitch of Lette Alejandro’s voice. Francine had just mentioned that her aunt, now retired in Las Vegas, was once a UN peacekeeper. As it turned out—so was Lette.
Her 23-year career included nine years in Kosovo and 14 in Kashmir, navigating terrain and bunkers far more treacherous than any golf course. One standout story: golfing in Islamabad with AK-40-armed escorts guarding VIPs, “because,” she said, half-laughing, “on the golf course, it’s the only place you’re sure there’s no suicide bomber.”
By hole 13, golden narra petals showered the fairway. The gilded scene caught the eye of visual artist Anna Raquel Santos (aka Anna Vergel RS on canvas). She coaxed me onto the golden patch for a painterly snapshot.
Over laughs and memories, Anna Vergel RS reconnects with Maline Flores, whose Chocolate Kiss café at UP Bahay Alumni served generations of sweet tooths before it sadly closed.
Under a shower of golden narra petals, visual artist/golfer Anna Vergel Raquel Santos seems to be anointing Roni Wuson with fairway magic.
Anna, a second-generation artist, was mentored by National Artist Napoleon Abueva. Her mother, Bee Vergel Nuguid, had also studied under Abueva at UP College of Fine Arts—where Anna’s daughter is now pursuing the same degree. Her father, Philip Vergel, helped pioneer the Design Center of the Philippines. With 23 solo and group exhibitions under her belt, Anna has learned from giants like Imao, Sanso, Bencab, Araceli Dans, Tess Duldulao, and Junyee. As for golf? She picked it up just over a year ago—sports genes from her dad, she says.
Somewhere between clinking clubs and bursts of laughter, four strangers turned into kindred spirits.
At the 19th hole, our foursome reunited with the rest of the Thursday Tee Off crew.
We met the young guns of the Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Team: Danella and Danica Yao, and Tara Imperial—all working hard to become fierce Highlands warriors. Even as COOs with packed calendars, they’re in the zone: “We’ll practice more—with the team. But weekends only, please!”
The secret to keeping fit—GOLF!, says Dionne Cu, 82, former CEO of Redson Textile Manufacturing Corp., and Gie Bote, CEO of Agrikultura Inc. in Lipa, Batangas.
We missed a real trooper—Marissa Vergara, 78, who opted to lunch with her husband at their Midlands home. A devoted golfer, mother of six, grandmother of 18, and in June, great grandmother of one baby girl. But “Mother Superior” Dionne Cu, 82, joined the table with Cathy Borja. Dionne, once CEO of Vonnel Knitting Manufacturing, also modeled for her company back in the day—standing tall at 5’6”. Cathy, a key executive at IMG, a global financial education company, brought a quiet energy to the mix.
Winsome threesome—from left: Gabby Borja, the team’s baby; Cathy Borja, IMG top executive; and Cathy’s recruit to the Highlands squad—actress Gelli de Belen Rivera
And soon, the conversation turned to “the stars.” Cathy, after all, was the one who brought an “artista” into the Highlands Ladies Team—Gelli de Belen Rivera, totally incognito on the fairways, wrapped head-to-toe like a ninja against the sun.
But it was Lette who stole the show again—not with war stories this time, but with her surprising celebrity trivia. Apparently, even when locked down in the UN quarters, she kept up with the latest in showbiz!
Jojo Sales, number cruncher and proud owner of a bookkeeping firm, breezed by. She’s also an active force in the seniors’ ladies golfing group that draws players from various clubs.
Then came a sweet surprise: when Maline Flores dropped by, she met Anna and Bee. All UP alumnae—and all stunned to discover that Maline was the beloved Chocolate Kiss.
“It was the only fine dining we had at UP,” Anna said, laughing. “It’s where I grew up.”
Maline’s daughter is now a celebrated paper artist, and before long, the talk turned to Maline’s Weekend Bake orders, Chocolate Kiss nostalgia, and maybe—just maybe—a spark to bring it back.
Photos were snapped. Contacts exchanged. Stories flowed like the afternoon sun. And lunch ended, quite literally, on a high note.
Until the next round—with even more Highlands Ladies Team members, some of whom have smashed the proverbial glass ceiling. Whose swings and drives mirror the force, rhythm, and grace of the lives they lead.
