GLAMOROUS and glitzy in red was the 40th anniversary celebration of Zonta Club of Cebu 1.

Dubbed “Glamour and Glitz 2, with a Touch of Red,” the dinner cum fashion show at the Grand Ballroom of Marco Polo Plaza was a fund-raising event to sustain Zonta’s health-related, micro-financing and adopt-a-shool programs.

LADIES IN RED. The fashion show finale (from left) Miss Cebu 2009 Kris Tiffany Janson, Gov. Gwen Garcia, Amparito Lhuillier and Binibining Pilipinas World 2006 Ana Maris Igpit.

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Zonta Club of Cebu 1 is part of Zonta International, a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. The Zontians volunteer their time and talents to local and international service projects for the welfare of women and the youth in health-related, economic and educational programs.

THE ZONTA ladies after the show (seated, from left) are Lucy Segura, Chabeng Garcia, Mila C. Espina, Lucille Colina, Fina Tanchan, Anita Sanchez, Pauline Deduque, Helen Benedicto and Luna Mendez. Standing are (from left) are Anita Cabiñan, Melanie Ng, Tata Onglatco, Sylva Paderanga, Erlinda Binghay, Susan Calero, Fe Cinco, Tess Chan, Stella Bernabe and Nellie Chiu.

The charter of the Zonta Club of Cebu 1 was formally presented to the club on April 21, 1969 with Dr. Suga Sotto Yuvienco as charter president. She was honored with a Commemorative Medallion by Zonta president Rufina Tanchan during the ruby anniversary.

The dinner show was a brainchild of Zontian Mila Espina who is known for her creativity in staging fun events. This time she utilized the modeling prowess of her fellow Zontians, their families and friends. The first part of the show was all about family, thus there were grandmothers-daughters-grandaughters; mothers-daughters; mothers-sons; and sibblings on centerstage.

Part two featured loving couples, glamorous ladies and lady golfers.

The finale showed four dazzling ladies in red gowns, each one outstanding in her own way: the first lady governor of Cebu, Gov. Gwen Garcia; civic-minded socialite Amparito Lhuillier; and beauty titlists Kris Tiffany Janson (Miss Cebu 2009) and Ana Maris Igpit (Binibining Pilipinas World 2006).

The show was given added sparkle by soprano Yntel Beltran and the talents of the University of San Jose-Recoletos who are scholars of Amparito Lhuillier. Serenading the attendees, most of whom came with a touch of red (as requested) were special guest performers, the Asian Troubadors.

Kudos for the success of the event go to the show’s participants, and the working committee: overall coordinator Rufna Tanchan, event co-chairpersons Tess Chan and architect Isabel Garcia, the budget and finance team of Anita Sanchez and Flor Streegan; and of course to the indefatigable Mila Espina for over-all concept and direction.