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Friday, September 30, 2005
Serna: That time of year
By Roger Serna
Sound and images
Too preoccupied or you just chose to ignore it? We’re now a little over two months away from the most anticipated time of the year.
If you look around, glittering things associated with the yuletide season have suddenly taken over other ornaments in malls’ and department stores’ showcases.
Christmas is indeed just around the corner. Are we ready for it in many ways? Is it going to be a white Christmas as the popular song goes?
These and many other questions will be answered as the red-letter day draws nearer. Hopefully, despite financial debacles, the season will still be celebrated the way it should be, apart from all the material and worldly things that have come to be associated with it in recent times.
In that way, we’ll all feel its real essence and thus be able to enjoy its annual coming. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.
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In my book of records, this year’s celebration of the Press Freedom Week will be listed as one of the most memorable.
Despite having missed some fun-filled activities (the triumph of the ‘reluctant beauty queen’ Ryan Mark as the Gay-est of the Press 2005, among them) and the important discussions that were organized, still there were other things that somehow made up for those.
In the three-in-one party (aptly dubbed A TRI-bute to the Press) that Globe Telecom and Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino hosted together with Café Havana, Café Adriatico, Epson, Commonwealth Estates Inc., Darras & Bowler, Ralph’s Wines & Spirits, and JY Gonzales and Partners, the cut-throat competition among media outlets was put aside and camaraderie among members of the fourth estate was put to the fore.
Did I hear a Manila-based resource person of one lecture express her envy over the opportunity that Cebu media practitioners are afforded, something that they in Manila could only imagine and hope for?
Back to the party, I should doff my hat to the organizers of that event as they had really exerted efforts to make all those who came experience how it feels to be among those who enjoy the so-called good life, complete with parade of wines and salad courtesy of the hotel’s F&B servers.
Many of us had to undergo a ‘crash course’ on fine dining that night and learn how to use all those silverware that were laid before us. In our table, we were fortunate to have Bess Ortiz, managing director of Ralph’s Wines & Spirits, do the honors.
We had to rely on her words on what to do with this and that embellishment to better savor and appreciate every item that was served. Aside from the food and the accompanying wines and spirits, we also enjoyed the live music of Next Stage.
Most of all, we enjoyed each other’s company. Wow! And yes, the raffles also made us grin from ear to ear with all those valuable prizes given away (I won a washing machine and thus broke the record of going home empty-handed).
Can we not make these things happen more than once a year? Ha-ha! More power to the Cebu media!
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Once again, Rosemarie Gaisano is living up to her reputation of being the warm host of celebrities from Manila. Tomorrow, she’ll again play host to Nadine Samonte, Gaisano Main’s & Country Mall’s celebrity guest for the Fiesta Anniversary 4-Day Sale.
Showtime is 7 p.m. (Gaisano Main) and 8:30 p.m. (Country Mall). Take note. Sunshine Dizon, Valerie Concepcion, John Wayne Sace and other surprise guests stars are on the list for the succeeding weekends. Keep posted.
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Pauline Wilson of Seawind will be at the fountain area of the Ayala Food and Entertainment Center for the Follow Your Road show tonight at 8. Toti Fuentes and Ana Fegi are Pauline’s co-performers.
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Just as I was wrapping up this column Monday night, a text message from fashion designer Harley Ruedas came along. It said: ‘Mabuhay Philippines! Our Binibini, Precious Lara won Ms. International 2005 in Tokyo an hour ago.’
That’s another refreshing news amidst all these negative stories we have been bombarded with day in and day out.
At last, the drought of prestigious international beauty titles by Filipinas is over. Will this be the start of more international titles to come our way? Cross your fingers!
Meanwhile, congratulations to Precious Lara Quigaman!
(September 30, 2005 issue)
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