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Friday, September 08, 2006
Serna: Three birthdays
By Roger Serna: Sounds and images
While the department stores under his care have the so-called Christmas in July promo, the almost 2,000 employees in these stores seem to celebrate the yuletide season immediately on the succeeding month, on the 12th specifically, as Alex Gaisano celebrates his natal day.
This year’s celebration was no exception. At the grand hall of White Gold House, four groups of employees displayed their performing talents in four spirited production numbers inspired by the deserts of Arabia, the jungles of Africa, the frenzied and sexy atmosphere of Brazil and the exotic shores of the Caribbean.
One cannot really imagine that behind those prim and proper sales clerks, baggers, cashiers and others, there lie bodies to die for that just await the appropriate time to be revealed and be appreciated.
One highlight of the evening was the recognition of 30 years of loyalty exhibited by 12 employees. The smiles on their faces as they climbed up the stage to receive their awards said it all.
So generous were the celebrator and his kin that what was intended to be the cash prize for the best performing group (the Pirates of the Caribbean, in this case) that night was given to the fourth placer instead, as the prizes rose several rungs higher as the contest progressed.
Young actress Valerie Concepcion was invited by the celebrator’s loving sister Rosemarie not just to grace the affair but also to perform song numbers for Alex, thus adding more glitter to the already dazzling celebration.
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On another August night, invited guests who were not from the media might have thought that what they were attending was one of those big press conferences or product launches with media practitioners practically all over the venue and exchanging pleasantries.
This columnist had to stand for a while near the entrance to accustom my eyes to the low lights of the Abaseria Bar & Café, and to find out if there were still vacant seats left.
The turnout of guests just attests to the fact that the celebrator, the talented and beauteous Angela Calina, is so loved by her peers. She was a picture of a perfect host that night as she hopped from table to table to see if everything was in place.
Party band Suburbia purposely turned acoustic that night (and for free, I heard,
courtesy of Ilde Carillo) for the special celebration. Vocalists Josh and Chow and guitarist Gary played soothing and relaxing music while the guests enjoyed the fare and the ambience.
Another enjoyable, memorable and rare gathering.
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Since we’re into birthday parties, here’s another one to complete the set. Guests who honored the invitation to Maria Donna’s celebration right in her own abode were treated to an informal and intimate bash with the celebrator who, after attending to her guests, seated herself strategically on top of a speaker to belt out one vocally-challenging song after another.
Again, the group Suburbia lent its musical talents both as backup and as main performer. Ilde Carillo, Baste Balboa, Rene Mercado of Sarua Records and Globe Telecom’s Jerry Yntig were all smiles at the sidelines.
Bisrock group Wayok was also there to dish out its own brand of music that’s hot on the airlanes these days.
The same company (with Maria Donna as main attraction) will be in Malabuyoc tomorrow for a big show organized by Jerry and Rene (with the backing of Globe and Sarua, of course), a highlight of the southwestern town’s fiesta celebration.
Maria Donna, by the way, is slated to start training under renowned and award-winning songwriter-composer Vehnee Saturno on Oct. 1 as she faces the challenge of interpreting Vehnee’s compositions, Only When Our Hearts Unite and Make Me Whole, in the Shanghai song festival in Oct. 25 to 31 this year.
Let’s wish the fast-rising singer the best of luck. Before she flies to Shanghai, though, the songbird is scheduled to appear in a concert with Jo Awayan at Camp Z on Sept. 15 and 16, at the IBP national assembly at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel on Sept. 22 and at the Songmasters show with Vehnee himself (still at Camp Z) on Sept. 29 and 30.
Rene narrated that the belter created a stir when she jammed at Merck’s Bar in
Makati recently. No, she did nothing scandalous or something. She just wowed the crowd gathered that night when she sand Someone To Watch Over Me and You Don’t Know Me and in turn received a standing ovation for those numbers.
Someone was even overheard asking: ‘Who’s that girl?’ They’ll come to know her when the right time comes.
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You must have seen the final episode of Sa Piling Mo which was ‘commercial-less.’ As the teaser said, that was made possible because of Globe Telecom.
Wow! Ang lakas! As some teleseries in both networks are almost in their final
stretch, would Globe also give the viewers another enjoyable treat? Why not?
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 8, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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