Friday, December 15, 2006 Serna: My wishes By Roger Serna Sounds and images
THE invitation to the Aboitiz Christmas party for the media at the ballroom of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel required guests to wear the most comfortable attire, as they would be competing in children’s games. I decided to don my not-so-often-worn denim jumper.
Others wore their party best but were still comfortable while playing bato-lata, tubig-tubig, luksong-tinik, hula-hoop, skipping rope and Chinese garter.
Thinking I’ll be uncomfortable after a sumptuous dinner, I opted for the less physical game of tulbok-baki which required us to fish rubber bands buried under the sand using a barbecue stick. Others chose sungka, jackstone and tayhop lastiko.
It was only our game that produced two winners, one for the most number of rubber bands gathered, and the second for the one who picks out the only red rubber band (which I, quite luckily, caught).
The winners automatically qualified for the major prizes. The raffle prizes were a refrigerator, flat TV, cooler, washing machine, MP3 player, DVD player. Each of us was told to pick out a riddle, the answer to which was the prize; it was a sofa bed in my case.
The ‘grandest’ prize, however, was a Nokia communicator that went to ABS-CBN cameraman Marlon Melgazo, who had to give up the coffee maker he won earlier. Loot bags containing products made by Aboitiz beneficiary groups had everyone’s hands full upon leaving for home.
What a fun-filled way to open the month of December and the Christmas season itself. Thanks, Aboitiz!
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One memorable event held last Dec. 3 at the USC Rahmann Cultural Center certainly made this columnist a prouder Cebuano. It was dubbed Panaghiusa Pinaagi sa Kultura–Dalit Bisaya–A Celebration of Cebuano Culture.
It was topbilled mostly by USC students belonging to different groups (choristers, symphonic band, dance troupe, North Campus rondalla and theatre guild) with solo performances from promising artists Zsarie Vidal and Vanissa Arabis.
Zsarie is said to fly to the US early next year for a four-year scholarship in music in a well-known university. Can you beat that?
The Team Cebu Dancesport Kids wowed the crowed with their grace and agility in various ballroom dances. My only wish was to see the boys not try to compete with the girls in terms of who sways the hips more, and whose hands were more pliant and flexible.
The highlight of the night was reserved for the performances of Pilita Corrales and Dulce. Pilita’s repertoire was a mix of English, Spanish and Visayan songs.
I wish she didn’t have to copy the antics of comedienne Elizabeth Ramsey, exposing her legs up to her crotch while performing. Does she need to do that in the first place?
I kept wondering why Dulce looked healthier when she did her all-Visayan repertoire, garbed in a glittering mestiza dress with a train. As it turns out, she is in an interesting stage!
Needless to say, both Pilita and Dulce lived up to their tags of being among Cebu’s pride and respected icons in the singing industry. The local talents shone, too. They truly are the province’s source of endless honor.
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Is having Jay-R Siaboc and Panky Trinidad in the Final 6 of the Pinoy Dream Academy a strategy to divide the so-called Cebu vote? To reduce the chances of seeing another Cebuano taking the limelight again as a grand prize winner?
Whatever, this columnist still appeals to all Cebuanos and Visayans to continue supporting our fellow Visayans through our text votes. Text PDA Jay-R or if you go for Panky, text PDA Panky and send to 231 for Smart and 2331 for Globe.
A little load deduction goes a long, long way (as a cigarette commercial used to say before).
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From Sony-BMG Records comes the announcement that Julio Iglesias’ first English language album since 1994, entitled Romantic Classics (which carries the Columbia Records and Burgundy Records label), has enjoyed tremendous sales worldwide since its release in early September.
Iglesias, the best-selling Latin singer of all time and one of the world’s Top 10 best-selling recording artists in any genre ever, has drawn from the worlds of pop, rock and country music to record his sublime interpretations of songs originally performed by Willie Nelson, George Michael, the Bee Gees and The Cars, to name some.
Here’s the clincher: renowned Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab personally coached Julio for the Tagalog versions of Crazy and All Of You. Perhaps this is Julio’s tribute to his Filipina ex-wife Isabel Presyler who bore for him three goodlooking offsprings, two of whom are already following his footsteps (international superstar Enrique Iglesias included).
Other cuts are This Guy’s In Love With You, Careless Whisper, Everybody’s Talking, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?, Always On My Mind, Waiting For A Girl Like You, Drive, I Want To Know What Love Is, Right Here Waiting, Most Beautiful Girl, and It’s Impossible.
Let’s grab a copy of the album to be able to appreciate the songs.
