Thursday, May 10, 2007 Magsaysay: Northwing and Alice By Jo Magsaysay Whatever
THAT hurdle of curves and angles is just another concrete evidence of SM Supermalls' claim to fame. Not as big—humongous just about describes its immensity as the Mall of Asia in Manila, which is the biggest in Asia and the third biggest in the world—this on-going construction of circular and rectangular buildings, huge and massive, here in SM City Cebu, may come a close second as this prideful Cebuana would like to think.
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The Northwing at SM was formally opened with hardly a fanfare or hullabaloo but nevertheless, it was grand. A froth of mist, a flurry of snowflake confetti, signaled the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon with Hans T. Sy, president of SM Prime Holdings, and Margot Osmeña, First Lady of Cebu City, doing the honors. No one can define the Northwing and its reason for being, as clearly and as longingly as Marissa Fernan, vice-president of SM Supermalls for Visayas and Mindandao.
From day one, Marissa has been at the wheel, her keen, disciplined mind as discerning as it is intuitive, steering the company through the rough and calm weather of business. Her immediate "boss", Annie Garcia, president of SM Supermalls, smiled broadly in approval as did the "big boss man" himself, Mr. Sy, who was obviously pleased with Marissa and her welcome address from which I cull only some excerpts. So impressed I was I wish I could print it in toto.
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"…. A whole generation of shoppers with very specific desires that need to be catered to. Those desires in turn come from a new attitude towards lifestyle… an attitude that is unafraid of the world and all its cultures. It is an attitude that is optimistic about things and we believe… I believe it is an attitude worthy investing in."
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The SM City of Cebu Northwing, continues Marissa, "is fruit of new knowledge and a new attitude, and that it why it is unique.
In other malls, there are lifestyle areas. At SM City Cebu, we have a new building. A building that is larger than many malls.
A building worthy of its own name, the SM City Cebu Northwing. North because that is where we are facing and also because north is the primary direction that is used to define all other directions. And wing, because we expect it to fly!"
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Fly and soar, The Northwing will! Already the concessionaires who have planted their stakes are investing on the public lifestyle reflected in a fashion showcase presented by Terranova, Arrow, BSI, Escapade: youthful, modern, carefree, vibrant, jaunty, oh-so-cool and casual styles modeled by the young, the bold, and the beautiful. The grand master of design, Philip Rodriguez, replicated his all-white fashions that Manilans roundly applauded during the inaugural of the Mall of Asia. A titillating treat for the guests, some of them whose very own lifestyles fit Marissa’s description of "an attitude of freedom and independence, an eye for timeless luxury but with a firm grasp of time trends; a delight of seeing and being seen." What a delight to see our favorite "lifestylists" Amparito Lluilhier, Annie Aboitiz, Ingrid Sala Santamaria, Anna Marie Dizon, Teresin Mendezona, Elvira Luym and Elo Fernan, of course, beaming over her baby’s baby! Speaking of proud mamas, Lita Urbina basked under the reflected glory of her Raki’s sumptuous spread of spicy vegetable and chicken curry, kesong puti and shredded beef in pan de sal and other delicious merienda fare washed down with lemon grass drink.
Long-stemmed, thornless roses and special ground coffee beans in mugs were the souvenirs of the sweet smell of success.
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Alice in Wonderlamd, the enchanting fairytale that has captivated the imagination of children and adults alike the world over, will be tippy toe on stage tomorrow, Friday, the 11th, at 6:30 p.m. The beloved characters of Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar, the off-with-her-head Queen, and her set of playing cards will come alive on stage. That's when students of Balletcenter, under the direction of the dynamic duo Gregory Aaron and Nicolas Pacaña, will show off their talent as well as the Balletcenter’s versatility in this first International Summer Session.
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Children, from three years old to adults congregating from all over Visayas and Mindanao and who have been participating in the Balletcenter Cebu’s Mission of Education, will be performing techniques they learned during their classes in pointe, ballet technique, pas de deux. Aaron, whose brainchild the summer session is, and having taken a leave from the Atlanta Fesitval Ballet where he and Pacaña have served as directors for the past 18 years, is quite excited that he and Nikki Pacaña have gone to the “grass roots level”. "It's exciting to teach the students; so thrilled to the accomplishments of dancing with a partner."
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In collaboration with Girlie Royeca, Greg and Nikki have been working in Davao and General Santos, recruiting and auditioning dancers for the summer series. Twenty-six students arrived last month from Davao and General Santos and ". . . a million details had to be worked out: housing, transportation, meals, chaperones. Aaron told the students that they are still in a learning curve, and how and where to make all this possible so that Balletcenter will become internationally known as the ballet training mecca of Asia.” Tomorrow’s performance will open with a hip-hip piece by students from General Santos City, taught by Bing Cariño, followed by a jazz piece choreographed by Aaron. The children’s ballet Alice in Wonderland, with a score by the composer Joseph Horowitz, has been embellished with selections from classical repertory to accommodate the various classes.
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Should you miss tomorrow’s evening performance at Ayala Theater I, there’s still a matinee on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
