Wednesday, August 29, 2007 Neri: : In the limelight By Nelia G. Neri Eve
THE birth of the 888 News Forum came last year on the eighth day of the eighth month at 8 a.m. Venue was the Parklane Hotel. The convenors included DOT-7 regional director Dawnie Roa, Honorary Consul of Latvia Bobby Joseph, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) Cebu president Jenny Franco, hotel execs Lito Cruz and Rey Fuentes, media personalities Honey Loop, Ricky Poca and Malou Apalisoc.
Aug. 8 marked the first anniversary of 888 and it was celebrated with a cocktail party at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu (MPPHC), the present venue of the weekly forum. Theme of the party was Business & Pleasure Over Fine Wines, an apt theme because all kinds of Blue Nun wines were flowing at the party.
Highlight of the program was the giving out of Leadership Awards to Gov. Gwen Garcia (represented by pretty lawyer-daughter Cristina), Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, DOT Usec Edu Jarque, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Francis Monera, Police regional director Silverio Alarcio Jr., MPPHC GM Hans Hauri, and lawyer/environmentalist Antonio Oposa.
Special citations were also given to DOT regional director Dawnie Roa and forum moderator Ricky Poca. The recipients of awards of appreciation were Marco Polo Plaza, Parklane Hotel and Port Seafood restaurant.
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The 14th Romantic Piano Concerto Journey of pianists Ingrid Sala Santamaria and Reynaldo Reyes, which took all of six weeks, winded up with a rousing standing ovation last Aug. 6 at the Ateneo de Manila University. A beaming Ingrid (recipient of the French Honors Chevalier Ordre des Palmes Academiques and the Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Merite from the French government) commented: “That was a truly moving reception and a fitting finale for this tour.”
This year’s performances started last June 25 in Malaysia with a performance and masterclass at the University of Malaysia and then at the German Embassy residence of Ambassador Herbert Jess with Philippine Ambassador and Mrs. Victorino Lecaros in attendance.
The music journey took the committed pianists to different parts of the country. Prof. Reynaldo Reyes, thrice named Musician of the Year by the University of the Phil., sums up their determination and dedication to share their music.
“We have decided to perform all over the Philippines to make young people realize that classical music can make them more intelligent than those who have no exposure to classical music.”
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Ayala Center-Cebu’s expansion building has come alive with some 20 shops (with more opening soon) showcasing a line of local and international brands.
The mall’s new extension was launched during an intimate lunch with the merchant locators, the officials of the Ayala Malls group, the execs of Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) and some special guests.
Already in place are Rustan’s Fresh Supermarket at the lower ground floor; top global brands (Nike Women, Mango, Chocolate, Schu, etc.) at the first level; trendy shops (Bench, VMV, Maldita, Alberto, Kashieca, etc.) at the second level; and a selection of digital products for techie addicts at the third level with stores like ElectoWorld, The Sun Shop, Thinking Tools, Sony Square, Globe Telecom, NGenius, etc.
A week or so later, we found oursleves in an intimate tete-a-tete with our friends from Cebu Holdings over lunch at Lemon Grass. We broke bread with former CHI marketing manager Mai Regner (now the Ayala Malls marketing manager), CHI corporate communications manager Vera Alejandria, supervisor Jeanette Japson and their new assistant Kayee Villas. All proudly declared that with the numerous developments at the Ayala Center, the Cebuanos are now given a new dimension in lifestyle shopping.
