Wednesday, September 05, 2007 Neri: Sundries By Nelia G. Neri Eve
TODAY'S big happening at the Cebu InternationaI Convention Center is the opening of the First Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF) organized by the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) and the Philippine Travel Mart Foundation.
The tjhree-day travel event (Sept. 5-7) coincides with the Philippine Travel Exchange organized by the Dept. of Tourism through its marketing arm, the Phil. Convention and Visitors Corp.
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On the other hand, the Cebu Tours and Travel Association is all set for a fund-raising activity dubbed Flying High in September featuring the Rockin’ Revival band. Date is Sept. 21 and venue is the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino (WCCHC), which will be given an “international airport look” on that day.
Guests will be treated to the music of the yesteryears—from the 50’s to the 80s, songs from The Beatles, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and what-have-you! And there’s more. Lots of good food, dancing it you are up to it, and yes, an array of raffle prizes—from spa treatments to hotel accommodations to airline tickets!
Tickets are available at your favorite travel agency, Dunkin Donuts, SM City and Ayala Center.
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Japanese painter Dr. Teruko Haga presented her 65th one-woman exhibition of oil and oriental paintings at the WCCHC. The recently concluded exhibit featured her Philippine Centennial series in oil and pastel. Proceeds were earmarked for the out-of-school youth project of Region 7’s Department of Social Welfare and Development.
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Over at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Andrew Barba showcased his colorful and typically Filipino paintings during the two-week Arte Filipino food and art festival. During the festival opening at the Ocean Pavilion, he was there with his paint and brushes showing the guests the way he goes about his work.
Also in the limelight that evening were featured chefs Glenda Barretto and Myrna Segismundo who collaborated with Sonny Ong on a Filipino menu with a cosmopolitan flair; an artistically presented Appetizer Sampler with fresh lumpia, ukoy, and kinilaw na tanguigue; chicken binakol (soup) highlighted by chicken quenelles held by a single lemon grass shoot and topped with buco strips; pinais na alimasag (wrapped in banana leaf) at bagoong rice; bistek Batangueña with a siding of pumpkin croquette; and an array of desserts, like biko, banana turon, brazo Mercedes, leche flan, maja blanca.
Leading the guests were Gov. Gwen Garcia, DOT Sec. Ace Durano, DOT Usec. and Mrs. Phineas Alburo and DOT-7 Regional Director Patria Roa who were all given a red carpet welcome by Shangri-La GM Tim Wright and his team.
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It was a grand family reunion for the Mercados when Juan “Johnny” and Lydia M. celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.
But of course, the USA-based children came home: son Francis (a Northwest Airlines pilot, who grduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University) with wife Tricia from Ypsilanti, Michigan; and daughter Malou (a member of the California bar) with hubby, Dr. Jan Rydfors (a physician from Stanford U.) and their daughters Alexia and Tai Noelle.
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The Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu launched its website http://www.hrrac.org/ during a lunch gathering at the Caspian Room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Too bad we missed the milestone because were out of town.
