Friday, October 26, 2007 Serna: Designers tilt By Roger Serna Sounds and Images
LAST weekend, the country’s top show band Side A proved to all and sundry that it still can pack a venue after 22 years in the biz and after several performances in Cebu.
The Summit Hall of the Cebu International Convention Center was filled with excited concert goers who waited for four years for another top class performance by Side A. Loud applause and howls of appreciation succeeded every number.
New lead guitarist Lee Von Cailao (he replaced Joey Benin who’s attending to a family owned farm in Bacolod as a breather) proved to be a good alternate vocalist, but the songs with the high notes were still vocalist Joey Generoso’s territory. Keyboardist Naldy Gonzales and drummer Ernie Severino proved they, too, can carry tunes.
Ned Esguerra chose to concentrate on his bass guitar and had only a stanza of a song as vocal contribution. The disco songs of the 80s era as always was too strong for the dance lovers to resist.
Needless to say, the show was a success in all aspects.
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What’s next on the local concert calendar? None other than that of foreign group America in America…All My Life (Live in Cebu) on Dec. 1, a Saturday, at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Do I need to tell you it’s the group that’s responsible for the hit songs, like All My Life, A Horse With No Name, Sandman, Ventura Highway, You Can Do Magic and many more? My fave is still All Around, though. Keep posted for updates.
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Barring any unforeseen block, the finals for the Cebu Young Designers Competition will go on tomorrow at the Teatro Casino of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.
New designers composed of Mark So, Lord Maturan, Barbie Alvez, Manuel Tumaque, Harvey Cenit, Nolan Arnoco and Cyrus Velasco will showcase their creativity and artistry that will earn for the winner the distinction of being Cebu’s best among the new crop.
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For recent lovers of catwalks from different venues in the metropolis, the name Sarah Bequilla might not ring a bell anymore, but for those who have been around for sometime (ouch!) she brings back glamorous appearances in local fashion shows including winning a runner-up slot in the “Supermodel Philippines” tilt in 1992, and another runner-up win in the prestigious “Ms. Cebu Tourism” pageant.
Fashion designer Harley Ruedas informed me that just recently, Sarah, as the country’s representative, bested 37 other contestants to run off with the “Mrs. Asia 2008” title in LA, California, USA. After all these years, Sarah still possesses the qualities that once captivated Cebu beauty pageant and fashion show aficionados.
Congratulations!
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Young stars Rayver Cruz and Karel Marquez once again came to Cebu as last weekend’s special guests to the month long 14th anniversary celebration of Gaisano Country Mall.
Rosemarie Gaisano saw to it that her guests (including some members of the Egroup) were treated to gastronomic delights while engaging in light banter about show biz goings-on at the Lighthouse Restaurant before proceeding to visits at Star FM and RT-FM. Papa Joe was giving A-1 advice to his lovestruck listeners when we entered the booth.
Rayver and Karel performed before appreciative crowds, first at the Gaisano Main Foodsquare then at the Country Mall grounds later that night. On Halloween night, it would be Rayver’s older brod, Rodjun, and Iya Villania’s turn to show their wares to their Cebu followers, still at the two venues.
