Monday, March 31, 2008 Neri: Around town By Nelia G. Neri eve
IKEBANA International Cebu Chapter 145 presents “Colors of Ikebana” for its 38th anniversary exhibit on Friday, April 4. Venue is the Northwing of SM City. Working on the double to ensure an impressive presentation are the officers led by president Carmen Go.
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French lessons are ongoing at Les Amis de la France (French Cultural Institute and Language Center) at the 2nd floor of QC Pavilion in Gorordo Ave. There are five sessions for the entire year. Session 1 (which began last Feb. 18) ends on April 19 while Session 2, which started last March 26, will continue till May 21. Session 3 is slated for June 3 to July 29 while Session 4 is on sked for Aug. 11 to Oct.4. Session 5, on Oct. 18-Dec. 13, completes the year-long lessons.
Meanwhile, director Louis Thevenin has announced special summer classes for kids and teenagers from April 14 to May 16. The classes are divided into three age groups: five to seven years old; eight to 10 years; 11 to 13 years, and lessons are adapted accordingly.
For more info, one may call 232-1311 or send e-mail at school@lesamisdelafrance.ph.
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On exhibit at 856 G Gallery in A.S. Fortuna St. are the works of a group of Thai painters who are the artists in residence of Gossip Gallery in Bangkok. On display are the paintings of Somphot Mailarksee, Sitthisak Natheechaichana and Arkom Thongprong. Guests of honor on opening day were Amparito Lhuillier and Garrison Rousseau. Exhibit ends on April 25.
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Filipinas Ahora Mismo, the only cultural radio program broadcast in Spanish over Philippine airwaves, was launched in Cebu during a brunch affair at Casino Espa¤ol. Spanish journalist Carlos Juan Juan presided over the launch with Spanish Honorary Consul Jaime Picornell.
The radio program is a corner stone of the Radyo Manila Project, which is a joint undertaking of the Asociacion de la Prensa de Cadiz of Spain and the Bureau of Broadcast Services of the Philippines. It has the support and participation of the Junta de Andalucia, the Agencia Espa¤ola de Cooperacion Internacional, the Diputacion de Cadiz, the Instituto Cervantes and Fundacion Santiago.
Filipinas Ahora Mismo can be heard in Cebu over Radyo ng Bayan dyMR 576 Khz, and anywhere in the world through the Internet via www.prensacadiz.org.
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It was an easy, breezy lunch with Philippine Airlines (PAL) president Jaime Bautista and our other PAL friends, like Rolly Estabillo, Bob Salazar, Chris Lebumfacil, Jun Canton, etc. at Laguna Garden Cafe. No major agenda except to share good news: a refleeting program which will include Boeing 777s, Airbus 320s and some Bombardier Q300... additional flights to the US in the near future... and a planned maintenance facility in Mactan. PAL is certainly on the upward swing!
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A new face in town is the recently appointed Shangri-La Mactan general manager Raymond Bragg who we met over lunch at Acqua last week. A New Zealander, Raymond has had several postings in Asia. His last assignment was at the Shangri-La Hotel Dalian in northeastern China. He is looking forward to a fruitful tenure here in our shores.
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Wedding bells rang for Clint Yap and Noreen Borgonia at the Redemptorist Church two weeks ago. She was given away in marriage by her loving parents, Panfilo and Nerie Borgonia. On the part of the groom, it was his brother Teofanes who took the place of their departed father while maternal aunt Brenda Amechazura proxied for their mother who is out of the country. Reception followed at Cebu Country Club.
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Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies, Region 7 (Arena 7) has elected a new president in place of Civil Service regional director David Cabanag Jr., who relinquished his post because of a new assignment in Region 8. Cebu Normal University president Dr. Ester Velasquez takes over the helm of Arena 7 with the following officers: director Marlene Rodriguez of Neda, VP-Internal; director Pedro Noval Jr. of the DILG, VP-External; director Asteria Caberte of DTI, secretary; director Chloe Osano of PCUP, treasurer; director Leo Rama of PopCom, auditor; and director Elma Teruel of PIA, PRO.
The board of directors include director Sakiran Hajan of the office of Muslim Affairs; director Teodulo Romo Jr. of the DSWD; AVP William Chavez of PhilHealth; and director Judith Chicano of the Civil Service. Legal consultant is DBM regional director Atty. Carmela Fernan.
