THE posh and picturesque Bellevue Hotel and Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol, was the summery venue for the First Joint Region 18 and 19 Meeting of Quota International. Theme of the conference was, “Let’s put our hearts into Quota and put Quota in our Hearts.”
With the Quota International (QI) of Cebu South as host club, the three-day meet had a record attendance, with delegates coming from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
The huge gathering also brought in distinguished guests Emilie L. Simon of QI-Manila South, who is also QI vice president, and Beris Pritchard, past international president and executive administrator, Pacific Region.
The various business sessions and activities called for comfy and informal resort wear, but the fellowship night was special, with the theme: “A Whimsical Night of Music and Magic.” Featured were colorful Disney characters, wherein Quota Club of Mandaue won second place for their entry, “The Little Mermaid.”
The super successful conference wound up with the Regional Directors Grand Ball, which was a smashing black-and-white affair at the Bellevue Pavilion and had as guest speaker, Hon. Edgar Chatto, governor, province of Bohol.
We thank and congratulate Pinky Shan of Quota Club of Mandaue for these lovely photos, and for the club being a winner besides!
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It was a laid-back and refreshing three weeks that balikbayans Maribel Kokseng-Kratz (from California) and Toronto (Canada) based Ma. Teresa “Chao” Go-Lai spent in Cebu with family and classmates.
Gosh, it was also a dizzying pace of lunches and dinners at food spots like Parklane Hotel, Lemon Grass, among others.
But amid the glorious, happy times, came a tinge of sadness when a classmate suddenly left them for her journey to eternal life “We will all miss Carlota Abad-Pimentel’s vibrant company, her thoughtfulness, her dedication to keeping Saint Theresa’s College, High School class 1962 securely connected and much more!
Sleep well, Carlota God has you in His bosom.
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Cebu-born Cely Obiña-Elliott, who has been residing in the United States (specifically Baltimore, Maryland) for more than 50 years, is still as native as buwad and puso.
An accomplished and respected piano professor, Cely is proud of the honor bestowed on her by one of the more prestigious private schools in the country, Garrison Forrest in Baltimore. An entire building, the Cielito Elliott Music Hall, was named after her. She had been with the establishment for more than 30 years.
But she was homesick for Cebu, and moved here a few months ago, hoping to live here for good. However, her children, who are U.S. citizens, wanted her closer to home. So one day recently, they came to bring her back.
By now, Cely had made a retinue of close friends who, with a heavy heart, planned a farewell dinner for her at the well-appointed home of the Soberanos. Joe and Marose (Borromeo) in Guadalupe.
The cozy and elegant interiors spoke well of Marose’s exquisite taste in decorating as well as her choice of culinary fare. And since Cely was music personified, the talented Borromeo sisters: Cecille B. Arong, Bess B. Zanoria and Marose B. Soberano, took turns performing various musical instruments that turned the pleasant dinner into a mini-concert besides.
Vaya con Dios, Cely!