LIFE begins at 40! Or so believes birthday gal Hazel Magdadaro-Sanchez, who marked her four decades on earth at a blistering, booming blast at Maayo Hotel in Mandaue City, Cebu.
As soon as all guests were seated, the ever-effervescent Hazel took the mic, and greeted and thanked everybody for their valued presence. There was also a sentimental side to this celebration when parents Louella and Greg M. flanked their daughter with a warm embrace! Then it was the turn of loving better-half, Lyndon, to present his one-and-only with a flora bouquet, to signify foreverness!
Through a random glance at the evening’s VIPs, we recognized international concert pianist, doctor Ingrid Sala-Santamaria, who was Hazel’s (and sister Hannah’s) music mentor during the unforgettable performances of the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) in the ‘90s!
After a sumptuous dinner, all-night dancing followed. Many more fabulous decades, Hazel!
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A never-ending flow of friends from abroad was next on the
agenda with dear buddy from California, Linda Du-Clark, dropping by our Queen City in one of her regular trips here. Immediately, cousin Elena Du-Jarantilla whisked her off on a non-stop sightseeing spree!
•••
Directly from the windy highlands of the United Kingdom jetted in former British Consul in Cebu, Moya Jackson. She had lived in our beloved island for quarter of a century. Moya fondly remembers that four of her kids were born here, and a daughter now resides here as Mrs. Bobby Booth!
All these and more, were in vivid memory during lunch at the Casino Español de Cebu, hosted by bosom pal, Jimmy Picornell.
Same time next year, Moy?
•••
Prominent and popular radiologist-oncologist, New Jersey-based Jose “Bebe” Barba, quietly breezed into town, but his well-meaning media friends,
got wind of it, and promptly “kidnapped” him for lunch. But the quick-thinking doc was determined to treat us for lunch, so...
His special guest was Beverly Stafford, from Australia, who contributed much to the lively and long, tete-a-tete!
Balik balik, Bebe!