TREASURE. “Dulce is one of the Philippines’ natural treasures.” No less than Ryan Cayabyab, one of the country’s top and well-respected song writers, emphasized this point in giving tribute to Dulce, who is Maritess Llamedo-Cruzata in real life.
She comes from Villa Bulsita, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City. Because of her significant achievements in the arena of music, Dulce will receive another important award on Aug. 21, aside from the Garbo Sa Sugbo award that she claimed from the Cebu Provincial Government just last Saturday night in celebration of the 441st founding anniversary of this great province.
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OUTSTANDING. The accolade I am referring to is the Ten Outstanding Cebuanos Award (Toca) founded by veteran radioman and engineer Greg Senining in 2000. Dulce will be back in Cebu for the awarding rites at the Sacred Heart Center on D. Jakosalem St. Anyway, we all agree that if Dulce were a melody, she would be a symphony because of her voice that overpowers and electrifies. We also agree that Dulce’s distinct powerful voice and delightful showmanship continue to catapult her to international fame. But despite her popularity, this Cebuana artist still knows what humility is all about. Fame has never gone to Dulce’s head.
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TEXTMATE. We regularly send text messages to each other, with hers mostly inspirational. She never fails to mention about the Lord’s goodness and guidance as she continues to fulfill singing engagements here and abroad. Truly, Dulce is a true-blooded entertainer. She puts her heart and soul into each performance. I’ve been witness to her shows in Cebu, the last one sometime last year in Pardo. Dulce has this unique way of pleasing the crowd, so that those in the audience don’t notice the number of hours they have spent watching her. I would even say that Dulce is the performers’ performer. So her Toca award on Aug. 21 is indeed significant, one she so richly deserves. I will be there to felicitate and salute her for bringing pride and honor to Cebu and her fellow Cebuanos.
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WEDDINGS. I thought all along that there is only one type of wedding package that would-be couples can have. But when I dropped by White Sands at Maribago Beach in Mactan, at the invitation of the beauteous sales and marketing manager Derlie Mae Cabilan, I found out that they are actually offering at least five wedding options!
These are the Tropical Beach Wedding, Elegant Wedding, Sweet Beginning, Blissful Wedding and Dream Wedding. These options differ in terms of venue, inclusions and amenities. Now on its 15th year of serving the public, White Sands never fails to amaze and mesmerize its clientele.
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STATION. This local broadcast outfit will soon transfer to a more presentable location after a new manager will be named by its Manila bigwigs. At present, the station is occupying a bodega-looking transmitter site. (E-mail: samcost@yahoo.com or call/text 09163999909)