A cultural night with Freeman

It's my first 40 days in Cebu, and whenever am asked how I am keeping up, my usual and very apt line is "Great! And everyday, it gets even better" Every time the day ends, I realize, I have made new friends, discover new places, accomplish a big task, and the likes; at least, one of them.

On my second day with Hilton Cebu, I had the pleasure of meeting The FREEMAN people. Everyone was in the office that time, headed by Boy and Joy, plus coffee served inside Boy's office. Toti (my predecessor) and I did not mind missing our other appointments, because the coffee and chat became more interesting and cozier. I knew then that they will be more than business acquaintances, more than the official introduction. Watching how Toti was saying goodbye, I knew it will be wonderful for me, too.

Two weeks after, I had a delightful lunch meeting with Mayen Tan herself, at Hilton Cebu's Vanilla Beach Café, where we indulged while getting to know each other. We were amused to realize that these are so many people we both know. It was not one of those working lunches; in fact, the lunch took long, but we did not notice it. We kept on raving about trying the Spa together until she left. I am proud to say that she came all the way from the City to have lunch with me, on our first meeting. Advantage though, it was arranged by our common close friend, but I am still proud of it. Felt important, an important person came by to see me!

Then, the night of my first 40 days, I was even more proud to have them: Mayen, Joy and Boy, as dinner dates for Hilton Cebu's Cultural Dinner at the Beach (every Monday). We tried it altogether for the first time. But I had to make sure I had it captured - photos, photos! Proof indeed!

All Filipino dishes were spread. We could not stop going back to the buffet tables. Mayen commented extreme liking on the prawns, and Bukidnon Pineapple & Squid (Pineapple & Squid Salad), while I kept coming back for the fish: Sinugbang Isdang Tangigue, and Deep Fried Grouper in Escabeche Sauce. Then, I was told by Boy and Joy that the main courses like: Bicol Express, Beef Caldereta, Humba na may Pugo Itlog, among others were their favorites.

Amidst the tranquil ambiance of dining at the beach, the charming performance of the Gatgwal Dance Company - headed and choreographed by Walter Betito, the chorerographer HALL OF FAMER in the Sinulog Festival - and the beguiling August moon got us all the more glued to our seats.

We were enthralled by the glittering well-matched costumes and props of the performers, their lively renditions of the different famous folk dances, and the last exciting part was when, after their execution of the Tinikling dance, they got participants from the audience.

Certainly, that was a memorable cultural dinner to cap my first 40 days, with three of my first friends in Cebu.

Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa is an upscale 246-room resort with a French-Mediterranean flavor located on a private beach on the holiday island of Mactan in Cebu, Philippines. The resort is just 10 minutes from the international airport and 25 minutes from cosmopolitan Cebu City.

For reservations and inquiries you may call the Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa at telephone number +632 32 4927777.