Three openings in September

It's October again and aside from the usual Senior Citizen's Month that is always celebrated at this time, October 26 until October 28 will also be a three-day live-in Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) initiated by the Oasis of Love to be held as usual at the Ecotech Center. Surprise speakers who will give their heartwarming and, sometimes, funny testimonies are expected. Interested people who wish to join are requested to call CCTN for more information. Definitely, there is no discrimination. Anyone can join, regardless of religious belief, color, race and age.

As the month of October enters, the month of September ended with typhoon Milenyo that devastated Metro Manila. Although there were calamities that happened, there were also pleasant things that we can remember in September. Aside from the formal lauching of Wendy Mendoza's parlor, her birthday on the 25th had the usual feeding and giving of gifts to the street children at the Parian Drop In Center (in cooperation with McDonalds-JY Square) and a sumptuous sit down dinner with more than fifty close friends and relatives (minus two rebel close relatives) at Abuhan 2.

Other memorable September affairs were three openings and formal blessings of different business ventures of close friends. Former beauty title holder, Visayan movie actress and Looc Barangay chairlady, Edith Flores Cabahug, wife of Mandaue City councilor Raul "Pokang" Cabahug celebrated her birthday last September 16 with a big bang. It also coincided with the formal blessing and opening of her new love project: Edith's Beauty Secrets and Spa, near the Cabahug residence in Barangay Looc, very near UC-Mandaue Rev. Father Ed Cabog of the Saint Joseph the Worker Parish solemnized the blessing while the first lady of Mandaue City, Madame Linda Ouano, assisted Edith in cutting the ceremonial ribbon. That evening, although it was raining cats and dogs, there was a cultural show performed by the grade school students and teachers of Looc Elementary School along with the officers and members of the Looc Parents Teachers-Community Association (PTCA) complete with fireworks. There were tributes to the birthday celebrants as it coincided with the induction of officers of the PTCA, attended by the first family of Mandaue City, Mayor Teddy and Linda Ouano and officers of DEP-ED. Among those from the DEP-ED were Dr. Carolino B. Mordeno - DECS regional director, Dr. Jean vda. de (the late Leo, our former collegue) Enriquez, Mrs. Virginia Zapanta - the assistant Schools Div. Supt., Mrs. Rita Cabahug - the principal of Looc Elementary School and barangay officials: Erlinda Tarona, Kevin Ouano, Skipper Ouano, Cathy Ouano, Korky Ouano and representatives from Julie's Bake Shop headed by Mr. Pompey Domingo (husband of Tita and mother of singer Thea). Cathy Cabahug will soon put up an outlet of Julie's Bake Shop near their residence. On the next day, September 17, we were at another formal opening of Pable's Shopping Center and High Seas Coffee Shop in Cayam, Naga, Cebu. The place was formally blessed by Pastor Naz Lapiz and owned by our very dear friends, Renel and Mrs. Mara Dabalos. The relatives of the couple, including the Dabalos brothers, Roger and Rudy attended the affair. Barangay officials, kagawads, Manuel Rep, Renaria Alforque, A Labos and secretary Rhoda Barud and treasurer Editha Alferez were also present and enjoyed the food served by AYG Catering Services. Last Friday, September 29, the Gonzalez brothers - Jonji and Paolo - together with partners, Gary Tenchavez, Cristine Tenchavez, Greggy Tenchavez and Ghea Tenchavez also opened their love project called Tableya. As the name suggests, the place, located along Escario near the corner of Gorordo Avenue (fronting the former office of CDN), serves chocolate of various types and aroma. Naturally, together with the chocolate, you can also order different kinds of puto, bibingka, suman, pastries and other bakery items. According to Paolo, he is a chocolate drinker and since the Tenchavez siblings grew up in a cacao plantation in Cotabato (their parents from Bohol also have a cacao plantation), they decided to put up a place which should be different from the usual coffee shop. After all, they say, children are not advised to drink coffee, but are allowed to drink chocolate. So, the place is for the whole family.