A new city arises, citta di mare!

It is called “City by the Sea,” a P25-billion joint venture of Filinvest Land Inc., and the Cebu City Government on a 50.6-hectare lot at the South Road Properties. It was officially launched on August 28 at the Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, a segment of Seascapes Resort Town, one of the five projects being developed by Filinvest in Cebu. This company is one of the pillars in property development with over, excuse me, two thousand hectares in its fold creating 600,000 sq. meters of prime office, residential and retail spaces. These billion peso projects are light years away from the first land development undertaken by this Cebuano, Filinvest Land Board Chairman Andrew L. Gotianun … St. Michael’s Village!

Your favorite food columnist had a prior commitment earlier that day, a wedding and birthday celebration. Hence, I came in a bit late. Photos had to be taken before those nice food displays would be consumed, so my friend Jaja Chiongbian-Rama (Big Seed Media & Marketing Solutions) came to the rescue. There were plenty of Appetizers and Hot Canapés to choose that night:

1. Sesame-Soy Marinated Soba Noodles with Rare Seared Tuna & Sweet Miso Paste

2. Mini Egg Mimosa Topped with Caviar on Pumpernickel Bread Toast

3. Passion Fruit Poached Medium Prawns with Pomelo Relish

4. Duck Confit on Guava Jelly with Raspberry Sauce & Spicy Glazed Walnut and Buffalo Mozzarella Brochete

5. Beef Carpaccio Roulade with Enoki Mushroom

6. Seared Sea Scallop Wrap with Coppa Ham in Lemongrass Skewer

7. Mini Itlog Maalat Ensaymada

8. And my favorites, Oven Baked Medium Prawns Wrapped with Prosciutto & Mango Crème Fraiche

10. And the Lamb Kofta with Minted Yogurt Dip and Roasted Candied Garlic and Chili Flakes

Whew! That my beloved readers was merely for openers. More food followed, so one tablespoon na lang, the main dishes while Filinvest Land Inc. Vice President Tristan Las Marias was on the podium to expound on the merits of Citta di Mare, the “ultimate seaside lifestyle with a waterfront leisure strip and resort inspired residential communities.”

While tasting the Oven Roasted Pork Short Ribs, Ragout of Chicken Cacciatore with Chorizo De Bilbao & Kalamata Olive and Green Mussel Jambalaya Rice with Paprika, I saw the map of the Il Corso, a “10.6 -hectare destination that features retail, leisure and entertainment right by the water’s edge” and that includes a white sand beach (from Carmen Limestone Corp.).

According to Las Marias, a Residential Community will be established including the Piazza, “the central activity area… school, church, shops and restaurants right within the neighbourhood.” At this point, this writer was very busy food tasting the Beef Souvlaki with Tsatziki Dipping Sauce, Baked Regatoni Pasta with Seafood & Mornay Sauce, Asparagus Salad with Crab Stick, Shrimp & Passion Fruit Vinaigrette and the Pièce de résistance, the Roasted Rosemary Chuckroll Beef with Truffle Demi-Glazed.

All these developments in the future will create an urban plight called garbage, tons and tons of it. Filinvest Development Corp Director Andrew “Bibot” Gotianun Jr. has submitted an unsolicited proposal for joint venture na sad with Cebu City for the construction of the City Waste Management Power Plant. This is a small time venture with a capital of only P1.3 billion lang to convert garbage to electricity.

When Citta di Mare will rise, it is only possible because there is a reclaimed land called South Road Properties; a dream many had but only one man, against all odds, turned into a reality… former mayor and now South District Congressman Tommy Osmeña!