The recently concluded Sinulog 2011, the country’s biggest festival in honor of our beloved Senyor Santo Niño, was definitely a smashing success. And I’m talking about all the events and activities during the week-long celebration. I doff my hat to the personalities and organizations responsible, all for the love of Cebu City and the miraculous Senyor Santo Niño. To mention some, the Archdiocese of Cebu; the Sinulog Foundation; the Cebu City Tourism Commission, headed by Hon. Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, for the impressive Miss Cebu Pageant; the Metro Cebu Popular Music Festival Foundation; CITOM; the Cebu City Police; the participants, the media and of course, our dear Mayor Michael Rama, who, undeniably, was the busiest, making sure that everything went on smoothly. But in spite of his super hectic schedule, he was able to make it to all his Sinulog week commitments.
And one of those was the Mayor’s Night, held at the newly-opened Elizabeth Hotel along Archbishop Reyes Avenue last January 14. Aside from being one of the judges of the Miss Cebu pre-judging at the Fuente Osmena Circle, a spectator during the coronation night itself, and a participant during the Sinulog parade, attending the Mayor’s Night was, for me, one of the most memorable one.
During that festive night, the mayor entertained and hosted dinner for some foreign guests, balikbayans, VIPs and representatives of some of the city’s sister cities around the world. Also seen that evening were Cebu City Councilors, Cebu City Government Department Heads and the newly-crowned Miss Cebu, Mia Zeeba Faridon and her court: Vanessa Claudine Ammann, second runner-up; Rosemary Gore, third runer-up and Aiko Lyanne Serrano, fourth runner-up (Teffanie Lene Llamada, first runner-up wasn’t able to make due to some circumstances).
The host for the evening was the exotic beauty, Miss Cebu 2010, Reena Malinao. Right after the sumptuous Filipino dinner, the Apas Elementary School students showed us a sample of what they presented during the Sinulog sa Kabataan the previous weekend and what they were going to perform during the Sinulog Grand Parade two days after. Some balikbayans and foreign guests were asked by Reena to say a little about their expectations of their Sinulog holiday and observations of the city in general, as well. Mayor Rama then gave his message before everyone swarmed over him for a souvenir photo. Time flied so fast that the mayor had to catch another event, the Carnival Queen Coronation Night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The Mayor’s Night was definitely a happy and memorable moment for each and every guest especially the balikbayans and the foreign guests. Here are some photos taken that night. Cheers! Pit Senyor!