Cebu’s top playwright and director Al Evangelio’s passion spills over from page to stage to kitchen and to canvas. While it is a known fact that he is a prolific playwright (Palanca awardee, Philippine Centennial Commission Open-Asian Literary Competition’s only two category winner, Sulat-dula, etc.) and a compleat stage artist who held the distinction of being the first and only director who brought a full-length musical play (Calamba Joe) from the Philippines to the U.S., few people know of his wizardry in the kitchen and his affinity to the canvas that made him one of the top painting collectors in Cebu.
“I believe in their genius and I fully support and empathize in their aspirations for acknowledgement,” the septuagenarian artist emphatically disclosed. It is no wonder that he is always the one called upon to host the opening of major painting exhibits here and in Manila at no cost to the artist (s) at all. Circumstances, however, compel him to part with his visual balsam and the 70 or so paintings are to be sold on a garage sale on July 15 to 30 at his residence, behind the Guadalupe Church where antique aparadors, senior-sized billiard table, piano and a 54-inch television set are up for grabs, among others.
Al Evangelio is bidding goodbye to Cebu in favor of the island paradise of Biliran, after a short medical check-up in America, to retire as a gentleman farmer in the company of ducks, turkeys and hogs, not “swine”, he hastens to add. Let us visit Al’s garage sale which is ongoing until July 30 to show him our deep gratitude for his valuable distinctive contribution to Cebuano art and culture and help realize his US medical sojourn. For inquiries, please call him at 0918-443-5671.
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The Apple One Tower project, the soon-to-rise 17-storey building, located in the vibrant premier business district Cebu Business Park, recently had its formal launch at the grand ballroom of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.
AppleOne Tower, located along Mindanao Avenue and Biliran Street, has 46 office units, four levels parking spaces and 18 units of exclusive residential suites.
There were 300 guests who attended the dinner buffet, serenaded by Jimmy Marquez. Opening the night was a message by Cebu Investments and Promotions Center Director Jose Mari Yu who shared some insights on the business climate in Cebu.
Architect Michael Torres of ArchiGlobal Inc., the head architect for AppleOne Tower, talked about the inspiration for the building’s design which is “Success without Stress” as evidenced by the careful selection of the location, which helps any businessman or office worker achieve his personal and professional goals.
AppleOne is located right at the center of the city’s premier financial district. It has access to both public and private transportation and is only a few steps away from Ayala Center Cebu which offers great shopping, dining and entertainment experience.
Major project management consultant of AppleOne is AS Enriquez Engineering Consultancy headed by Engineer Apollo Enriquez who discussed some of their portfolio of projects such as: The Walk in AsiaTown IT Park, Cebu Temple of the Church of Latter-day Saints, Ayala Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu Active Zone, and Gaisano Metro Supermarket, and a grocery in Toledo.
The evening culminated with a message from AppleOne Properties, Inc. Vice President for Operations Yvet Villareal Andalis who led in the unveiling of the scale model of the building. Also present to witness the event were the general managers of the different alliance companies of AppleOne Properties, Inc.
AppleOne Tower is the flagship project of AppleOne Properties Inc., a homegrown company in Cebu, headed by Andalis who has an extensive experience in real estate development, management, operations, sales and marketing in both the Philippines and the United States.
AppleOne Properties Inc. has close to 20 years of experience in the real estate development. Under AppleOne Properties, Inc. ownership are Brickwall Construction and Development Corporation, Golden Bee International, Inc., and Sunsky Development Corporation.