Cebu turns out for grand Dia de Hispanidad

The twelfth of October is a special day. It is the birthday of my dear Pappy, and the feast day of one of his great devotions, La Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the Patroness of Spain. The extraordinary coincidence in itself, as far as my own calendar of events goes, is a redder-than-the reddest red-letter day.

Doce de Octobre is likewise widely known as Columbus Day – Dia de Cristobal Colon – the discoverer of America. For Hispanic communities all over the world, it is the time to commemorate their ancestry and the multi-cultural heritage of their race.

On this very same day, the oficiales y miembros del Casino Español de Cebu once again, as they have done through the years, celebrated their annual Dia de la Hispanidad with a formal dinner-dance at the club’s very own grand ballroom.

The wonders of what one can do with yards upon yards of beautiful fabrics, which incidentally highlighted Spain’s national colors of yellow and red, was truly a magical revelation that evening, as it artistically complemented the several antique chandeliers fully decorated with a profusion of mums and chrysanthemums.

Standing proudly at the reception line were the association’s board of directors, led by its president Jess Cuenco and his wife Tess, vice president Ed Misa and wife Helen, secretary Edgar Jica and wife Marna, and treasurer Angel Veloso. They were joined by house chairman Jose Mari Miranda and social and cultural activities chairman Manoling Sainz.

Several ladies made a fashion statement in their black outfits. They included bubbly Millie Avila, the soft-spoken Chiqui Ronquillo, trend-setter Angie Miranda and former resident of Spain Myra Gonzales. Lisette Garcia was stunning in a bodyfit stretch black and purple gown.

Some of the dashing gentlemen in their impeccable tailored suits and exquisite embroidered barong were pianist Ed Dakay, man of all trades Jose Luis Alba, wine connoisseur Dondi Joseph and restaurateur Ato Alvarez.

The highlight of the affair was the celebratory toasts to the Reyes de España, Rey Juan Carlos y Reina Sofia, the President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and the people of both nations, proposed by the Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Tomas Rodriguez-Pantoja, who was the evening’s guest of honor, joined in by Javier Galvan, Instituto Cervantes director, Juan Manuel Feliz of the Confederacion Española de Organización Empresariales, Cebu’s Spanish honorary consul Jaime Picornell and Casino Español president Jess Cuenco.

¡Viva España! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!