Cebu rolls out red carpet for Sto. Niño book

Strange as it may seem, unbelievable as it may sound, the Santo Niño came to Cebu. Rightfully so, as expected, the Cebuanos, mostly devotees in varying degrees, passion and intensity, rolled out the welcome carpet.

The Holy Child, in this particular case, came in the form of a coffee-table book – well documented, beautifully written and excellently illustrated. The complete title – Santo Niño, The Holy Child Devotion in the Philippines.

Ben Farrales, the veteran fashion designer, and the publisher of the overwhelmingly inspired piece of devotion, hosted its re-launch during an intimate merienda-cena at the mezzanine verandah-like area of the Cebu Waterfront Hotel, a property whose popularity continues to soar with each passing day; just ask any repeat guest or loyal client. Co-host was la muy amable Vicky Magadia, wife of Renato Magadia, chairman of the Waterfront chain of hotels, and Abe Florendo, who edited the publication con mucho amor and who has rejoined the Philippine Star as one of its editors.

On hand, who had earlier flown in from Manila, good friends and fellow traveling companions during pilgrimages around the world, were Fe de Guia, Chichi Salas and Leoncia Divinagracia.

Among the early arrivals were ladies who certainly don’t waste time in achieving what they aim for in life, such as la hacendera Isabel Muertegui de Garcia and her daughter, the livewire and driven Mali, who had an important foreign buyer of furniture and furnishings in town. And Liza Paradiez, a firm believer of the miracle of the gym, who is looking so well these days that she actually glows.

Seated together were las graciosas señoras de Cebu y pasandolo muy bien,classic Rosebud Sala, who does everything with flair, busy-body Carmen Campbell, who claims she never has enough time to do what she plans to, a very spirited Hazel Gonzalez, whose triple chocolate cake, only available at her family resto, the Beehive, one of the city’s landmarks, has remained one of the top favorites in any dessert buffet table in parties and gatherings, Moya Jackson, though originally from the United Kingdom, has always been a resident of this city as far as I can recall, and trend-setter Teresin Mendezona, who amused the host with her anecdotes of their good old days together.

From the exciting world of fashion came Philip Rodriguez, who in addition to his involvement in several associations and organizations, projects and programs, presently serves as a tourism commissioner, Albert Arriba, who constantly astounds the living-is-easy damas de la ciudad with his many talents, and Felix Yu, who had earlier sent a huge floral spray with all his good wishes for a fruitful event.

Totally engrossed scanning through the pages of their newly acquired copies were Happy Ouano Miranda and daughter Merche, whose family-owned wharf in nearby Mandaue City is the focal starting point of the annual fluvial parade of the Santo Niño during the weeklong celebration of the Sinulog Festival, Tonette Pañares, the able and tireless curator of the Southwestern University Museum and an authority on images of the Sto. Niño found in Cebu and its neighboring islands, and Ronald Duterte, president of the University of Southern Philippines, whose very own museum has its own share of treasures.

Noticed clutching their very own copies were Nonie Uy, Grace Lozada, Loreta Dytian, and the city’s First Lady Margot Osmeña. Oh, where does she get all her energy?

Members of the media were present as well. Eva Gullas, accompanied by Jing Ramos, of Zee, the magazine that has captured Cebu lifestyle, in its pages, Cookie Newman, who had earlier written a book review with nothing but high praises at Sun Star Daily Cebu, travel writer Mayen Angbetic Tan of the Freeman, and the interesting Gavin Bagares of Cebu Daily News.

Sorely missed were admirable Ingrid Sala Santamaria, who was in Mindanao having just started her much-awaited provincial concert tour, genteel Mari Villalon, busy playing host to visiting foreign-based relatives, vivacious Janet Ugarte, who had to attend to last minute needs of daughter Mikele scheduled to depart for London the very same afternoon for further studies, and ahead-of-her-time Amparito Lhuillier, who was out of town on one of her many trips.

Ben Farrales was all smiles from late afternoon to early evening. He was genuinely touched when Monsignor Cristobal Garcia, a Santo Niño devotee through and through, arrived as Ben put away the last poster and box at the end of the successful affair. Though the Monsignor may have been late, the founding chairman of the Congrecacion del Santissimo Nombre del Niño Jesus understood perfectly well. The Monsignor was late only because he was officiating in the several activities of the Santo Niño in celebration of the grand fiesta de Cebu.

¡Viva, Santo Niño¡ ¡Viva!