Cebu goes retro in fund-raising dance

Several parties have virtually become successful charity events. One such gathering was the "Retro 2002," organized by the very active St. Theresa’s Alumnae Association, to raise funds for their medical center project in the City of Cebu.

Die-hard Theresians and their partners filled the Cebu Plaza Hotel lobby as two versatile bands filled the air with the favorite music of the ’60s and the ’70s.

Dressed to celebrate the good old days were artist Coring Linao, who came in a black and white polka dot mini skirt, while lifestyle editor Nelia Neri looked every inch a colegiala in her stirrup stretch pants and matching teased bouffant hairdo. Teresin Mendezona, who assisted with the décor, opted for black bell bottom slacks she luckily uncovered from her baul.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña simply could not resist the call of the beat and the rhythm of his time and whisked wife Margot to a graceful bye-bye number.

Alvin and Ninette Garcia exhibited their hard-to-beat abilidad with the boogie-woogie.

The ever-present ballroom dancing habitués, with their flair for fluid movements and fanciful steps, such as the statuesque architect Tessie Javier and the highly-spirited Jane Llaban, with their respective dance floor mates and likable couple Ed and Helen Misa, were a delight to watch.

Even the gentlemen, who always prefer to allow particular tune and all the succeeding ones to pass by, just slowly sipping their glasses of red wine or cognac and enjoying every gulp they take, eventually invaded the tempting dance area. Spotted were realtor Joe Utzurrum and his wife Chinggay, fun-loving Alberto Rotaeche and his wife Tere, and banker Alex Pimentel with partner-in-life Ninette.

The spotlight was focused for hours on the musically-gifted Ateneans who call themselves the Spirit of 67, who love creating beautiful, memorable nostalgic music.

Appreciative supporters of the all-girls association, Smart Telecom’s Ramon Isberto, Cebu Pacific’s Yvonne Loy, and Cebu Plaza’s Aissa de la Cruz, smiled approvingly as they noticed one and all having a worry-free, great wonderful time.

And there were the beaming ladies with broader smiles, the busy bunch comprising the working committee, led by STAA president Marissa Fernan, who was instrumental in bringing it all together, ably aided by Elvira Luym, Deena Pages, Jolen Lim, Cherry Muntuerto, Pacita Toledo, Ruby Lim and Ada Martinez. Sore feet, perhaps? Somewhat under the weather for sure! But it was all worth it!