A joyful holiday in Cebu

True to form, as expected, the merry month of December was packed, crammed and jammed with a series of seemingly never-to-end significant and meaningful events, all joyful and entertaining, filled with cheer and laughter and full of fun.

The very committed Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC), spearheaded by workaholic Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, officially launched the beginning of the much awaited holiday season with the lighting of over 200 colorful Christmas lanterns at the downtown Plaza Santa Cruz, site of the island’s premier landmark, the Magellan’s Cross. Doing the honors were Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, noticeably with more zip, zest and zing than ever before, his wife – the affable and amiable Margot, who is only too glad to assist anyone in distress – and the reigning Miss Cebu 2002 Melanie Ediza.

With the entire plaza ablaze with vibrant and variegated lights, the brief program featured a well-choreographed dance number based on historical data that traced the birth of Christianity in the archipelago. A doxology on the Holy Infant Jesus followed.

Part of the proceeds from the prestigious beauty and brains pageant scheduled during the week of the Sinulog celebrations were pledged by the CCTC for the continuous upkeep of the centrally located plaza, a favorite for walkabout paseos after sundown.

* * *

Meanwhile, the ever-busy Cebu Parks and Playground Commission (CPPC), chaired by genuinely dedicated cause-oriented ladies Chary Aboitiz and Therese Gonzalez, whose commitment is to landscape, care and maintain the environment of the city, ventured into a successful fund-raising activity for their worthwhile project.

Six of Cebu’s foremost couturiers, namely Philip Rodriguez, Jed Sevilla, JunJun Escario, Arcy Gayatin, Jude Elardo and the single-named Protacio, were tapped and tasked to create a novel, unprecedented Christmas trees for the city’s selfless, socially concerned personalities: Caring socialite Zeny Larrazabal, world traveler lady-in-travel Elizabeth Gan Go, innovative exporter Janice Minor, mega owner of cinema houses Adelina Soco, former national beauty title holder and doting mother Yedda Romualdez and entrepreneur Michael Gleaner.

There were no disappointments. As a matter of fact, the designers’ holiday trees were prominently displayed at the Ayala Center for everyone to appreciate and marvel: Rodriguez’s unmatched elegance with crystals, pearls and capiz shells tied with antique ribbons and golden cords; Sevilla’s indigenous materials, such as abaca and coconut with blue and silver bows and ribbons; Escario’s tree radiant with deep colored poinsettias and fiery phoenixes; Gayatin’s aquatic tree bedecked with fish and starfish fashioned out of aqua-cut beads; Elardo’s simple yet endearing concept of the birth of our Savior with the dominant image of an angel as centerpiece; and Protacio’s use of countless little golden cherubs.

* * *

Hotels were busy as ever. At the neighboring island, the Waterfront Hotel Mactan welcomed the holiday season with the illumination of the traditionally decorated yuletide tree at the lobby by the First Lady Paz Radaza and the property’s president Patrick Gregorio. As the Zapatera Children’s Choir serenaded the guests with much-loved, favorite and familiar carols, a sumptuous Christmas dinner, prepared by chef Arnand Polon, was served

As always, almost like a well-revered tradition, the Cebu Plaza Hotel kicked off the fiestas with the annual get-together brunch at the lobby lounge. On hand to greet guests from TV, radio and print media with the broadest of smiles were acting general manager Ernesto Quimba, assistant sales manager Maimai Regner and vivacious and extremely efficient PR lady Aissa dela Cruz.

Among the raffle prizes, which included several dream holidays at the hotel by the hill, Cebu Plaza, and the luxurious Alegre Beach Resort, were the made-with-much-love gingerbread houses.

* * *

The highlight at the Ayala Center was the presentation of an all-original Christmas musical entitled Once upon a Manger, sponsored by the Cebu Holdings, headed by its president Rene Almendras. It was written by Waya Gallardo with music by Ryan Cayabyab and lyrics by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo. The musical extravaganza featured the talented Jeffrey Quizon as Angel Alain, with China Cojuangco as Mary and Lee Robin Salazar as Joseph.