Time for celebration

Hembler Mendoza, the dedicated and driven manager of the Mactan Waterfront Hotel, launched the beginning of the much-anticipated holiday season by inviting valued patrons, local authorities, hoteliers and special guests to an evening of heartwarming Christmas carols performed by the Voice of Cebu and the   talented students of the Marigondon Elementary School.

The celebration began with the unveiling and lighting of the Christmas tree by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and his first lady Paz Radaza. The baroque-inspired silver and white yuletide tree was innovatively created by Elaine Cooper with the guidance of Janice Minor, maker of beautiful home accessories and decorations.

The highlight of the evening was the parade of holiday costumes worn by angelic children who came dressed as little royals and adorable angels.

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An autobiography of Dr. Augustus Ouano entitled Motivation and Opportunity was launched at the Casino Español de Cebu. The event started with a forum focused on the opportunities for the Philippines in the IT Hardware Innovation.  Reactors were Roger Lim, president and CEO of East Asia Utilities Corp., Andrew Aznar, CEO of Southwestern University, and Felix Buot, a balikbayan physicist.

Bunny Pages, successful entrepreneur and media personality, gave the introduction to the book. This was followed by commentaries from Dodong Osmeña, president of the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers-Cebu Chapter, Luis Cabatingan, department head of the Chemical Engineering, University of San Carlos, Juliet Basa, professor of the College of Arts, and Liberty Pinili, business section editor of Sun Star Daily.  

The book is about the discovery of a passion, its development and its delivery for the benefit of others. It is also about the opportunities, which allowed these events to happen.

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When the Aboitiz Group of Companies promises an unforgettable party, you better believe they will deliver, and so they did. The privileged invitees at the fun-filled event were the members of the Cebu tri-media.

Looking back over the past several years, we have to hand it to the think-tank team that has continuously come up with party themes that have delighted the guests to no end.

There was the Christmas Cruise in 2003 where guests boarded the Supercat for an evening cruise along the Mactan Channel as music from violins and guitars filled the air. The Fiesta a la Aboitiz the following year showcased the best Spanish cuisine at the Casino Español de Cebu as Dancing with the Stars in 2007 had guests going down memory lane  with ‘60s and the ‘70s swinging music.  

The Christmas 2008 party dubbed The Aboitiz Amazing Race took inspiration from the reality TV show Amazing Race. Held at the spacious Grand Ballroom of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, guests enthusiastically joined the all Filipino trivia questions and challenging games. Everyone went home carrying red canvass bags filled with goodies and gifts.