Thus spoke Maximo Soliven, well-read columnist and much respected publisher of The Philippine Star and a three-time awardee of the National Press Club as Journalist of the Year. Max Soliven was this year’s guest of honor and featured speaker at the 20th Annual Osmeña Forum on Values presented by the College Assurance Plan ( CAP) Development Center, once-upon-a-time residence of past Philippine President Sergio Osmeña of Cebu.
The symposium series continues to focus on important issues highly relevant to the moral, social and economic stability and development of the nation.
Max Soliven’s hard-to-equal flair and fluency with words captivated, as he only knows how, the SRO audience. His brilliance, wit and wisdom make him a consistent favorite and much-sought-after speaker at public forums. Towards the early evening, newly appointed Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano hosted an intimate dinner – only the magic number of 14 to be exact – in honor of the guest speaker who was celebrating his birthday at the posh Ma-yi restaurant of the City Sports Club.
The privileged few included Representative Raul del Mar, Cebu-based US Consular Agent John Domingo, Erramon Aboitiz of the Aboitiz Group of Companies, Joel Mari Yu of the Cebu Investment and Promotions Corp., Cebu Holdings president Rene Almendras, president and editor-in-chief of the Philippine Airlines’ glossy in-flight magazine Mabuhay Jun Ventura, Arthur Lopez of Palmerston Hotels and Resorts, Edward Gaisano of the mega chain of department stores nationwide, TV host and Star columnist Valeriano Avila accompanied by his spirited wife Jessica, currently president of the Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Association, and Mayen Tan, lifestyle editor of the Freeman.
A birthday cake was wheeled in from the Avilas, long-time good friends, with everyone extending their warm felicitations to a fine gentleman who is admired for his impressive accomplishments.