Of fine dining, camaraderie & Paris

Luminaries from Cebu’s elite circles gathered at the top-notch five-star hotel in the Queen City of the South, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu (MPPC), for the gala dinner and induction of new members of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Bailliage de Cebu.

Founded in Paris in 1950, Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is an international gastronomic society “devoted to promoting fine dining and preserving the camaraderie and pleasures of the table.”

The glamorous affair was spearheaded by Conseil Magistral and Bailliage National des Philippines Bailli Delegue Michel Lhuillier and his wife, Bailli de Cebu Amparito Lhuillier together with the hardworking MPPC team under the helm of general manager and Marco Polo Hotels, Philippines area general manager Hans Hauri.

Guests were transported to the beautiful City of Light during the event dubbed “Paris in Springtime.” The hotel’s main lobby was decorated with lush flowers and a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower. An exceptional dinner was prepared by MPPC’s culinary experts for the guests as they were treated to a wide array of sumptuous and mouthwatering dishes, perfectly complemented by overflowing drinks.

Spectacular performances by Austrian pianist Franz Langer and opera singer Christa van der Kruit-Hemetsberger, as well as the Follies de Mwah, delighted everyone that evening. The ladies also got a lovely surprise that night when internationally renowned couturier Cary Santiago showcased his Paris Spring Collection.

Congratulations to Hans and the entire Marco Polo Plaza Cebu team for this successful affair!

For the love of ballet

Lovers of ballet had reason to rejoice as Sayaw Foundation Inc. Cebu and Environ Chapter held its “chartering” at the Montebello Villa Hotel in Cebu City. 

The ballet school for scholars is headed by founder and charter president Angola Consul Helen Ong. The event also saw the induction of its new members and officers. 

Congratulations to all!

Genesis: Paintings of spirits

An affinity for creation is one of the fundamental traits of an artist. The creative process has its ebbs and flows, but always starts with that initial spark, an artist’s â€œGenesis” so to speak, wherein the source of his inspiration dictates the final painting.

The art of Francis Nacion began with his readings into folk spirituality and the myths and legends of the countryside. Looking at a Francis Nacion painting is like having a folk story come to life — full of fairies and spirits, animal transformations, heroes and ordinary rural folk caught up in a world of magic and mystery. 

Coming from a successful collaboration with Carlo Ongchangco, Nacion just concluded his fifth one-man show at Galerie Stephanie in Libis, Quezon City.

Entitled Genesis, the show exhibited the latest works of Nacion, whose compositions are playful, drawing on the folk belief in the ability of spirits to take the forms of humans and animals. Nacion is a member of the famed Saturday Group of artists.

Among those seen admiring Nacion’s  works were noted painter-photojournalist Pinggot Zulueta, Muebles Italiano president and CEO Noel Gonzales and wife Eileen, Dr. Ferjenel Biron and Dr. Greg Alvior. 

Everyone enjoyed the works of Nacion’s solo exhibit! Networking with San Francisco

A luncheon meeting on “Business Briefing and Networking” was jointly hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Department of Trade and Industry at the Century Park Hotel in Manila for a 79-man delegation from the city government of San Francisco.

The visit was made possible through the invitation of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. San Francisco and Manila have been sister cities since 1961. The San Francisco delegation also visited calamity areas like Tacloban to personally deliver their donations.  Photo shows San Francisco/Manila Sister City chair Carmen Colet, Tanzania Consul Betty Chua and San Francisco City and County Mayor Edwin Lee.