Santacruzan at The Marco Polo

Santacruzan,  a very nostalgic Filipino tradition which happens every month of May, will take place at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu on May 10, 4PM through the efforts of the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC)  in cooperation with Clothes for Life and the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu.  This cultural heritage which came to the Philippines during Spanish time, highlights the month-long observance of Flores de Mayo in parishes where little children offer flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in May.

This grand event at the Marco Polo will start with a Holy Mass at the hotel lobby to be followed by the procession at the hotel grounds with  35 Reinas and Zagalas to be led by socialite and philanthropist, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, as Reina Emperatriz and Fiona King as Reina Elena. Other young socialites will showcase attributes of the Virgin Mary in the litany, biblical and historical personalties, the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit, other abstractions and characters. They will all be donning Filipino-inspired masterpieces by the metro’s top fashion designers. A Filipino Dinner Buffet will culminate the event. In connection to this, a Santacruzan 2008 Exhibit featuring the photos of the Reinas and their gowns will run from May 6 to 10 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

This worthy event is for the benefit of Operation Smile, Clothes for Life and the Mission Society of the Philippines, a group of Filipino missionary priests who spread the word of God in Asia Pacific Region. Tickets are pegged at Php 800.00 inclusive of dinner and raffle and are available at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Santacruzan Exhibit Area - Ayala Center Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and participating designers of Clothes for Life Foundation.

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Some few weekends ago, Jaja Chiongbian-Rama, the beautiful and intelligent wife of Cebu City Councilor Edu Rama, hosted a very intimate dinner at the hip Formo, Banilad Town Centre, in honor of my beloved editor, Marlinda Angbetic Tan who celebrated  her birthday a few days before. It was a bienvenida, too, since Mayen just got back from her nine-day Paris tour. I had fun that night just listening to her Paris experiences, escapades and some travel tips, not to mention the words she added to my very limited French vocabulary. Of course, the very good food, now found in the new menu of Formo made our night complete. It was nice to see a good friend from way back, Atty. Jun Dico, that night , who also incidentally got  back from Paris, about the same time Mayen did.  Small world! Cheers!