After Cebu City Marriott Hotel’s GM Roy Abraham started this gesture of honoring all Lifestyle writers to a dinner gathering, whoever is the next general manager who takes over the helm followed suit.
GM Bruce Winton did the same, and we were complete in his time: Mayen Angbetic Tan and Nelia Neri (March); Chinggay Utzurrum, Joe Recio and this writer (June); Mila Espina and Jenara Newman (July); and Jaime Picornell and Honey Loop (August). But we missed Mayen and Honey who were both out of the country at the time. And we had a ball especially with our colorful scarves worn.
Thus we thanked the new GM Patrick Carroll for hosting this dinner for us. Enviably, we were all stunned to hear him speak fluently in Spanish when he talked to Cecilia Picornell. We found out later that he was assigned in Cancun and Mexico City Marriott Hotel as Director of Finance following his stint in Marriott Seoul, South Korea.
Actually, GM Patrick Carroll graduated in Business Administration and Hotel & Restaurant Management from Michigan State University in September 1982. From then on, he had a vast experience in hotel and resto management, business ad and more especially in Finance.
To GM Patrick: Welcome to the Queen City of the South!
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In appreciation for coming to Cebu to conduct a free workshop and concert, the organizers headed by Norma Borromeo honored Mrs. Simon Chan, musical director from Singapore at a dinner at Montebello Villa Hotel. It was an evening of music and songs. The performers were Mrs. Chan herself, Pilar and Jake Borromeo sang favorite songs of yesteryears. Indeed, Mrs. Chan brought with her happy memories of her friends in Cebu. The Proclaming Christ Concert can be viewed in YouTube by searching Cebu Cantors. This was participated in by 65 choir members from the different parishes in Cebu.
On another date, former Ambassador Francisco L. Benedicto hosted lunch for Mrs. Simon Chan. Ambassador Frank’s first foreign assignment was in Singapore. His other guest was Verbum Dei priest, Fr. Michael Cheong