Just a few simple gatherings

Much as I really wanted to, I could not attend the dinner concert tendered by the Quota Club International last February 4 because I had to be with some relatives and very close friends for a simple gathering hosted by balikbayan Mrs. Laksmih Tagimacruz Rama and husband Dave Appanah at their new three-story spacious residence in Ward 4, Minglanilla. Laksmih's architect brother Douglas Tagimacruz Rama designed the house. In attendance were Lakmih's elder brother Jude, wife Socorro, who are Cebu residents, (Laksmih and Dave are living in Canada with their only child, Cathy, and busy with their home for the aged center), Architect Douglas and only daughter Gidra. The three sons of Douglas - Dave Izra, Charlette and DJ - are studying in General Santos so they could not make it. Laksmih's elder sister Mrs. Ingrid Gocela, wife of known award winning composer Engr. Bernard Gocela, was also there. Bernard however had commitments which could not be cancelled. The youngest of the brood, Mrs. Sharla Soco, who helps Laksmih and Dave at their home for the aged center, could not also make it, but her very good looking sons - Lester and Tata - former models, attended the affair. They are now nurse's aids in Canada and did not stay long because they had to fly back to Canada early the next day. Laksmih's only living auntie, younger sister of her mother (the late Aurora Tagimacruz Rama), Annie, came with husband Atty. Pericles Quijano along with their children (all professionals) and grandchildren. Two uncles: Leo (with wife Amparo and children) and Emmanuel (with wife Stella and children) were also there. Emmanuel, a former Visayan movie actor who had a combo called Hillside Masters in the late fifties, is a retired GSIS employee.

I did not also make it to the grand opening of Hai Phong Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine in Crossroads last February 12. I would like to apologize to my good friend Cedric Tumulak who gave the invitation in behalf of owner, good-looking Anthony Ballreich. I had to be with my only living auntie, Perlas awardee Mrs. Rufina Ruiz vda. de Espinosa, for a simple thanksgiving Mass and gathering of close relatives and friends, including the members of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI). The band called The Humming Birds, playing regularly at City's Grill, is headed by the son of Tiya Pining - Jude R. Espinosa. They provided the music for the whole evening. Younger brother Manny and Jude himself are the band's vocalists. Jude's good-looking son, Jhungjhung, who sang at the awards night when Tiya Pining received her Perlas award about four years ago, jammed with the group. He has his own group called, Jhung 'N Jang. Tiya Pining and her late husband Vicente Aguilar Espinosa, together with a couple of good neighbors, were the pioneers of the old San Vicente Ferrer chapel now known as the San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Sambag 1 and Sambag 2.

POSTSCRIPTS:
Who could say "no" to this Korean-looking former reporter of this paper, now the head of JY Gonzalez and Partners? He invited us to an intimate gathering last January 9 for a media briefing on the new versatile products of his client, Epson? One of these is the all-in-one Epson AculaserTM CX11N equipment that improves office productivity with its multifunction capabilities. This is designed to bring full office color-printing solution in a high performance all-in-one machine. Epson AcuLaserTM 2600N/C2600N printers will impress you with their speed, versatility and cost savings.

Held in Hai Phong Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine, the gathering made members of the media go home with a comfortable jacket each. For those who won the games, they brought along additional gifts: a ballpen radio and pocket diary.

Still at Crossroads last January 17, breakfast time, ABS-CBN presented to the local media, the very first housemate who decided to go out of the house of the invisible big brother because of pressure, not from within the house, but in her real abode in Mabolo. Her house was ransacked by a burglar. She was not supposed to have any communication from the outside world while she was in the PBB House, but perhaps someone could not afford to hide what happened told her. The information was inaccurate, so she had to find out what really happened. She was told that only her daughter and the yaya were in the house. All the while, she was confident that there were at least five people there. She said she had to know what happened to the others. She found out later that the burglar was her own brother, taking away her component. But she said she had no regrets because PBB, gave her enough money for her charity.

In another intimate gathering at the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN), Tatay Dodong Lim Chua told the production pool, talents and staff, that they should hurry up with their projects, because the network will start new programs by March 12. These will be formally launched through full tri-media coverage by March 31. The new programs to be launched are three telenovelas: Tres Metros, El Niño Salvador and Dear Tatay. Others are Nasud-Suroy, a semi-docu with the hosts traveling to tourist spots throughout the country, and a showbiz-society talk show called Ay Kinabuhi!!! where the hosts will have one or two guests everyday. Showbiz and/or society intrigues will be the topic. Incidentally and interestingly, Tres Metros is a heartwarming story of an aging (take note, JY Gonzalez, Roger Serna, Jude Bacalso and Cerwin Eviota) gay cigarette vendor who has to pass through three different obstacles in life. When asked what these obstacles are, Tatay Dodong Lim Chua answered with a smile: secret! 1970 Tawag Ng Tanghalan national grand champion Novo Bono Jr. has a monthly singing contest called Search for a Southern Star. This will be held in the seven cities of Cebu. This March it will be in Talisay City, in time for the city's celebration of the landing of the American Forces during the WWII.