Happenings around Cebu

An invitation from sisters June Alegrado and Julie Alegrado Vergara was hard to turn down knowing how good a friend we are to dear parents, Consul Dodong and Marle Alegrado. It's just that when we were at the posh Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort for that out-of-this-world dinner, Dodong and Marle were out of the country for their umpteenth wedding anniversary. And of course, their honeymoon too!

Actually, the sit-down dinner at the newly-created Allegro restaurant was a celebration of the proud achievements the resort had collected during the yearly Cebu Goes Culinary affair of the HRRAC held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel last July. The resort bagged no less than 13 gold awards, not to mention the 4 Golds with Distinction, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals. The awards were definitely a reason for Vic, Julie and June to host that dinner with close friends and selected media personalities.

Just before dinner was over, Julie introduced Chefs Ariel and Mia Manuel who did all the extraordinary things presented during the HRRAC affair...the twenty awards never before experienced by any institution in this burg. And Julie's friend, Marita Arambulo, HRRAC prexy was smiling approvingly. The next day, Vic and Julie Vergara left for Las Vegas, USA, for that much-needed vacation. They will be back before the end of this month. Congrats, Juls!

MSYCFI visited southern towns

We spent a whole day hopping for one town to another to follow up on indigent patients who had undergone reconstructive surgeries during OpSmile 2005-2006.

Members of the board of Trustees of MSYCFI that sponsored all Operation Smile missions in Cebu the past nine years, headed by Executive Director Monette Aliño visited the towns of Carcar, San Fernando, Naga, Minglanilla and Talisay. We found out that a lot of the patients had very good recovery, but so many too, especially those with cleft palates, have to be redone since their healing is not yet complete. We have also seen hundreds of new patients with cleft lips and palates scheduled for operation come February, 2007 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

With us on this trip were Dr. Vivina Chiu, Dr. Alain Senerpida (platic surgeon), Dr. Clara Credo, Monette and Andrew Aliño, Max Suico and this writer. In Carcar, we were accommodated by MHO Dr. Grace Alcoseba; San Fernando-Dr. Phebe Rivera; Naga - Dr. Pura Canet; Minglanilla - Dr. Rotsenia Veloso and Talisay, Drs. Virgilio Tangarorang and Milagros Carloto. We thanked all these doctors for their support and cooperation.

Fusion Coffee Launched

Baena Trading, owned and operated by couple Brett Hawkins and Angelica Baena from Australia, launched their Fusion Coffee at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel recently.

Fusion Coffee has long been a favorite in the Australian Café and Hospitality industries. Angelica who is actually a qualified Chef and Pattisierre, gave a demo on how to concoct good coffee.

Fusion coffee, is a harmonious blend of coffee beams sourced from the best in Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The couple decided to open a branch in Cebu because during their regular visits to Cebu, they have seen a rapid growth in Cebu's Café Culture over the last few years. Angelica, by the way, has roots in Toledo City.