Casino's Dia de la Hispanidad

CEBU, Philippines -  For the Hispanic communities all over the world, October 12 is known as Dia de la Hispanidad, a time to commemorate their ancestry and the multi-cultural heritage of their race.

On this very same day, the oficiales y miembros del Casino Español de Cebu, once again as they have done through the years, celebrated this occasion with a formal dinner dance at the club’s very own grand ballroom, Salon de España.

The gracious hosts for the gala festivities were two-term club president Manuel Sainz and fellow board members Luis Alba, Vice President; Buddy Veloso, Secretary; Rene Kintanar, Treasurer; House Chairman Gabby Leyson; Director of Sports John Pages; and Director for Cultural Activities Jimmy Escaño.

Cocktail hour was the expected bustle of arriving members and invitees who were dressed in their finest embroidered Barong Tagalog and elegant evening gowns. Visible were members of the Diplomatic Corp such as Honorary Consul of France Michel Lhuillier and his wife Amparito, Honorary Consul of Sweden Jose Sala and his better half Susan, past club presidents Luis Moro, Ed Misa, Miguel del Gallego, Glenn Loop, Jess Cuenco, among others.

The affair began with the celebratory toasts to the Reyes de España, Rey Juan Carlos y Reina Sofia, the President of the Republic of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and to the people of both nations, proposed by Honorary Spanish Consul Jaime Picornell.

Several ladies made a fashion statement in their stunning outfits. They included the club president’s wife Melba Sainz elegant in a black satin gown, head turner Lizette Garcia in a perfectly fit beaded emerald green cocktail dress, Chichi Martinez in a classic black shift dress, Mayet Alba in one-sided magenta gown and Tina Jordana in champagne-colored silk outfit.

Entertainment was provided by the Renaissance and On The Cover bands treating everyone to a medley of popular tunes.

Kicking up their heels on the dance floor were Del and Marilou Ordoñez, Tony and Lorna Quisumbing, Edgar and Cely Chiongbian, Teodoro and Lolly Diez,  

Indeed it was a great gala. The dashing gentlemen and lovely ladies of Cebu turned out in force to celebrate once more the time-honored annual tradition that Casino Español de Cebu solely presents every October to members and their guests.

Viva España. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.