Media Birthday Bash

June 16 was a red letter day for nine media practitioners whose birthdays were marked…stretching from March 26 until August 23.

For Cebu City Marriott Hotel GM Bruce Winton, it was a special “Media Birthday Bash” with a theme “Hat Party”. Unique indeed but it was fun!

Yes, it was Thursday, 6:30PM when nine honorees (Mayen Angbetic Tan – March 26, Nelia Neri – March 28, Chinggay Utzurrum – June 2, Joe Recio – June 19, this writer – June 24, Mila Espina – July 16, Cookie Newman – July 17, Jaime Picornell – August 20 and Honey Loop – August 23) came to the Marriott Hotel, sporting their trendiest hats. And lo and behold, at the hotel entrance was the ever-smiling GM Bruce sporting the chef’s hat! No sooner were we all seated in a long table at the Garden Café, when the real chef Brendan Mahoney came to announce his creations, inspirations and innovation as he presented his very special menu for the media birthday bash: Roast Garlic Pepperonata, Soy Bean Hummus served with Bread Chips, Peanut Crusted Tuna Salad, Coconut Dressing, Jimaca Salad, Onion Rings, Chicken Coconut and Ginger Soup, Green Mango & Shrimp Martinis, Chicken Roulades with Smoked Eggplant Roast Garlic & Lemon Jus, Smoked Lechon Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins, Calamansi and Coriander Hollandaise sauce, Beef Tapa, Tangigue Mousse, Pancit Noodle Crisp, Sesame Chili Dressing, Banana Aioli, Braised Beef & Kang Kong Wrapped in Filo. And for dessert – Chocolate Ice Cream Cake, French Style Macaroons, Coconut Filling, Mango Macaroons.

Before we broke up, Bruce, Dominic and Charlene saw to it that all of us could blow the nine candles on the chocolate birthday cake. And the hats? Oh, we had winners – Nelia (1st), Honey (2nd) and Mayen (3rd), with prizes of an overnight stay at the Marriott for the three.

To dear Bruce, a million thanks for the “Media Birthday Bash” that you so kindly hosted!

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Belinda Wong, svelte and pretty wife of Ahoy Wong, hosted a very special lunch for dear hubby when he turned a year older last June 20, at an uptown resto. The two lovebirds are now on their way to Europe for their nth honeymoon and will end their trip in Monte Carlo where Belinda will meet with big ship owners, she, being the owner of Eurasian Maritime Corp., a recruitment agency to supply shipping crews for foreign vessels. They’ll be back end of this month.

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The Cathedral Museum will hold a “Dinner for a Cause” on Wednesday, July 20 at 6:30PM at the Cebu Grand Convention Center. Urgent purpose of this event is to raise funds for the renovation and re-wiring of its electrical installations to prevent what could be a major catastrophe.

Director Msgr. Carlito Pono is appealing to all kind-hearted Cebuanos to attend this dinner and help “continue the heritage” of the Cathedral Museum. Please, please be there…we need your help. Thank you ever so much!

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To all my friends and relatives who didn’t forget my special day, my deep and heartfelt gratitude. And most of all, to our dear God the Almighty who gave me another blessed year of good health. Praise the Lord!