Celebrations around town

CEBU, Philippines - As growing kids, we all loved celebrating our birthdays when we got to invite relatives and friends who brought lots of  presents in all shapes and sizes , the bigger , the better. The menu was pretty simple, spaghetti, pizza and hotdogs, with  ice cream and cake to match. More importantly, that day was all about us and we loved the attention we received, as it made us feel special.

Regardless of age, birthday celebrations are still very much a part of our tradition. Rose Hennessy, once upon a time international stewardess, opted to invite her closest friends to an evening of wine and picas at Cebu's latest watering hole, Just Wines.  On that memorable evening, invitees turned up for the joyous occasion and savored the generous cocktail spread prepared by chef Alfonso Martinez.  Popular Cebuano guitarist Mario Blanco provided the lively entertainment. The celebrant's better half, Mike Hennessy, personally attended to each guest and made sure glasses were kept full  throughout the evening.

Marko Makluf, a long time resident of London, while visiting Cebu recently with Cebuana wife Margarita, likewise celebrated his birthday with family, relatives and some closest of the closest of friends. Indeed it was very true to his good natured and down to earth  character.   Their  only daughter   Leila, who turned 10  a few days later had her birthday wish come true with a swimming party  among  new found friends, Teresa, Lorenzo and Roberto  Aguilar,  Angela and Isabel Garcia and Santi, Paloma and Nacho Manguerra.

Lisa Mill Irving, eagerly awaiting the birth of her 2nd granddaughter, hosted a baby shower for her youngest daughter Cristina Sasnovsky. Co-hosting the delightful British high tea themed party was her daughter Margarita, Ana Fe Lujan, a resident of Valencia, Spain and Adela Jarque.

The setting was at the well appointed home of Lisa, which was beautifully decorated entirely in pink and white; pink balloons, buntings, and dainty pink roses clustered in white tea pots.

The fun, all-ladies afternoon gathering culminated with the soon, first-time-mother-to-be, opening gifts for her  baby which included mittens ,booties and bibs, crib and bedding set, teething rings and pacifiers, baby tub and a lot more.

As the party came to a close,   each guest was given a nice beautifully wrapped scented candle and, as expected, naturally in pink.