Casino Español goes Broadway

CEBU, Philippines - Due to the resounding success of the Casino Español de Cebu’s talent night last year,  the board of directors, led by president Buddy Veloso, once again gave their full support    to this exceptionally unique club activity.

The evening’s extravaganza aptly dubbed    Casino Goes Broadway, threw the spotlight on home-grown performers, all club members and their dependents. It showcased singers, dancers and entertainers. As originally conceptualized, it was not a    competition. They were there to share their talents.

These artistas, at least for the night, gave life to an evening of sharing one’s blessings, and inspired by guts and courage, of cammaraderi and laughter, of fellowship and most of all lots of fun, the participants gave it their best amidst applause and cheers.

The show opened with    Bubbly Christina Gabucan    captivating the audience with her    interpretation of  Don’t Rain on my Parade from the Broadway musical  Funny Girl. Ever graceful ballerina Tessie Javier did    an up-beat dance    number by Abba from Mamma Mia.  Danielle Mae Louise Go, all of 11 years old and the youngest performer, endeared herself with her moving rendition of  On My Own  from  Les Miserables.

The evening would simply not be complete without tenor Del Ordoñez, who captivated everyone with his version of  If Ever I Would Leave You    from  Camelot.    Fun couple Edgar and Cely Chiongbian brought the house down with their exhilarating adaptation of  Grease Lighting  from  Grease.

Amanda Gabucan, who at 7 years old a few years back,    performed at the Asia Pacific Festival in Pittsburg, California, showed her singing competence with her rendition of    Don Quixote  from  Man of La Mancha, while Leigh Ramos did justice to the song  I’m  Telling You I’m Not Going  from the  Dreamgirls.  Director for cultural and social activities Paco Jarque and his wife Monique masterfully exhibited their dance and song skills with  Big Spender  from  Sweet Charity.

Past president Gabby Leyson and his partner Tina Jordana elicited much laughter amidst applause with their riotous interpretation of  Sixteen Going on Seventeen  from the  Sound of Music.  Restaurateur Winglip Chang, pleasantly surprised everyone when he sang the theme song of  Starlight Express. The Jordana’s, Miren Sofia, Natalia Marie, and Jarrah together with Aurora Fernandez and Maria Luisa del Gallego had the audience on their feet with their rendition of  Cant Stop the Beat  fromHairspray.

Eighty-seven-year-old Aurora Causing Fernandez, in glittering evening gown, received a thunderous applause, cheers and standing ovation for her performance of  Memory  from the musical  Cats.  Cheling Sala, Kathie Javellana and Ramon Jarque, lovers of music likewise elicited roaring cheers for their    perfectly delivered medley of    South Pacific    and Bali Hai.

The Casino staff in    colorful costumes    did a perfectly choreographed surprise dance number from  Les Follies.  Front liners wee Jehd Ombos, Joselito Occo, Raphel Batasin-in, Mona Maningo, Joan and Philip Galban, Gil Maravillas, Rodel Caranoo,    Ivy Fugosa and Julie Bato.

The programs finale had    Susan Sala, Ana Climaco, Lehn Jarque, Lisette Garcia, Marivic Borromeo, Grace Lozada, Toots Torres, Rose Hennessy and this writer dressed as    “angelic nuns” but with a twist, high heels and fully made up, doing    an adaptation of the much acclaimed musical comedy  Sister Act.         

Thanks to the talent and skill of MC Bunny Pages,    the evening ‘s program flowed freely from start to finish without any hitches.  It was truly    a wonderful evening of fun, laughter and lots of surprises    with outstanding fellowship and bonding between members. (FREEMAN)