COSTABELLA AT 38

Early in July Ms. Marilou Gica, director of sales at Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel in Mactan, dropped by our house one morning with an invitation to the resort’s 38th anniversary.

“You’ll come,” she said assuredly, “And Ms. Chinggay Utzurrum will come with you.” I said “Yes, with pleasure,” and designed my strategy.

The event would start at 5PM. It takes about two hours to get to Costabella from Cebu City, and July 26 was a Friday, when traffic can be heavy if not at a standstill for long moments.

Chinggay promised to be at my house by 2:45 PM so we could start off at 3 PM. I took along my 5-volume Rod Stewart American Songbook CDs and slid in Volume 1 the moment we hit the road.

There was traffic, of course, but it flowed. It was exactly 5 PM when we entered the gates of the paradise that is Costabella. Ms. Gica was there to welcome us, dressed as Scheherazade of the 1001 Nights as the theme of the celebration was Arabian.

Costabella staff were in diaphanous costumes, and Middle East music filled the air. Dancers flailed their belly buttons; the scene was well worth the court of the Sheik of Araby, staged by the Sandiego Dance Group.

To welcome all was Marita Alvarez-Arambulo, Costabella’s efficient general manager, and her family: husband Raul Arambulo, daughter Ricca Arambulo with her son Andoni, and their son Miko who is Costabella’s marketing manager.

Very much in evidence were Costabella president Luis Martin Alvarez with wife Hazel; corporate secretary Narisse Alvarez Sy with husband Francis Sy and their children – Ria, Reesha, and chef Izzy with girlfriend Andi Lim; and Mariles Alvarez Nable with her children Enzo and Andrea.

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In progress from September 14 to 19 was “Sabores de España,” the annual Spanish food festival at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. It is the year’s No. 1 revenue earner.

The food fest opened with a preview on September 13 at the hotel’s Manila Room. GM Brian Connelly in his opening speech had words of praise for Gema Pido who through the years has been the Marco Polo’s consultant for Spanish cuisine. The menu features favorite dishes and also new recipes from among the many Gema’s family has treasured them.

As it has become a tradition there was a ceremonial slicing of a huge “jamon serrano,” by Spain’s Honorary Consul Anton Perdices and Myra Gonzales, president of Amigos de España en Cebu, plus Brian and Gema.

Playing classical music with their Spanish guitars were Reginald Bernaldez and Ben Brillantes, while Julienne Clothilde Berdin performed several Spanish inspired dances. She is only 12 years old, and is with the Spotlight Dance Studio.

Among those present were Maripaz Perdices, Dr. Nestor Alonzo, Julie Najar, US Consular Agent Glenn and Honey Loop, and the ladies of the Lifestyle pages – Nelia Neri, Chinggay Utzurrum, Cookie Newman and Mila Espina.

The hotel was well represented by resident manager Michaela Priesner, director of sales and marketing Lara Scarrow, communications director Mannah Alcaraz, Febe Compañon, Barbie Burchards, Yumny Mariot, Gemma Baz, Joward Tongco, chef Juanito Abangan, Jude Pangan, and Chino Quintana.

A week before “Sabores de España,” the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel had an Italian Food festival aptly titled “La Dolce Vita,” at El Viento, which is alfresco in the area of the swimming pool.

It was in coordination with Giuseppe Pizzeria and Sicilian Roast restaurant. There was a launch party at the poolside.

“It’s so good,” exulted GM Brian Connelly, for as he said, “My mother is

Italian though she now lives in New Mexico.”

There to prepare varied pastas and fire the pizza ovens were Italian chefs Giuseppe Genco and Luca Genco. “Where is the roast?” Glenn Loop thought aloud and there came a whole roasted chicken, juicy as can be.

Someone asked if there was a pasta dish with cream white sauce, and Luca whipped up one with a fabulous flavor. The next culinary journey at the Marco Polo will feature India. Keep posted for when.

Marisse Alvarez Sy, Luis Alvarez Jr. and Marita Alvarez Arambulo.

Marilou Gica, Marita Arambulo, Kirk Quijano, Stephanie Grace Torcio, Shally Lim, Kentaro Kurita, Hirofumi Kawashima, Luis Alvarez and Marisse Sy.

Ms. Marita Alvarez-Arambulo, General Manager of Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel and Costabella Family.

Sandiego Dance Group doing The ARABIAN SCENE.

(From Left to Right): Mr. Hirofumi Kawashima, Director of Visayas Operations Philippine Travel Factory, Inc.; Mr. Kentaro Kurita, Cebu Office General Manager HIS (Phils) Travel Corp.; Mr. Luis Martin B. Alvarez, President Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel; and Ms. Marisse Alvarez-Sy, Secretary, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel.

Cutting the huge pizza at El Viento are Brian Connelly, Giuseppe Genco and Luca Genco.

La Dolce Vita at the Marco Polo. Seated are Jaime Picornell and Glenn Loop, surrounded by (standing from left): Yumny Mariot, Michaela Priesner, Febe Compañon and Honey Loop.

The Marco Polo Cebu resident manager Michaela Priesner and Lara Scarrow, director of sales and marketing.

Myra Gonzales, president of Amigos de España en Cebu.

Ceremonial slicing of the Jamon Serrano with MPPC General Manager Brian Connelly, Myra Gonzales, Gema Pico and Anton Perdices.

Julienne Clothilde Berdin of Spotlight Dance Studio.

MPPC General Manager Brian Connelly, Maripaz Perdices and Honorary Consul of Spain Anton Perdices.

MPPC Restaurants & Bars Manager Joward Tongco, Honorary Consul of Spain Anton Perdices, Maripaz Perdices and Julie Najar.