LA CHAINE GALA INDUCTION ON MARCH 7

The Cebu chapter of La Chaine des Rotisseurs will hold its 27th induction gala on March 7 at the grand ballroom of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. Twelve new members will be tapped on their shoulder with a golden sword by Baili Delegue Michel Lhuillier.

Five current members will be raised to a higher status, including the new Baili de Cebu, Louis Thevenin. The position has been held by Mme. Amparito Lhuillier who is now Baili de Cebu emeritus.

Theme for the March 7 gala is Black and White, devised by general manager Brian Connelly, covering the décor and the menu.

There’ll be black and white truffles, says the hotel’s food and beverage director Joward Tongco, working closely with executive chef Juanito Abangan and the superb team at the Marco Polo.

The number of guests is limited to 120. The men are requested to wear tuxedos or dark suits while the ladies are not required to be in white. The Austrian resident manager Michaela Preisner says that white does not flatter many women. Michel has declared that the ladies may wear long gowns in any color they choose.

It isn’t so long ago – December 14 – since the Cebu chapter of La Chaine held its anniversary gala at the monumental Triton Ballroom of JPark Island Resort and Waterpark in Mactan,

Welcoming all was the resort’s general manager Jonathan Nowell, while Michel Lhuillier delivered a warm message thanking all for their presence and constant support.

The menu was excellent, the service impeccable, and the entertainment imaginative in more ways than one. For instance, there was an all-male chorus line clad from head to foot in shimmering white satin.

Present was Baili de Manille Federico Borromeo with his wife Josephine. It was also an opportunity to meet the new general manager of the Shangri-La resort in Mactan, Christian Nannucci and his wife Debbie Tay. He is from Florence,

We have some photos of the event today. Food tasting for the March 7 gala will be on Thursday February 27.

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On February 27 at the Marco Polo’s Manila Room, the Consular Office of Japan in Cebu is hosting a formal reception from 6:30 to 8:30 PM to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito.

Still on the diplomatic front, visiting Cebu on the second week of February was HE the Ambassador of Germany to the Philippines Ms. Anke Reiffenstuel. She has been in the country since August 2019, wishing to see more.

As she and many other have said, Manila is not the Philippines, and she wants to see and experience more of it. For one thing, she has been to Marawi. Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz, Honorary Consul of Germany in Cebu, arranged a gathering to meet the Ambassador at the board room of the Penthouse of the Marco Polo.

Present were the “augustas maximas” of Cebu’s Lifestyle press. In order of arrival: Nelia Neri, Flor Ynclino, Cookie Newman and Chinggay Utzurrum.

They all congratulated Dr. Franz for having received the Medal (in the shape of cross) of Merit not only for his efficient consular service but for a lifetime dedicated to scientific pursuits crowned by success.

The ladies exchanged impressions with Ambassador Anke, touching on multifarious activities and tasks. The business field they left out, as Ambassador Anke had a meeting with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce as well as the Cebu Chapter of the European Chamber the next day.

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Welcome news comes from Josh Romayla of Balletcenter Cebu which had Standing Room Only performances of The Little Mermaid last December, sponsored by the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

Previously, in October 2019, The Little Mermaid was presented in Vietnam. Artistic director of Balletcenter Gregory Aaron’s partner was the Sasa Ballet School whose artistic director is Suong Tran.

It is the largest ballet school in Ho Chi Minh City, located in the fabulous District 7 which is equivalent to Makati.

Gregory Aaron was asked to bring the principal dancers for the lead roles – Judith Cooper Po and Khynloyd Genson.

They are the proud products of the 13 years Greg and Nicolas Pacaña have been directing Balletcenter. The Little Mermaid was their first full length ballet.

For the past 20 years it has been performed in Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Lipa in Batangas, Atlanta and Rome (Georgia, USA), Kuala Lumpur, and now in Ho Chi Minh City.

In 2021 it will be 70 years since Fe Sala Villarica founded Balletcenter.

Khynlord Genson, Chika Tatsumi, Julius Lagare, Gregory Aaron, Suong Tran, Khiem Nguyen, Judith Cooper Po, My Phoi, Hang Nguyen, Vy Ngo, Khanh Tran, Nhi Pham, Hau Tran, Ursula Michiyo Kokubo