Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The late award-winning architect Leandro Locsin once called the Negros Provincial Capitol building as one of the most beautiful government buildings in the country. This impressive edifice was recently the venue for a grand musicale presented by the Negros Cultural Foundation Inc., Bacolod Cultural Foundation Inc., and Central Philippine Adventist College, in cooperation with the Office of Vice-Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

By the time we arrived, the Capitol Social Hall was already filled with performers and the music-loving audience, who came to have an unforgettable cultural experience. Seen among the crowd were the province's first lady, Dr. Marilyn Marañon, Patching Puentevella of Bacolod, Lyn Gamboa of the Negros Museum, and the officers and members of the participating sponsors.

The program opened with a stirring overture by the full orchestra, led by conductor Winner Silvestre. How we marveled at each masterful stroke of his baton that brought out spectacular performances from orchestra members. The Marian Missionaries then wowed the audience with their stirring renditions of favorite songs that have stood the test of time. A gifted blind young man amazed the crowd with his musical skills that brought rapturous applause.

As a fitting finale, the audience was entranced by the awesome performance of the Central Adventist College Choir and Orchestra, together with the Children's Chorus of the Bacolod Evangelical Church Orchestra, and the Negros Mission Academy Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, that brought the audience to its feet.

What a great cultural experience the evening was. Kudos to the organizers!*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

We attended the opening of Great Pillars Academy, a Montessori-based preschool at Capitol Heights, Bacolod City, recently.

The building is a newly-remodeled house designed to meet the needs of a training school for young kids aged 2 to 5 years old. The classrooms are fully air-conditioned and the modern facilities are conducive to a child’s rapid development in the early stages.

The school president, Gleah Dimachi, welcomed us warmly as the program began. We learned that she had been a teacher for a good number of years in Japan, and her dream was to open a Montessori school in Bacolod. She also gave us a bird’s eye view of the Montessori curriculum where every child is taught a love of discovery to explore his or her creative ability. In this way, the children can become independent learners.

An orchestra of youths from the Bacolod Evangelical Church played the Pambansang Awit and the Alma Mater song. Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella welcomed the addition of the school to the city and hoped that this could help train and develop future leaders. Dimachi informed us that enrollment is going on and that they are offering summer swimming classes for kids.

Entertainment was provided by Justine Gallego, a young boy with an amazing voice. MC was popular media personality Rod Simon. After the program, a sumptuous lunch was served to the guests.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

Like thousands of movie fans all over, I woke up very early on Monday morning to watch the Oscars presentation on Lifestyle network. It was a most entertaining show with comedienne Ellen DeGeneres as host.

But did you see former screen legend Kim Novak as a presentor? She used to be a superstar in Hollywood with unforgettable films like “Vertigo” and “Pal Joey”. My favorite Kim Novak film was “Picnic” with William Holden. She was absolutely divine in that movie as the camera showed every stunning angle of her face and figure. Now 81 years old, Kim shocked her fans when her close up revealed a completely different face! It looked like a botched plastic surgery job with no expression left.

When she announced “Frozen” as Best Animated Feature, critics came up with a lot of jokes about her stiff speech and appearance. One even said, “Kim Novak’s face just won for Frozen”. Another said, “She should be transported to the Hollywood Wax Museum”. How sad.

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The Zumba craze is still going strong. Even Kris Aquino has been raving about it in her Kris TV show.

Here in Bacolod, hundreds of Zumba enthusiasts trooped to the Ikthus covered court and The District Ayala Northpoint, to experience once again the heart-pumping and fun-filled Zumba/Power Combat event.

Nell Astudillo, the handsome and popular Power combat instructor from Davao, flew in through the effort of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to conduct the 2-day event together with local licensed Zumba instructors Joann Visitacion, Lalaine Guides, Ronald Dolar and Judileen Visitacion.

Different groups came to join the 2-hour fun and sweat – Zumbarkada of Talisay City, GBC/Panaad group, Students of The District Ayala Northpoint, Ikthus class, Silay Enthusiasts, Eclipse Gym students, Hataw sa Lagoon, Carmela and Active group.

Men, women and even kids came in all shapes and sizes. Sensei Nell got to pump the crowd up, punch and kick using lively and danceable tunes. He also shared some inspirational quotes in between that inspired the participants more.

Zumba Fitness, a Latin-based dance aerobics exercise, is becoming so popular in the city. It's an exercise in disguise because you are having so much fun you don't realize you are losing weight at the same time.*