Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

 It was an evening of understated elegance, beautiful music and gastronomic delights. Norma Aquino Garbanzos’ 75th birthday celebration recently at La Proa of L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City was certainly an event to remember.

The elegant guests added glamour to the occasion, with the ladies dressed to the nines in stunning evening gowns bedecked in sparkling jewelry, and the gentlemen in coat and tie or barong. Even the décor had the right touch of class and refined taste with swathes of objects in delicate shades of purple peeking out every so often. A multi-tiered birthday cake was the focal point on the stage.

Norma’s siblings, who arrived from the States and planned a big surprise for the occasion, were there to welcome the guests while waiting for the birthday celebrator. Guests were served excellent wine while enjoying the old favorite songs played by the band.

Suddenly, the doors opened and there she was! Norma made her grand entrance looking “drop-dead-gorgeous” in an exquisite off-white gown with a glittering bodice splashed with crystals and beads vividly enhanced by a magenta stole, dramatically draped over one shoulder.

What an entrance! She was greeted with rapturous applause as she made her way to the stage where she was seated at the center. Monsignor GG Gaston gave the invocation extolling Norma’s gift of music to the people of Bacolod. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to the glowing celebrator.

Dinner was a lavish array of specially prepared dishes designed to delight every palate. The entertainment was a perfect selection of musical numbers - Juliet Benitez, a fantastic saxophone player who could sing “La Vie En Rose” like Edith Piaf (complete with a French accent!), and a child prodigy piano student of Norma, Mark James Desitone, who wowed the crowd with his superb piano rendition.

Norman Garbanzos delighted us with his brilliant piano performances of old standards, like “The Nearness of You”, “In Other Words”, “The Way You Look Tonight”, etc. Norma’s daughter, Sally, offered a touching toast to her loving Mother, who was almost teary-eyed as she thanked all those who “manipulated” (her exact words!) her birthday celebration.

Wotta night! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORMA!*

Unbelievable behavior at the Bacolod Silay Airport last April 2014.  Please help my niece, Charlotte Lopez Hofilena, find this man who is responsible for causing the fall of Charlotte's mom.


I'm sure you won't accept this if this happened to your own mother.

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

When Shirley Ledesma celebrates her birthday, you can be sure she does it with a bang.

This time, her 79th birthday celebration was held at SMX Bacolod, with its unique ambiance. Guests came dressed to the nines in their elegant evening gowns for the ladies and coat and tie, or formal shirts, for the gentlemen. The birthday celebrator looked so grand in her emerald green silk evening gown complete with blings to match.

The place looked truly festive, with its fab art décor and round tables complete with towering centerpieces and fine place settings. In lieu of gifts, the guests gave cash donations for Shirley’s favorite charities. On hand to help Shirley greet her guests were members of her family. Friends from her various civic clubs as well as the academe came to join the celebration.

Dinner was a superb feast of specially selected dishes designed to titillate the discriminating guests. Later an impromptu program livened up the party. As the evening’s emcee, I decided to call on unsuspecting guests to perform a number. And what a revelation it was!

After Edith Robillo sang a capella, a torrid dance number was performed by Dr. Evangeline Johnson and her DI. Her performance was truly stunning as she showed her dancing skills and fine figure (not to mention her to-die-for legs!). The ladies of the Circulo de Negros wowed the crowd with their high-stepping cha-cha number. Another surprise was a dramatic tango performed by guests from LA, Ike and Luchie Sumugat.

By this time, everyone was in the mood to dance, dance, dance! The dance floor rocked with the ballroom dancing crowd who danced till they dropped.

Happy Birthday Shirley!*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

Red was the color of the night as the Circulo de Negros celebrated its Christmas Party at Planta Hotel, Bacolod. All shades of red was worn by the club members, including the gentlemen – John Orola wore a flaming red tie with his dark suit, Tomiko was in a red coat and tie that he brought from LA, while Bamboo Tonogbanua was in a fire-red shirt.

The club president, Shirley Ledesma, brought Santa Claus hats for everyone to wear. She came with a disturbing bit of news – she was robbed while shopping for the gifts for the party! Her entire budget for the gifts was stolen from her bag. Fortunately, she was able to keep a roll of money inside her blouse pocket and this is what she spent. Sympathetic club members voiced their concern over what happened but Shirley bounced back quickly from the experience, declaring the party must go on! What a trouper!

Dinner was an excellent variety of holiday fare loved by all. The crispy lechon added to the complete enjoyment of the mouthwatering dishes. After dinner, the new members were asked to say something about themselves. Each one gave a most interesting short speech but the one who brought the house down was Tomiko, who spiced up his talk with funny anecdotes about his life in the fashionable district of LA.

Then it was time for games, games, games. What a riot it was as members had the time of their lives participating in the outrageous games to win lovely prizes. An exchange gift portion highlighted the most delightful evening of all.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The WoW ladies held a most colorful and enjoyable joint Christmas party and 4th quarter birthday celebration at Ambience Pavillon in Bacolod. Everyone came dressed in their unique Christmas attire – as Christmas trees, gift wrapping, angel with wings and all the other outlandish costumes you could imagine. What a riot it was!

The 4th quarter birthday celebrators: Babes Sola, Buddai Piccio, Cely Jugo, Chona Baguisoro, Dang Filasol, Emma Lipa, Linda Yulo, Mila Abiera, Nena de Leon, Shirley Maghari, Terry Cruz, Terry Falsis, Tess Medina and Zuki Magbanua hosted the celebration, that was wonderfully coordinated and organized by the indefatigable Baby Bonnin, chairperson of the Fellowship Committee.

Wow president, Inday Pefianco, made sure everything was going smoothly all evening. The fun-loving members all participated in various entertainment activities of the party. To set the mood, there was a fantastic line dance which had the ladies huffing and puffing away. This was followed by a superb dinner filled with all the goodies that had the figure-conscious groaning with horror (but they still ate a lot!).

The exciting games had each group competing fiercely for the wonderful prizes especially selected by Baby Bonnin. For the Most Christmassy Costume, the judges were Celia Ferrer, Tita Nena de Leon and yours truly. The winners were Linda Yulo, first, who came as a giant Christmas gift, Viol Caram was an angel with wings, and Pacita Adeva was a Christmas tree.

Then it was dance till you drop as the beautiful ladies rocked the dance floor all night. What a Merry Christmas party it was!*