Titas de Bacolod: September 2015

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Behind the Scenes - September 24, 2015 : When Sunshine Boys Have Fun

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

Visitors to Bacolod are amazed at our unique Sunshine Boys Club. This was told to me by a gentleman from Manila, whom I met during the joint birthday celebration of the Sunshine Boys, held recently at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel.

He was so impressed by the vitality of the club members, who have managed to retain their youthful charms despite their advancing years. He was even more impressed when he saw the “boys” dancing with vim and vigor most of the night. “Wow”, he said, “how do they manage to stay so young and active?”

The party was in full swing as the birthday celebrators, Dr. Ricardo Yanson, Pompeyo Querubin, Drs. Serafin Jimenea Jr., Ed Mercado and Johnny Villahermosa, and Milquiades Benedicto were serenaded with the Happy Birthday song by the guests, composed of their family and friends. The evening's emcee, Monet Rojas, kept us all in stitches with his witty comments and naughty jokes. How can anyone feel old with such delightful company as this?

Dinner was a sumptuous feast of everyone's favorite dishes, washed down with excellent red wine that helped set the mood for a fun evening. The music provided by the band evoked memories of bygone days, with old favorites such as “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing”, “La Vie En Rose”, etc. The mood suddenly quickened with ballroom dancing music which had the crowd swinging, boogieing, and reggaeing in between the raffle, which gave away cash prizes, from P1,000 to P10,000, to the lucky winners. Too bad Ninfa and I had already left when our names were called out as winners. Better luck next time.

Kudos to the Sunshine Boys for a super fun party!*

Monday, September 21, 2015

Here We Go Again : Sugar Smuggling On The Rise

Food, Issues

Over the weekend, I saw a news item about sugar smuggling. Once again, we are here in this merry-go round. It has always been this way, spinning perpetually but hardly merry at all. Fact is, the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) is “very alarmed” of the dramatic increase in sugar smuggling during past few months. SAP is the biggest group of sugar planters and millers in the country. Mr. Manuel Lamata disclosed that this increase in the smuggling of sugar will be very detrimental to the local sugar industry. This will not only affect the sugar planters and millers but also those whose livelihood are also dependent on the local sugar industry. Aside from industry effects, the local consumer will be negatively affected.

While some readers may easily disregard this post because they are neither Negrense nor involved with sugar, people just have to keep this going on social media for the rest of the country to understand. Sugar is not just an "haciendero thing". It is every Filipino's thing.

How it affects the country

Imported sugar is cheaper. The reason behind this is that the sugar industry in China and Thailand are highly subsidized by those respective governments, thus, the price does not really reflect its market value and is the reason why it is competitive with regards to Philippine sugar. This affects the demand for locally produced sugar since imported sugar is Php1,100.00 per sack while local sugar is priced at Php2,350.00 per sack.

The detrimental effects to the consumer can be attributed to the fact that imported sugar does not undergo any quality control tests unlike locally produced sugar, thus, the health and safety concerns of the consumer are compromised.

Also, the uncollected tariffs and import duties constitute a loss for government revenue that is needed for basic services to the people.

Increased Smuggling in recent months

In January this year, the Bureau of Customs have seized 189 40 foot containers of smuggled sugar worth Php240,000,000.00 at the Manila International Container Terminal, Cebu port and Cagayan de Oro port. In May another 10 40 foot containers from China were apprehended worth 13 million pesos. Last August 13, 2015 , the Customs Bureau was able to take 21 40 foot containers of smuggled sugar. The Customs Intelligence Group also netted Php57,000,000.00 of smuggled sugar.

These developments are “very alarming” indeed as lamented by the SAP. The sheer cost and volume of the smuggling activities indicates an increase that is unprecedented.

Pleas for Intervention

The SAP represented by Mr. Lamata has already conveyed the concerns of the sugar industry through a letter to President Benigno Aquino III citing the increase of sugar smuggling these past few months. Also, the issue has already been brought to the attention of former DILG Secretary and now presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas at the Philippine Sugar Technology Convention held recently in Cebu.

Recent Smuggling

In its banner headline on September 20, 2015, the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited the attempt to smuggle sugar by a known close associate of President Aquino. Virginia Torres, former Land Transportation Office attempted to intercede for the release of 64 40 foot containers of sugar imported from Thailand. Said importation is worth Php 100 million and was misdeclared as General Merchandise. The importation did not have the necessary requirements from the Sugar Regulatory Administration. Notwithstanding, the request for the release of the sized containers were not given accommodation by the Bureau of Customs.

Impressions

It is no secret that smuggling continues to be a problem in this country. The government must do its best to enhance its revenue collections so that there will be more funds available for basic services. Also, it must enforce the law no matter who tries to intercede and intervene in smuggling cases. But it is paramount that it also protects the Filipino consumer and Filipino industries as well.

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Thursday, September 17, 2015

Behind the Scenes - September 17, 2015 : A Smashing Birthday Celebration

Bacolod, Entertainment

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The third quarter birthday celebration recently of the WoW ladies was another smash hit. The members, who were dressed to the nines, trooped to the Ambience Dancing Hall of Bacolod Pavillon Hotel for an evening of yummy food, exciting fun and ear-splitting laughter.

Seen among the guests were former Ilog vice mayor Mark Vargas, who was busy inviting everyone to his MassKara Fashion Show in October, and socialite Melinda Garcia, whom we haven't seen in ages.

The evening opened with a most thrilling hula hoop game participated in by most of the members who were divided into three teams. The aim was to pass the hula hoop from one member to the other. The team who could finish first won the prize. There were shrieks of laughter as the members squeezed into the hula hoops without letting go of their partners. The excitement got into a feverish high as the last members tried to squeeze into the hoops to win. The third team won by finishing in just over one minute. They were that good.

Dinner was a mouthwatering treat of holiday dishes topped by the ubiquitous crispy lechon donated by a birthday celebrator. The 3 rd quarter birthday celebrators were serenaded with the Happy Birthday song as they blew the candles on their huge birthday cake. We were so full that we could hardly join in the group singing which was quite enjoyable. The highlight of the evening was the ballroom dancing, which had the members swinging, twirling and dipping all over the dance floor all night.

Kudos to WoW prexy Inday Pefianco and special events coordinator Baby Bonnin, assisted by Babes Zola, for a “swellegant”, marvelous evening.*

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Did Grace Poe Descend From "Iloilo Royalty"?

Iloilo, People

A quick search on Wikipedia will tell us that Mary Grace Poe was born on September 3, 1968 in Iloilo City. Her biological parents are unknown and she was found abandoned as a baby by a woman, allegedly in the holy water font of Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, the main church of the city. When the infant was discovered, the parish priest named her "Grace" in the belief that her finding was through the grace of God; she was christened by Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Jaro and later Archbishop of Manila. Although the cathedral issued an announcement in the hopes that her biological mother would claim her, no one stepped forward. Grace was taken in by the Militar family. Chayong Militar later passed Grace on to her friend Tessie Ledesma Valencia, an unmarried, childless heiress of a wealthy sugar baron from Bacolod, Negros Occidental. She was later adopted by Philippine National Artist Fernando Poe, Jr. and his wife Susan Roces.

These above quick facts slip by quickly especially to the non-Ilonggo or non-Negrense reader. However, if one is familiar with Ilonggo culture, especially the goings on in Jaro, a few "Aha!" moments may arise as you read this short piece.

The Wikipedia article continues to state that controversy surrounds the identity of her birth parents, with a persistent urban legend stating Poe to be the daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos from an affair with Rosemarie Sonora, actress Susan Roces' sister and a former movie star. I don't believe that.

Let me tell you what I believe. Despite the missing links in the story, here's what I feel in my gut. The Honorable Senator really did descend from "Iloilo Royalty". If you go back to the second quarter of the 19th Century, the principal figure in the Ciudad de Jaro, Iloilo was Emeterio Ledesma and Maria Lopez

Emeterio Ledesma was a Cabeza de Barangay of Jaro, Iloilo in the 1830's. His son, Simon Lopez Ledesma, was also a Cabeza de Barangay and Capitan Municipal of Jaro. The latter earned him the name "Tan Simon" or Capitan Simon.

From the line of Emeterio Ledesma descended a great number of illustrious gentlemen who played key roles in our nation even until the first half of the 20th Century. You have people like

- Nicolas Coloso Golez (son of Agustina Ledesma Coloso & Teodoro Golez and granddaughter of Rufina Lopez Ledesma & Miguel Maravilla Coloso) - Deputy Military Commander of the Northern Negros Revolutionary Forces; led the successful revolt in Silay against the Spaniards on Nov. 5, 1898; signatory of the “Acta de Capitulacion” or Act of Surrender in Silay on Nov. 5, 1898 and in Bacolod on Nov. 6, 1898.

- Melquiades Ledesma Javellana (son of Baldomera Hechanova Ledesma & Cristino Lopez Javellana and granddaughter of Mateo Lopez Ledesma & Alejandra Hechanova) - Municipal President of Buenavista, Guimaras in 1918.

- Demetrio Benedicto Ledesma (son of Modesto Aguisanda Ledesma & Librada Gamboa Benedicto and grandson of Simon Lopez Ledesma & Silvina Aguisanada) - Municipal President of Jaro, Iloilo in 1925.

- Antonio Ledesma Jayme (son of Sabina Lopez Ledesma & Aguedo Gamboa Jayme) - one of the first Filipino lawyers to practice law in Negros in the 1880's; elected Governor of Negros Occ. from 1904 to 1906; elected Assemblyman of the 1st District of Negros Occ. in the 1st Philippine Legislature from 1907 to 1909.

- Lucio Ledesma Jayme (son of Sabina Lopez Ledesma & Aguedo Gamboa Jayme) - Municipal President (Mayor) of Silay, Negros Occ. in 1899.

- Pacifico Plana Ledesma (son of Simon Lopez Ledesma & Asuncion Plana) - first Filipino President of the Philippine Stock Exchange (formerly known as Manila Stock Exchange) in 1947.

Am I saying that Madam Poe is a Ledesma? Well, I don't have any proof at all. Nevertheless, if you knew how small Iloilo is and how many find their family relations back to this lineage, there is a great chance that she could be one.

If you're a mathematician and tried to work the probability by factoring in the population of Jaro (or even the entire Iloilo) in 1968, the likelihood of what was just stated is very high.

More to come...

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Behind the Scenes - September 10, 2015 : Yesterday's Beauties and Random Thoughts

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

We have featured so many Bacolod socials and photos of today's lovely party-goers and the fun they have been having, that I wondered about our ladies of yesteryears.

What was it like during their time - their clothes, hairdos, make-up, etc. It would certainly be interesting to find out if they, too, had a blast like some of our fun parties. How was it different from today's fun-filled evenings, which invariably turn into an all-night ballroom dancing?

Recently, my good friend, Ofelia Servando, sent me a photo of Bacolod ladies at a big party held at the Lizares mansion oh so many years ago - circa 50s? 60s? 70s?

Dear readers, you might recognize some of the ladies in the photo – perhaps your mama, lola, titas or their friends. Isn't it nice to know that “somewhere in time”, their lifestyle was not so very different from ours?

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Recently, I finally found my favorite poem written by Khalidasa. It once was my daily Mantra and I want to share it with you.

“Look to this day

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course lie all the verities

And realities of your existence.

The bliss of growth

The glory of action

The splendor of beauty.

For yesterday is but a dream

And tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well-lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow, a vision of hope.

Look well therefore to this day.”

Bing Lacson Uychiat, Lita Servando, Teresita Benedicto, Carolina Rodriguez Lacson, Mercedes Lizares Mckensie, Daniella Jalandoni, Maggie Lizares Jimenez and Fely Totengco with friends (Seated); Nelly Vasquez Geroche, Emma Benedicto, Ofelia Servando, Feling Vasquez, Nelly Lacson Jacosale, Meling Lizares Marquenez, Aida Servando Lizares, Nenita Virata Lacson, Ope Vasquez and Liding Improgo (Standing, Left to Right)*

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Behind the Scenes - September 3, 2015 : ‘Edith's Angelic White Party'

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The invitation said “wear white” and, sure enough, the SMX venue was a sea of white in all its shades – from immaculate bridal white to cream, ivory, ecru and even to palest silver. Even the gentlemen came in their formal white attire. My escort John Orola was, of course, resplendent in his all white suit outfit. I noticed that most of the ladies correctly wore bright red lipstick to set off their white costumes.

This was the grand celebration of party girl Edith Robillo, who celebrated her 75 th birthday with a bang. As soon as the venue was filled with guests, Edith made her dramatic entrance on the red carpet, wearing an angel's costume complete with feather wings and halo! Cheers and applause greeted the ever-smiling celebrator, as she greeted her friends with besobeso y abrazo. Sounds of throbbing, danceable music filled the room, setting the upbeat mood of the night.

Dinner was a sumptuous feast of all-time favorites, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. While the guests were having their meal, they were entertained with video presentation of Edith's past singing concerts and her numerous previous birthday celebrations. Then the emcee invited some of the guests to say a few words about the birthday celebrator. There were all kinds of descriptions - glamorous, friendly, super, fashionable, daring, etc.

A wildly-applauded exhibition number of rock and roll, twist, Tahitian and favorite dances of long ago was presented by the Lions Club Int'l members, complete with 1950-1960s attire. The fun began with the dancing queens lording it over the dance floor as they danced ‘til they dropped!

Happy birthday, Edith!*