Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

 It was truly a night to remember when the Montilla clan held a family gathering at Lina's Alfresco Dining in Bacolod, that is owned by a relative, where family members from all over gathered for an evening of good food, excellent wine, and renewed bonding.

The turnout was fantastic. Relatives, who had not seen each other for so many years, happily greeted each other with beso beso y abrazo, speaking in Spanish, English and Ilonggo, all at once.

This is one of the old families of Negros Occidental who, through the years, have made a name for themselves in various fields; politicians, sugar barons, academe, medicine, businessmen (and women), beauty queen, etc. They are known as the “crème de la crème, the “de buena familia” of the province.

I happened to be at the party with my “ladies who lunch” group, composed of Ditas and Cristy Montilla and Leda Peña. These Montilla ladies insisted that I come with them to see for myself how the family gets together. And true enough, one could see the genuine affection and respect they have for each other despite any minor differences in the past. This goes to show that “blood is thicker than water”.

I was told that this gathering is in preparation for the grand Montilla family reunion to be held sometime in the near future. It was, indeed, a most pleasant experience to be in the midst of Negrense “blue-bloods”.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

What a fun-filled evening!
 

The WoW (Women of Wonders) Ladies Club held its first quarter birthday celebration cum induction of new members recently at Bacolod’s Ambience Ballroom, Pavillon Hotel, on the theme, “A Hawaiian Luau”.
 

The place was blooming with flowers of all colors and sizes as the ladies came wearing their most colorful Hawaiian costumes with flowers adorning their hair, wrists and beautiful leis framing their lovely faces. Everyone was in a party mood, all set to have fun. The program started with especially-prepared games, and shrieks of excitement, laughter and good-natured ribbing filled the air as the elegant ladies scrambled on the floor to find the needed items to win the fabulous prizes meticulously prepared by Baby Bonnin. What a sight they made.
 

Mercifully, dinner was announced and the group crowded the buffet table where scrumptious party dishes were laid out for all to enjoy. A spirited Hawaii 50 dance was performed by some members, led by Julie Carbon, which was greeted with cheers and applause. Lina Lim and her dance partner Edgard performed a passionate Argentine tango number, that was so perfectly executed that the audience insisted on an encore number which they graciously granted.
 

Judge Lorna Demonteverde inducted the new members, clad in her formal judge’s black toga. The new members spoke of how glad they were to be part of this exciting ladies’ group which they found to be the most fun and enjoyable. Club president Inday Pefianco thanked all those who made the evening successful.
 

Highlight of the evening was the ballroom dancing as members and DIs filled the dance floor, swinging, sashaying, shaking, and grooving till they dropped. Whew! Wotta night!*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

 “Vin d' Honneur” is the traditional way of celebrating a bountiful harvest from newly-produced and processed wine in France. It is done in the Philippines to celebrate the New Year by diplomats and foreigners during social gatherings.

For the first time, the VMA Global College celebrated its bountiful harvest for year 2016 by producing 658 students to become future professionals and businessmen in their chosen fields of endeavor.

It was an evening of glitz, glamour and beauty. The VMA Global College Graduation Ball 2016 was a glittering affair held at SMX Bacolod recently. The colors and lights of the venue set the mood of a glamorous soiree oozing with pomp and pageantry, as ladies came dressed in their formal evening gowns adorned with blings that glittered with the chandeliers. The gentlemen looked dashing and debonair in their formal suits and gala white uniforms.

Everyone looked with awe as tall and beautiful Leren Mae Bautista, Miss Tourism Queen International, walked in wearing a midnight blue formfitting gown. Another stunning lady was the very fair and delicate Sandra Prasasvinitchai, wife of the Thai ambassador to Kuwait. Other special guests were visitors from Japan, Switzerland, and local government officials.

Bautista, who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall in her stockinged feet, towered over Congressman Bing Leonardia and John Orola in her 6-inch stilettos.

Orola welcomed the guests to the reception as he reminisced about how VMA has grown from its humble beginnings to what it is now – a global college with a huge number of students. Wine was offered to the guests as they enjoyed dinner. Soprano champion Hannah Louise Gonzales thrilled the audience with her exquisite voice. A special cotillon dance number was presented by the students of VMA to delight the appreciative audience.*