Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

When the WOW ladies let their hair down and decide to have fun, you can be sure it will be a riot!

This was what happened during the first quarter joint celebration of the members celebrating their birthdays for the months of January, February and March 2014.

The summer sun was already high that early morning when the members swooped down at McDonalds East, wearing their dainty pink uniforms and startling the early morning joggers who were having breakfast there. The convoy of vehicles then proceeded to Baby Bonnin’s beautiful resort in Alangilan, the venue for the celebration.

A little bit of paradise greeted the guests, who raved over the lush green plants and trees, the inviting swimming pool that beckoned to all to have a swim, and the fish pond filled with colorful koi fishes, giving the place a rustic ambiance. We all assembled at the huge gazebo where the table settings were prepared by the waiters.

The aroma of the freshly roasted lechon filled the air, making our taste buds water. Our hunger pangs were titillated by the yummy peanuts, sweet corn, and all kinds of pica-pica washed down with ice-cold drinks. Lunch was a fabulous affair, with all the guests having their fill of mouth-watering dishes.

The fun-filled program was hilariously emceed by the wacky Brenda Tenk, who can outdo Ai-Ai de las Alas, Pokwang, Elizabeth Ramsey and all the comediennes combined. She’s that good! Laughter and squeals of glee filled the air as Brenda’s ad libs and antics tickled our funny bones, and brought tears of laughter to our eyes.

There were solo performances by Inday Pefianco, WOW president, Viol Caram, and a torrid flamenco dance by Baby Bonnin. Everyone joined in the games and dancing, that had the ladies acting like crazy schoolgirls. It was a scream.

Kudos to the WOW organizers for a wonderful, fun-filled day!*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

It was a “by invitation only” affair.

The occasion was the launching of VMC products at Tyrol Restaurant in 12th Street, Bacolod City. I arrived there with my good friend, Luci Lizares and when we walked in, we could see that the place was full of people: foodies, broadcast journalists, chefs, culinary arts students, etc.

European chef Michel from the Bacolod Academy for Culinary Arts was delivering a warm welcome to all the guests while explaining what the event was all about. Some ladies in the audience whispered that he looks like handsome Hollywood actor Matt Damon (!). Perhaps, he heard the remark as he blushed.

We were served a refreshingly delicious green-colored juice that was just right to cool us off the very warm weather. Soon, a couple of students of BACA demonstrated how to make a scrumptious salad with Victorias Spanish Style Bangus that was served to all the guests. This was promptly followed by a demonstration of Banana Bacon wrap using the VMC Bacon, that the audience gobbled up as soon as it was served. Other dishes, like the Chorizo Spider, Chorizo Patties and Spaghetti Arabiata, all using Victorias Food products, made an impact on the crowd.

It made us wonder why we still have to use imported goods for our special dishes when we have our very own excellent products here. The foreign chefs even declared that these local products are just as good, if not better, than the imported products they have been using.

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The Circulo de Bacolod recently gave its yearly Gawad Bayani Award to outstanding students of various public elementary schools in Bacolod City for SY 2013-2014. The Award is one of the special projects of Circulo de Bacolod for the deserving students of the city.

The awardee must possess good moral and academic record, has exemplified the characters, traits, virtues, and abilities of becoming a transformative leader worthy of emulation, and must have demonstrated during his/her school life, a high sense of leadership and heroism, or heroic activities. Selection of awardees was done upon the recommendation of the teachers and principals of the schools.

The student awardees each received a beautiful medal and a cash prize of P2,000 from the Circulo de Bacolod. The awards were presented during the closing ceremonies of the selected schools.*

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.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

So, how was your Valentine’s Day celebration? Memorable and romantic (I hope!).

Some people think it’s vastly overrated, but why shouldn’t love be celebrated in a grand manner? It is after all, what makes the world go ‘round, isn’t it? Wouldn’t this be a dreary world if we didn’t have love to keep us going?

Bacolodnons celebrated Valentine’s Day with a bang as usual. This was a special day for the WOW ladies, who held a most successful bloodletting activity at the Amity HQ in Hilado Street, Shopping Center, in partnership with the GMA Kapuso TV Network.

The place was bustling with activity as a huge number of donors came to donate blood for a worthy cause. Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya came to give moral support to the WOW Club for this worthwhile endeavor.

The WOW ladies, led by their president, Inday Pefianco, served hot arroz caldo donated by Mely’s Garden restaurant, with freshly baked bread brought by members of the Negros Occidental Rainbow Foundation.

In the evening, traffic was practically at a standstill as most people were out for dinner with their family and loved ones.

Our group at the DAILY STAR had a special Valentine’s dinner at L’Fisher Hotel, which was offering a special international menu for the special day. The place was crowded to overflowing. Families and sweet twosomes enjoyed the gastronomic experience while romantic violins serenaded the crowd with popular love songs.

Ah, what a lovely evening it was to celebrate the day of love.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

Shades of pink and lilac with a touch of silver set the mood of a pretty little girl’s Barbie-themed birthday party. The celebrator, Ysabella Andrea Dormido, known to family and friends as Bella, especially requested for a ballerina Barbie-inspired party as she turned four this month.

Guests came dressed as Ken and Barbie. The excited little guests and their mommies filled the L’ Sea Restaurant function room, that was transformed into a “Barbie Party Room” with décor of colors and toys so close to a little girl’s heart.

Bella and her classmates from L’Ecole opened the party with a fantastic dance number which drew rapturous applause from the audience. She and close friends Lance, Lysander, Shae and Anne made guests giggle and enjoy while they energetically danced to One Direction's Live “While We're Young”. Little boys Ali Visitacion and Myron Garth Lipa serenaded the birthday girl with their own renditions of “My Heart Will Go On” and “Just the Way You Are”, respectively.

Aside from the kiddie games and pabitin, the children had fun watching the puppet show, courtesy of Mr. Wilson. The kids were amazed when they witnessed the highlight of the party – The Bubble Show. Giant and small bubbles floating in the air made the children jump and shout for joy. The kids were also given a chance to try their hands at making bubbles.

Bell is the daughter of Engineer Crispin Dormido and ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Yasmin Pascual-Dormido.

Keisha Cheniese Alquizar won as best in Barbie costume, with Yumi Miranda and Beatrice Mijares as first and second runners-up. After feasting on the yummy food especially prepared for the party, everyone enjoyed the games, songs and dances which they all participated in.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELL!*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The Ruby Jubilee of the Riverside Nursing Graduating Class ’73 Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 was a most unforgettable reunion with the arrival of class members from USA, Europe and other places in the Philippines.

The organizers abroad, Necoy Lim, Beng Pido, and Lea Agudelo, and their local counterparts, led by Lourdes Lobaton, left no stone unturned to ensure the success of their much-awaited reunion.

January 29 was the day the members arrived. The scene was complete bedlam as they welcomed their friends with tears of joy, shrieks of recognition and amazement, and spent the day bonding again and touring the old familiar places. A fellowship dinner was enjoyed by all at Ading’s Pala-pala.

The next day, a thanksgiving mass was held at the chapel of their alma mater, Riverside College. It was another day of touring the new landmarks of the city. A sumptuous dinner was held at Aboy’s where they sated themselves with their favorite local delicacies.

The third day highlight was a festive lunch at Manokan Country. In the evening, a riotous Mardi Gras was held at Palmas del Mar, where everyone came in spectacular costumes. What a riot it was! Queen of the Mardi Gras was Yolanda Panes, who looked absolutely fabulous that evening. There was dancing until the wee hours and some members almost passed out from exhaustion.

The Gala Night was the finale of the celebration. This time, everyone came dressed to the nines in their best evening attire complete with bling-bling! After the delicious feast especially prepared for the occasion, Cristina Agudelo Dee, looking drop-dead gorgeous in her stunning gown, gave a touching speech that left the audience misty-eyed. She then entertained the crowd with a beautiful operatic song, followed by a show-stopping Broadway number “So in Love”.

The members paid tribute to their Manay Pamplona, who was their strict but loving “terror matron” during their student years. In response, “Manay” sang to her former students. A video presentation of their old school-day photos elicited screams of horror and delight among the alumni. Then it was time to dance, dance, dance “until you drop”!

Wotta night!

Thank you to you dear friend, Paula Gustilo, for arranging our invitation to this unforgettable reunion. I know the class will treasure the laughter, triumphs and struggles of their student days. Everyone declared that this reunion will stay in their memories forever.*