IN THE MID-1960S, THE MACTAN AIR Base of the Philippine Air Force played host to a detachment from the US Air Force. Officers and airmen had short stints and so very few of them brought their wives to live here. One of them did and she made all the difference.

Muriel Scrivner was an Ikebana enthusiast having also been to Japan when her husband was assigned there. She was well versed enough and held a certificate that allowed her to teach the Japanese art of flower arranging. Zelia Borromeo and other prominent Cebu ladies were among her first pupils.

There is more than just arranging flowers to Ikebana, so the ladies discovered. There is a good dose of philosophy behind it, having to do with moods expressed and how they are interpreted by a knowing eye. Also, and quite important, is Ikebana?s concern with the relationship between man, nature and God.

Cebu humor being what it is, many a wag or wit has said that Ikebana?s success here has to do with the thrifty trait that characterizes Cebuanos whatever their social station. With so little, you can do so much, Ikebana-wise. Leaves, twigs, wild flowers, whatever you have in a garden, however small can be turned into an arrangement of artistic intensity.

When Zelia was general manager of her family?s Montebello Villa Hotel, she taught many of the staff Ikebana. Given Montebello?s vast and sprawling gardens they provided the blooms that gave color to table centers, front desk and every other office of the resort.

Going back to Muriel, she encouraged her students to group themselves into an Ikebana chapter and obtain recognition from the International headquarters in Tokyo. The suggestion was received with enthusiasm.

In 1969 with the end of the Vietnam war, the American Air Force installations in Mactan were closed, and the Scrivner couple left. But Muriel kept the communications line open and followed up the approval of the Cebu chapter of Ikebana International. It came in 1970.

The first president was Remedios Avila Cañizares, then the perennial president of the Cebu Garden Club. How do I know all these things? I have been chronicling Cebu society doings since 1963 (I was 21) and Ikebana was very much a part of the social scene.

It still is, and never has the group been more active and stronger. They have formed a club within a club, the highly prestigious Ikenobo Society of Cebu. Ikenobo masters have for centuries imparted the secrets of classics Ikebana, and they have often come to Cebu for courses and demos.

To explain Ikenobo, we?d have to write a treatise or at least an essay which is not our concern at the moment. The subject on hand has to do with the 40th anniversary of the Cebu Chapter of Ikebana International in 2010, discussed during a merienda hosted by Zelia at her home.

Zelia brought out clippings from yesteryears, and she had asked her Ikebana friends to do likewise. Going down memory lane or remember when road can be nostalgic and hilarious as well as inspiring. For a while they have lost touch with Muriel but at this meeting it was reported she is fine, living in sunny Florida.

Present on this occasion were Ikebana Cebu current president Margie Sy, president-elect Carmen Go, Norma Sanchez, Corito Abalos, Becky Peralta, Pauline Deduque, Helen Yap, Betty Uy and Bebe Alcoseba, praised for the slim figure she keeps.

To celebrate a Ruby year, Ikebana in Cebu will hold a grand exhibit which will open on March 5, 4 p.m., at the Atrium of SM City Cebu. The Consul of Japan Toshio Okajima will be invited to be the guest of honor. The exhibit will be open to the public on March 6-7 during SM mall hours.

The Cebu Ikebana ladies will participate in the Asia Regional Conference of Ikebana to be held in Manila come September. Delegates from all over the world come to this event, said Carmen Go who has suggested the Cebu chapter do an entertainment number. It will be wither a frisky itik-itik, or a stately waltz in Maria Clara dresses.

Birthday celebrations

Giant crabs, rock lobsters and an array of luscious fish and seafood are featured in the Seafood Market Buffet Friday and Saturday nights at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel. They are displayed fresh, and you may ask the various chefs to prepare them any which way you want. A steal at P999 per person.

Bay and Virgie Reyes, with daughters Sheila and Leslie Anne, chose one such night to celebrate Virgie?s birthday. Well wishers included Rafaelita Pelaez, Babie and Ricardo Go, Myra Gonzalez, Vilma Ouano and Connie Revilles escorted by Nilo Lozada. From the Marriott?s Garden Cafe the group moved to the hotel?s Palm lounge at the lobby to listen to piano music.

Next birthday was that of Babie Go. She and Ricardo opted for a small gathering at the home of their children Ryan and Genevieve Go in Beverly Hills. Derek Dytian prepared the buffet spread with excellent Japanese cuisine. Cebu lechon, though, dominated the carving station and was duly appreciated.

A couple of days later the same group had more Cebu lechon at the regular nightly buffet of Pino, the Filipino restaurant with Joel del Prado at its helm. It was Connie Revilles y Tama celebrating her birthday. She had planned it small, but there was a horde of Rama cousins to make merry and wish her many happy returns of the days. Same time, next year?