The National Day of the Russian Federation was celebrated with a reception at the Cebu Country Club. Hosting were Russian Federation Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev and his wife Elena, together with Armi Lopez Garcia, Russia’s honorary consul in Cebu.
There is a growing Russian community in Cebu considering the increasing number of Russian tourists who come here all through the year. They are what is called long-staying since they are booked in the top resorts for a week or more.
Consequently, there are Russian travel agents, tour guides, interpreters and regular staff in the major hotels, especially along the Mactan seaboard. There were quite a number of them present on this occasion, dressed rather informally, even in short shorts.
In contrast, there was Nikita Osharov, dapper in a suit, and well he might be as president and CEO of Pelagos Tours & Travel. Yes, many Russians come to Cebu, but not so many Cebuanos go to Russia.
Magnificent pearls
Blame that on the cold. Actually, the time most travelers from any part of the world go to Russia is now, during the summer months. And still, it can be colder than one might think, as it happened to a Cebu socialite who went one July and had to get herself a fur coat. Brrr.
Present at the Russian Day reception was Arts Council president Petite Garcia in white organza and magnificent pearls. With her was husband Dennis Garcia, president of the Visayan Electric Co.
Quite stunningly dressed, too, was Honorary Consul of Israel Emily Benedicto Chioson, chairperson of the Cebu Consular Corps, with husband Samuel Chioson, who is honorary consul of Portugal.
Writers Michelle Varron and Gavin Sanson Bagares were giggling no end about the previous night’s event—a show by one of the traveling Chippendale companies, at the Marco Polo.
Delta’s top producers
Delta Air Line honored its 2012 top producers with an awards luncheon at the Tinder Box wine cellar. The event also served as an update on the latest Delta achievements. Here from Manila for the occasion were two dynamic ladies, attractive as they are articulate:
Gina Campos, general manager of Delta’s general sales agency Interpacific Transit Inc. (ITI); and Patricia Celis, Delta’s manager for sales and communications covering the Philippines, Australia and Micronesia.
Foremost among the top 10 was Sharp Travel in Cebu, represented by Belen Laput and Clay Dionio. The rest of the awardees, collecting citations and congratulations, were:
Jeanne Teh of Global Link Cebu, Fraz Pasquil of Pan Asiaworld Davao, Wilford Po of Rainbow Travel Cebu, Martha Tataes of House of Travel Cebu, Marget Villarica of Destinations Specialists Cebu, Macrina Fuestes of Orientwind Dumaguete; Ting Castells of Amigo Travel Iloilo, Alan Carvajal of Travelways Cebu and Mary Chris Lopue of Lopue Travel Centre Bacolod.
Gina Campos stated that there was a 50-percent growth in sales for the last one-year period for the Visayas and Mindanao. She attributed that to the Philippines being the fastest-growing economy in the Asean region. “Demand for travel will grow,” she stated with assurance.
We might say that the Delta/ITI office in Cebu has a staff that serves the area with efficiency and attention to detail. District manager is Anne Climaco who counts with a superb “plantilla.”
In it are Jessica Fernandez, account manager for the Visayas and Mindanao; Lani Su and Christine Abalo, passenger sales agents; Cora Ortiz, cashier; and Jiji Quilaton, accounting assistant.
The Delta/ITI office in Cebu is at G/F, QC Pavilion, Gorordo Ave. On the same level is the office of Philippine Airlines (PAL) with which Delta has made an agreement for Cebu passengers.
Most admired airline
Delta flies out of Manila daily, but not out of Cebu. The arrangement with PAL involves transporting passengers from Cebu to Tokyo Narita, and from there to nine Delta gateways in the US.
Patricia Celis said that Delta has budgeted $3 billion to improve its product and facilities. Fortune magazine has ranked Delta as the most admired airline in the world.
Since June 2013, all of Delta’s wide-bodied planes have been fitted with flat beds on business class. Add to that the Westin Heavenly sleeping pillow. Passengers on flights over 12 hours will also receive lumbar pillows.
Speaking of airlines. Grace Ho, the Cebu manager of Cathay Pacific Airlines, is due to be transferred to East Indonesia. “To look after Surabaya and Denpasar,” she says in e-mail messages she has sent to a legion of friends.
Grace, pretty and nice, has been in Cebu for an all-too-short period of one year. She will be replaced by Sally Wong, presently at the head office. Of course, there will be the usual hail-and-farewell party in late July.