Abacus Distribution Systems Philippines opened its new Cebu office at the eighth floor of the Apple One building in Cebu Business Park. The inaugural was a morning affair well-attended by travel agents who availed themselves of Abacus for reservations and airline ticket issuance.
Welcoming them all was Abacus Cebu’s supervisor Jing Climaco and her staff, Jonna Tan and Eric Saguin. From Manila had come Abacus president Demy Silverio who cut the ribbon, general manager Kirby Hartigan Go and sales manager Alfonso Conty.
For 10 consecutive years, Abacus has been nominated as the best global distribution system. Eleven top carriers are involved with Abacus:
All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Dragon Air, Eva Air, Garuda Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Brunei, Silk Air and Singapore Airlines.
Actually, Abacus does bookings on all airlines.
School’s 133rd anniversary
Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) will celebrate its 133rd anniversary during the annual homecoming on Sunday, Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Concepcion, at the school campus on Gorordo Avenue.
CIC Alumni president Tina Jordana has prepared a complete program for the day which has kept her busy with meetings for the past months. Registration starts at 1 p.m., with Dolly Barrica in charge.
At 2 p.m., there will be a heritage tour of the school, prior to the holy Mass at 3 p.m. By 4 p.m., the traditional merienda with “las madres,” meaning the Daughters of Charity who have run the school since 1880, will feature chocolate con churros. That recipe is guarded as a treasure.
The program proper will be at 4:30 p.m., hosted by Ethel Labella Matugas and Femie Gomo. They will sing the national anthem and the emotive school hymn in Spanish, whose first line goes, “Colegio de mis amores…”
The CIC school Superior Sister Mayflor Diacuna, DC, will deliver the welcome address with a very special message to all. Jubilarians will then be acknowledged and will present their respective production numbers.
Diamond jubilarian
Sparkling like the diamond jubilarian that she is will be Pilita Corrales (HS 1953) who will perform her best songs. There is an award for Pilita as outstanding alumna in the field of music, recalling her title as Asia’s Queen of Song.
Along with Pilita are other outstanding alumni awardees such as Benjie Diola for his prowess in directing theatrical productions; actress Pilar Pilapil who graduated HS in 1967, the year she became Binibining Pilipinas Universe; and Janice Bañez Minor (HS 1978) for excelling in fashion design. Ah, those hats!
There is a special award for Agnes Apalisok in the field of performing arts; and another for Ramona Lacsamana Aliño, for speech but more for having been in the CIC faculty for many years, and directing all those spectacular Broadway musicals.
This year, there is a special focus on the CIC School of Music with awards to four of its outstanding alumni: pianists Anita Cabahug Trasmonte and Neca Caingles Abaya, both of whom have been in the faculty; award-winning music director Dennis Sugarol, and pianist Rudolf Golez y Pelaez who has excelled in the international scene.
Posthumous award
A posthumous award will be given to Sor Fernanda Vaño y Veloso who in 1890 founded the CIC music department and served as its first directress. Sor Fernanda also coordinated the first alumnae reunion of CIC in November 1935.
Sor Fernanda had the support of her sister Pilar Vaño de Escaño who with her husband Lorenzo Escaño were great patrons of music at CIC. They presented “velades” and “zarzuelas” in Spanish in the CIC stage, like “El Conde de Luxemburgo” during prewar days, and many more after the war like “Molinos de Viento” and “Gigantes y Cabezudos.”
By 7 p.m. dinner will be served, followed by the proclamation of the alumnae Queen and Princess, a raffle and fellowship with the Circle Six band.
Assisting Tina with all the preparations are the rest of the officers: VPs Virginia Vergara Escaño and Honey Jarque Loop (who is picking up Pilita at the airport and taking her to lunch at Casa Amparito); secretaries Techie Ann Villacin Domingo and Jennifer Basa.
More: treasurers Mecedes Elena Veloso Rafanan and Rhea Emilia Jo Oporto; PRO Karena Flores Gochuico; auditor Maria Angeles Trebol; former alumni president Chona Bernad; advisers Sr. Mayflor Biacuna, DC, and Sr. Trinidad Dosdos, DC; and lay coordinator Dolores Barrica.
