That was a big celebration at the ballroom of the Casino Español de Cebu when Susan Gayatin was installed as the first-ever Philam Life district manager for the entire Visayas and Mindanao. Here for the occasion were Philam Life president and CEO Roberto “Bobby” Madrid and Anagel Ledesma, chief agency officer.
From the Cebu end were Rolan Enriquez, Philam Life’s director for Visayas and Mindanao; Tess Gonzaga, associate director of agencies; and Nilo Matunog, agency manager.
Susan was radiant, dressed in flaming red. Beside her was husband Manuel Ben Gayatin, prominent in Cebu’s business circles. The couple’s children came from the United States for the occasion and to celebrate the holidays here: daughter Shellette Gayatin with her fiance Ryan Lim, son of Alfredo Lim; and son Raymund Gayatin with his fiancée Justine Fernandez, who have an altar date in Cebu come September.
Other family members present were Bill and Arcy Gayatin, Vic and Cecilia (née Gayatin) de la Viña, US-based Benjamin Gayatin, Dr. John and Cynthia Gayatin, Allan and Cherry (née Gayatin) Lua.
Glimpsed about were dear friends and associates like Teresin Mendezona, Snoogie Reynes, Mila Royo Soreach, Jun Astete, Pamela Recla, Estrella Matunog, Cora Creus of East West Bank, Dr. Rudy and Corito Abalos, and Susan’s efficient secretary Maria Maandig.
From Philam Asset Management were Imelda Estrada, Dojie Cleofas and Ingrid Eamiguel. Among the unit managers were Sarah Recla, Maribel Agua, Mae Balankig, Haydee Lumayno, Nida Aringay and Fritzie Licayan.
Philam Life in Cebu occupies a historic location along Osmeña Boulevard. It was the site of a stately Gullas mansion which survived the war. It became the Archbishop’s palace in the late 1940s as the original downtown near the cathedral had been razed to the ground during the war.
Musical evening
The Visayan Symphony Orchestra (VSO) was formally launched the evening of Jan. 10 at the auditorium of the Marcelo Fernan Cebu Press Center, with special guest soloist Ingrid Sala Santamaria.
An appreciative crowd attended the historic occasion and congratulated Reynaldo Abellana for putting the group together. He usually conducts the orchestra, but for this concert he chose to be first violin and concert master.
Conducting was a Korean lady, Juliet Kim, who has studied at Juilliard. She now lives in Cebu with her Filipino husband. The concert opened with the 1st movement from Mozart’s “Symphony No. 40,” followed by Strauss’ “Emperor Waltz.”
Then came Carlos Gardel’s tango “Por Una Cabeza,” featured in the film “Scent of a Woman.” The audience swooned when the VSO played Cebuano favorites “Usahay” and “Matud Nila.”
Part I came to a rousing finale with the score from “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Klaws Badelt. There was a 10-minute intermission used to wheel the gleaming Yamaha grand piano for the culmination of the evening.
This was Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” with Ingrid Sala Santamaria playing its second and third movements. But before that, Ingrid had glowing words of inspiration, congratulation and encouragement for the VSO and its members.
At the end of the performance, such was the sustained applause during the standing ovation that Ingrid obliged with an encore of the delightful third movement. There was another long standing ovation.
Among those present were Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale with former Department of Tourism Cebu director Dawn Roa, the newly designated Consul General of Korea in Cebu Lee Ki-Seog and Consul Park, Lisa Estenzo Torres, pianist Celi Elliott, Cheling and Susan Sala, Lianne and Ivan Sala.
Acknowledged and asked to take a bow were the VSO members. Aside from conductor/artistic director Juliet Kim and concert master Rey Abellana, they were the following:
First violins: Nicole Badar, Paul Gilbert Ramos, Norwena Belocura, Angeli Si and Christina Badar; second violins, Rogelio Glodove (principal), Gloria Lee, Jacinth Potolin, Jan Russ Esmeralda and Daniel Lee.
Viola: Arthur John Yap and Carlitos Adarna; cello, Roger Ylaya and Jiovanni Tabada; double bass, Jerome Rezaba; flute, Geraldine Abellana (Rey’s wife) and Doza Banday; bassoon, Christopher Tero and Arthur Ulfred Yap; keyboard/percussion, Grace Lee and Simon Cereno.
The VSO is due to play in Cagayan de Oro on Feb. 28 at the Liceo de Cagayan University, whose president is Dr. Rafaelita Pelaez.
Conducting will be her son, accomplished pianist Rudolf Golez, who has won various international awards.