Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel is one of the pioneer resorts built in Mactan. In the 1960s, the area used to be the Sunday retreat of our dear friend Carlotina “Nene” Polangcus.
In 1981, Luis and Merceditas (née Borromeo) Alvarez put up Costabella, which became an immediate success with local as well as international tourists. Through the years, Costabella has expanded and new rooms have been added.
Its charm remains, though. The beach front is alluring, the service is tip-top, the cuisine is excellent, and the surroundings lush with greenery. We have very fond memories of evenings spent in Costabella watching a full moon rise over the sea.
Costabella recently celebrated its 36th anniversary with a grand party at its Luis Alfonso Hall, attended by clients and friends, led by Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, as well as City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza.
Welcoming them were board chair Merche Alvarez Castro, president Luis Alvarez Jr. with his wife Hazel, and general manager Marita Alvarez Arambulo.
More: Raul Arambulo with son Miko, daughter Ricca and grandson Andoni Arambulo; Francis and Marisse (née Alvarez) Sy with daughter Reesha and son Izzy, who is the chef at Kayu; and Enzo Nable, representing his mom Mariles Alvarez Nable who was abroad.
Acknowledged onstage were the 2017 awardees: Hiroshi Moromasa of HIS Travel; Misses Seung Youn Son and Kim Young Hee of Hi-S Tours; Eva Miñoza and Arman Baruel of the Philippine Association of Realtors Board Inc.; Claudette Bonaobra and Hanzel Pagobo of Maersk Filipinas Crewing Inc.; and Pia Seno of Cebu Daily News.
A delectable buffet dinner was served and there was a raffle of overnight stays. Mayor Paz won the major prize.
“We plan to celebrate our Costabella anniversary every year,” Marita declared, to which Mayor Paz said she’d always attend, and stay until the end.
Erwin Lim made a good program host, and there was the Sound Merge band to dish out music all night.
The Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission spearheaded a program to dedicate a street in honor of the late Don Eduardo Aboitiz (1917-1985) with the simultaneous unveiling of three street markers.
It started with Mass at the garden of Casa Gorordo Museum led by Rev. Fr. Ernesto Javier, SJ. One marker is at Casa Gorordo itself; the two others are at each end of the street, one in Barangay Parian, the other at Barangay Tinago.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was guest of honor.