A reception at the Manila Room of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel marked the 64th anniversary celebration of the State of Israel. In attendance were Israel’s Ambassador Menashe Bar-on and his wife Mme. Esther Bar-on.

Hosting were Honorary Consul of Israel in Cebu Emily Benedicto Chioson and the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, led by its executive director Ferdinand Sarfati.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia was present and delivered a much-applauded speech. She traced the friendship between the Philippines with Israel and its people to the era of President Manuel Quezon.

At the time when Jews were being persecuted in Nazi Germany, the Philippines opened its doors to those who wanted to settle here. In 1948, the Philippines was the first Asian country to recognize Israel when it became an independent country.

Among those present were Emily’s father Ambassador Francisco Benedicto; her husband Samuel Chioson, who is Honorary Consul of Portugal and outgoing president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI); Marco Polo general manager Hans Hauri and wife Bo; Arts Council president Petite Garcia; VP Vivina Yrastorza; founder Fe Sal Villarica and trustee Teresin Mendezona.

At a given moment, everyone moved to the hotel’s ballroom for a performance by Eran Katz, renowned author and mentalist. He is called a memory guru, which he proved to the appreciative audience. It was fun learning some memory tricks from him.

Chamber of Commerce induction

The Marco Polo ballroom was also the venue for the induction and turnover ceremonies of the CCCI, attended by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Gov.  Gwen Garcia. In a program emceed by Bunny Pages, Samuel Chioson handed over the presidency to Prudencio Gesta.

Guest of honor and speaker was Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., who was also the inducting officer. Aside from Gesta, officers are vice presidents Lito Maderazo (finance), Nestor Archival (business development), Teodoro Locson (external affairs) and Melanie Ng (membership); secretary Mary Ann Solomon; and treasurers Dennis Wong and Joelix Ng.

In the board of trustees are past president Francis Monera, Michael Basubas, Regan King, Cherrylynn Callelero, Antonio Chiu, Aljim Jamandre, Jerry Rapes, Felix Tuikinhoy, Mario Panganiban, Johannes Hauri, Bonifacio Sia, Danilo Kimseng, Emily Chioson and Chad Miel (legal counsel).

It is going to be a busy year for the CCCI in preparation for its 110th anniversary in 2013. At that time, they will also be hosting the international confab of Chambers of Commerce from all over the world.

Hence, the CCCI focus on tourism development throughout June, celebrated as Cebu Business Month, and launched with a lot of fanfare on June 1 at the Terraces of Ayala Center. On June 16, there will be a fun run at Cebu Business Park, and the “Talento Cebuano” show at the Ayala Center activity area.

Mila Espina heads the CCCI Tourism committee, while Tessie Chan is in charge of the Cebu Business Month Tourism Congress scheduled for June 28. There is a full schedule of activities the whole day at the Cebu International Convention Center, and a grand celebration in the evening, at the Marco Polo.

Art exhibit

The art exhibit “Homage to Mothers” drew a lot of viewers and buyers to the lobby of Montebello Villa Hotel. It was the 35th one-man shoe for prolific Cebuano painter Celso Duazo Pepito, who has organized numerous art shows in this venue.

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon were lawyers Erlinda Boiser Ramos and her daughter Regina Ramos. Assisting were Zelia Borromeo and her nephew Greg B. Cancio, Montebello’s president and general manager.

Heidi Cabaluna, Montebello’s senior sales manager, gave a capsule biography of Celso which summed up his trajectory as an artist. He was born in 1956 in Daan Bantayan, on the northern tip of Cebu island. He grew up in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and realized he could draw well into his college years.

Celso studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines Cebu College where his mentor was Martino Abellana, gifted pupil of Amorsolo. Manansala was his inspiration for cubism, as well as the late Cebuano abstract artist Tito Cuevas.

With fellow painters, Celso formed Cebu Artists Inc. of which he became president in 1993. He is inspired by his wife Fe Madrid and their three children. In a career that spans 31 years, aside from his 35 solo shows, Celso has participated in more than 100 group shows, some of them abroad.

The latest is “Kita,” meaning “Us,” scheduled June 8-13, also at the lobby of Montebello. He is responsible for organizing the show “The Philippines/Indonesia Art Exchange.”

Participating are five Indonesian artists—Antonious Kho, Wayan Linggih, Made Sormadita, Syahrizal Koto and Ade Artie Tjakra; and five Filipinos—Darby Alcoseba, Epifanio Atencia, Adler Llagas, Radel Paredes and Celso himself.

Invited as guests of honor were Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, Cebuano Studies Center director Hope Sabanpan Yu, Armida Caguitla, Devin Go and popular Cebu couturier Cary Santiago.