AMELIA “MEM” Castillo La O’s birthday is on March 15. She waited a month to the day to celebrate it on a breezy Sunday. There was a mass of thanksgiving at the Opus Dei chapel in Mabolo. The Mass was also offered for the recovery of Mem’s dear friend, Lulu Mendieta de Aboitiz, who was sick.

Lunch followed at the Molave Room of the Cebu Country Club whose picture window glass panels give a great view of the golf links and the pool. Rosebud Sala had decorated the hall with masses of orange bird of paradise blooms.

Rosebud also chose the menu which was an array of what the Country Club does best, including its signature dessert, Mango urprise. If you are in Cebu, what else? To say grace there were Fr. Edwin Quinan and Fr. Henry Bocala.

Guests included Michel and Amparito Lhuillier, Angie Mathieu, Johnny and Anna Marie Dizon, Aguing Gonzalez, Rosanna Gonzalez, Paqui Aboitiz, Quina Melendez, Tina Ebrada, Julina Muertegui, Lourding Marquez, Carmen Campbell, Hazel Gonzelez and Evelyn Ugarte.

Also present were Luis and Annie Aboitiz, Douglas and Annabelle Lu Ym, Vic and Toots Torres, Mario and Teresita Mendezona, Jo Booth with daughter Marie, Maricar Perdices, Maribel Antunez and Lydia Abad MacKenzie.

Arts Council of Cebu

A few days later, also at the Country Club, this time at the Acacia Room, was the lively general membership meeting of the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation. Presiding was incumbent president Petite Garcia who gave a full report on the events held over the past three years.

Board members present were vice president Vivina Yrastorza, secretary Mariter Klepp, treasurer Elvira Lu Ym, and trustees Angelina Escaño, Elena Young, Alice Plaza and Marissa Fernan.

Also present were lifetime members Tacky Efthimiou, Vikki Hermosisima, Sue Gray, Neil and Diane Copland, Josephine Aboitiz Booth, Pauline Deduque, Corito Abalos. Janice Minor and Heidi Benedicto.

The meeting was to elect nine trustees to augment the six in order to complete the required number of 15. Held over from last year were VPs Vivina Yrastorza and Maxwell Espina, Alice Plaza, Angelina Escaño, Elena Young and Mayan Tan.

A record, and large, number of proxies more than served to declare a quorum. Arts Council office staff Mariz Rallos and Honelyn Cenarlo assisted the election committee and tallied all ballots in the presence of those who attended.

The results: Petite Garcia (president for life?), Elvira Lu Ym, Marissa Fernan, Marylou Neri, Annie Aboitiz, Teresin Mendezona, and newcomers to the board Rose Hennessy and Allen Arvin Tan.

If there is something that characterizes Arts Council meetings it is the enthusiasm of both trustees and members to continue with the role the organization plays in presenting events of the highest artistic quality. This has been so since its founding in 1960 by Fe Sala Villarica who is adviser to the group.

The perennial problem to hurdle is the lack of funds to do all that the Arts Council would wish to accomplish. “Somehow we manage,” says president Petite. A committee will be formed to create an endowment fund that would earn to at least cover operating expenses.

Mentalist Eran Katz

The Arts Council may not be involved in the presentation of some events, and yet it gives help and support when necessary. One such event is the forthcoming performance of internationally acclaimed author and mentalist Eran Katz on May 14 at 6:30 p.m., at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

The event will coincide with a reception in celebration of the 64th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel. Invitations have been issued by the Honorary Consul of Israel in Cebu Emily Benedicto Chioson and the Israel Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.

Expected to attend are Ambassador of Israel and madame Menashe Bar-On.

Alliance Française de Cebu

Speaking of meetings, Alliance Française de Cebu held and organizational meeting at its premises in the QC Pavilion where classes in the French language are imparted to over 100 students.

Presiding was Honorary Consul of France in the Visayas Michel Lhuillier. Board members present were lawyer Bayani Atup; Fr. Isidro Miranda, SVD, president of the University of San Carlos; Mayen Tan and Honey Loop; Alliance Française de Cebu director Louis Thevenin, and deputy director Juliet Blouin.

Monsieur Thevenin reported on the multifarious activities of the past year, and forthcoming events. One is a hip-hop performance with Electro Kif by Bianca Li the evening of May 26 at the activity center of Ayala Center Cebu.

In June is the annual French film festival whose dates will be announced later, and Fête de la Musique on June 16 at The Terraces of Ayala Center.

In the near future Alliance Française de Cebu will move to a bigger location, the Pink House which until recently was the mansion of the Velez family in Gorordo Avenue. Aside from the classrooms, exhibit area and office there will be a typical cafe serving gourmet food by a French chef.

For the inaugural they will invite Ambassador of France and madame Gilles Garcachon. That may well coincide with the Cebu celebration of Bastille Day in July.