Cebu ballroomdancing at its best

BALLROOM dancing is very much alive in the Queen City of

the South, Cebu. It will not be a surprise then if one day it will

overtake the Manila ballroom circuit. There has been a

mushrooming of ballroom clubs there and if you happen to be in

the city, check them out. The more popular ones are the

Motions, the BAI at the Cebu Plaza on certain days, Waterfront

Hotel, Lahug at the Teatro Casino every Friday, Inner Circle and

the Holiday Plaza.

I was there a few weeks ago, with

Dance Sport Council Treasurer Gloria

Alcala, as guest of honor at the 2nd

anniversary and induction of the new

officers of the Cebu City Dance Sport

Association, an affiliate of the National

Dancesport Council.

Held at the Motions of the Centerpoint

Hotel, the affair was well-organized and

well-attended by Cebu's ballroom

dancing enthusiasts who are also their

patrons and supporters. In fact, they

were part of the show that was the

highlight of the affair. The program had

two parts.

Part 1

Part One was the induction ceremonies of the new set of officers

with incoming president Victor Cuenco heading the list, internal

vice president Leodegario Marante; external vice president

Richard Llamoso, secretary Maricris Hermosa, assistant

secretary Rhoda Besuna, treasurer Mario Malacat, assistant

treasurer Gregg Osorio and auditor Diosdado Dabasol.

Outgoing president Loloi Rendon who pioneered this

association made his valedictory address, while incoming

president Cuenco delivered his response. Certificates and

plaques of appreciation were given to outstanding members,

supporters and competitors, after which their new logo was

unveiled.

Part 2

Part Two was a show titled ''Be My Guest'' where Cebu's

ballroom dancing queens and kings and supporters did

beautiful production numbers with their dance instructors,

mostly members of the association.

They outdid each other in their costumes and choreography; in

fact, it looked like a dance competition.

The big supporters of the group who were part of the show

were businessman Peddy Manigos, president of Jumilan

Trading, one of the biggest furniture manufacturers in Cebu;

James and Baby Uy, top exporter of dried fruits; Dr. Kathy

Oyson, doctor of philosophy and Freeman columnist; Dr.

Carmen Velez; enterprising businesswoman-realtor Penny

Capistrano; Dr. and Ms Ibarra Panopio; restaurant owners

Edward and Eleanor Hayco who did a beautiful rumba number

with Loloi; prominent socialite Annabelle Luym, Paz Radaza,

Dominique Reigel who surprised everyone with her graceful

but difficult choreography; Dr. and Ms Rey Feliciano; Lee

Castro, Marian Acevedo and Centerpoint Hotel owner Lydia

Graham.

Eleonor Hayco, Dr. Carmen Velez and Annabelle Luym are also

members of the Board of Trustees of the dance association

together with Norma Gallas, Sybil Santos, Antonio Osmeqa

and Lorna Obsuna. I was very impressed by the way they

presented the program and the show but what made my trip

very fruitful was because I was able to unite two ''feuding''

associations--the Cebu Chapter of Dancesport headed by

Julius Quipot and the Cebu City Dancesport Association.

For two years now they have been in conflict and could not get

to agree on dancesport matters when, in fact, they have only

one common objective--to promote dancesport, train dancers

and send them to competitions. I called for a meeting between

the two groups and Peddy was so gracious to host the lunch at

the Port Seafood Restaurant at the Waterfront Hotel owned by

Ed and Eleonor Hayco.

There I was able to get them together for a dialogue and they

have agreed to work for a stronger Cebu representation in the

coming National Dancesport Championship on Oct. 3 in Manila.

I have also appointed as their adviser, their loyal supporter

Peddy Manigos. With this development, I know that the Cebu

contingent will make it in the coming competition.

* * *

TONIGHT will be the big show featuring the four top-ranking

couples in Standard and Latin American at the Zu of the Makati

Shangri-La Hotel.

Billed as ''Back to Back'' Latin and Standard, the show is a

fund-raising event for the training of the Philippine team who

will compete in Taipei on Oct. 9 and 10 for the IDSF 6th Asian

Pacific Dancesport Championship and the IDSF Asian Open

Standard and Latin Championship organized by the

International Dance Sport Federation.

Let's wish our competitors--Bong Marquez and Edna Ledesma,

John Co and Belinda Adora, Anna Yango and Edgar Borromeo,

Timey Ricafort and Marvin Marquez--good luck!