Some enchanted evening

It was an evening of style and substance when the Negros Occidental Garden Club held its Induction of Officers and Christmas Party at the Sugar Bowl of Sugarland Hotel. The motif was "South Pacific" and all came in their exotic south sea costumes. It was like being transported to an island paradise where lovely "wahinis" showed their most colorful attires.

The new president of the club, Lita Cruz, was all over the place, greeting the guests and attending to the numerous details of the affair. The outgoing president, Nem Sy, gave a lovely Valedictory Address, enumerating the accomplishments of the club under her term. A unique feature of the induction ceremony was the swearing-in of Lita with her entire family by her side. I was especially touched to see Lita's mom, Tita Ellen, a very dynamic lady who has been an inspiration to all who know her. Frank Cruz (Lita's hubby), their kids and grandchildren, looked so proud at her moment of triumph. Everyone was impressed by her speech especially when she read a quotation given to her by her husband during one of their wedding anniversaries.

Excerpts from the Broadway play, South Pacific, provided the entertainment of the

evening. The members of the club performed like pros (ably trained by choreographer Ofelia Gonzaga) with their production numbers: Some Enchanted Evening, I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy, Younger than Springtime and the unforgettable, Bali Hai. Kudos to the officers and members of the club for an elegant, swellegant evening!

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A very special Christmas dinner was given by Peps Remitio at her swanky residence for Lita Cruz and her friends recently. Pep's husband Rex Remitio was there to help her entertain the guests. The evening was definitely a night to remember with an exceptional feast of excellent culinary creations by Peps herself! After enjoying the exquisite meal, everyone settled down to our favorite pastime - chit-chatting the night away! The scintillating conversation was so interesting and delightful, that the hours just slipped by unnoticed by the guests who also gorged on the sweetest pomelo fruits ever. What a pleasurable party it was!

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This new year, here's a special message for all of you:

"Wishing you the wings to fly, the vision to dream wildly, the heart to love deeply and the spirit to embrace all the beauty in life! HAPPY NEW YEAR!*