The Lions Roared!

The Dumaguete City Host Lions Club roared with a concert of unparalleled proportions. Under the leadership of newly elected president Jerome Escaño Villegas, the primo civic club brought to Dumaguete the tandem of Sarah Geronimo and Mark Bautista, and all this to benefit the Negros Oriental Drug Rehabilitation Center .

They were a “long time coming.” Year after year, rumors persisted that the duet to beat was coming to Dumaguete and this time the Lions made the concert a reality. What a concert it was with the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center filled to the rafters (not an empty seat in the house) and turning away people at the gate practically begging for tickets.

“Everybody who is anybody” was there with prime seats warmed by, “Hmm, let's see,” the entire business magnates clan of the Uymatiaos led by patriarch, now rarely seen Goring, socialite Karen Uypitching with her sons Ngo-an and Marissa, and Tyrone and Nancy, Congressional lady Nanette Arnaiz and kids, “bon vivants” Ed and Stella Du, Pichina Teves, Merilyn Kays, Pinky Lautner and her troop of ex-pats, of course the “workhorse” behind this event and every smashing success of Dumaguete, Honorable Mariant E. Villegas and her equally hardworking better half , Meo, and other personas that would fill up the Oriental side of Negros social and business yellow pages.

Vivacious songstress, I monikered her our very own young Barbra Streisand, only much nicer (let me tell you dahlings, Barbra is not very nice, and I don't care what Linda Richman? Says!), Sarah has the God-given talent of reaching all the musical notes with gusto and pizzazz. Her range is phenomenal. She belted out a variety of songs from old standards to cuts from her newly released album “Taking Flight.” And Sarah can dance too, with the fabulous Rookies backing her up. Sarah is truly an international “princess of pop.”

And what can be said of Mark Bautista! His exceptional rise from a stowaway, (he hid in a boat from Cagayan de Oro to Manila just to join a singing contest) to a singing superstar is so admirable. Look at him now! Yes dreamers, determination, hard work and discipline really paid off for handsome Mark. His rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight” was received with shrieks, swoons and sighs. “Natch” he was very good in all his other numbers.

An intimate late dinner followed at the Escaño kiosk with most of the Lions and Lionesses in attendance.

Again, what a concert it was! Worth its weight in gold! Hope the Lions roar again in the near future! Happy Holidays! ...........NOUS!