Ambassador Francisco Benedicto, ever the most hospitable person in our midst, hosted a sumptuous dinner at the Grand Convention two weeks ago to say farewell to a friend, lawyer Anika Apalisok Fernandez, former director of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 7 who has left for her new post as Legal Attache of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the Untied Nations (UN) in New York. She will be in New York for six years.
In her short thanksgiving message to Ambassador Benedicto, Anika mentioned that the host has always been known to be generous or quick-giving and ever helpful to her colleagues in their office.
Noted during this farewell dinner were Anika's mother, broadcaster Malou Guanzon Apalisok, her husband Mr. Fernandez, Mr. Angel Espiritu and members of the elite media group. To dear Anika, good luck to your new assignment!
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We had the most pleasant surprise when Golden Prince Hotel President Benedict Que and his nephew Aaron Que invited our group (Nelia, Cookie, Chinggay, and yours truly) and surprised us with a wonderful lunch at their posh eating hub, the Bulawan Grills and Wines at the 11th floor, which commands a beautiful view of the city. Do you know that at Bulawan, they serve Seafoods galore, and they also have Paella! Other seafoods available are fried prawns, rock lobsters, king crabs, squids, and many other mouth-watering seafoods. Try to drop by at Golden Prince Hotel located at Acacia Street, corner Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Lahug.
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Our dear friend, Lita Cabugao was all agog knowing that she has now two grandchildren. And two weeks ago, the youngest of the two, Mia Alexa Cabugao, daughter of Joem and Ana Maria Cabugao was baptized by Fr. Soc Saldua at the St. Jude Thaddeus Parish church in Camp Lapulapu, Lahug. Standing as ninongs were Floyd Jan Dilo, Jonathan Dy and Neil Carlo Panagunda with ninangs Marnie Lim, Ingrid Ramos, and Precilla Uy Mendoza. Of course, the young grandpa, Capt. Clifford Cabugao and grandma Mahly were in perfect attendance, so excited to have a couple of grandchildren now. We noticed that Capt. Cabugao was the happiest in the crowd during the dinner reception at Tsay Cheng in Grand Convention. Congratulations!