Happy occasions

Southwall, the defunct glossy lifestyle magazine which had its beginnings 12 years ago, is back. The maiden issue launch was a glittering affair at the LapuLapu Ballroom of Bai Hotel with publisher Caroline Tan Porras playing gracious host. Tagged as “The Life of the South,” Southwall magazine will focus on colorful personalities, stylish parties, compelling stories and more. Special guests at the party were the men and women of the Binibining Cebu Foundation who were the cover stars themselves—Kenneth Cobonpue, Kenneth Lim, Raymond Tio, Binibining Cebu Apriel Smith, Binibining Cebu Charity Maria Gigante and Binibining Cebu Tourism Samantha Lo.

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Over cocktails at Radisson Blu Cebu’s Presidential Suite, Stephan Sieberg, the new general manager of Radisson had a lively interaction with our group of Lifestyle writers. Though German born and bred, he is no stranger to Asia having had stints as a hotelier in Malaysia and Indonesia. Oh yes, he and his lovely wife Stephanie are looking forward to life in Cebu. Welcome to our Queen City, Mr. and Mrs. Sieberg!

○○○ Sweet-faced movie star Heart Evangelista, the lovely wife of Sen. Chiz Escudero, is the brand ambassador of Royal Gem, the jewelry line of the Metro Group headed by Merrill Gaisano, daughter of Jack and Vivian G.

Heart was in town for the private sale and preview of Royal Gem’s curated collection dubbed “Let Love Bloom.” Venue was the Sidra-Riga Room of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Earlier in the day she presided over a media lunch at The Pig & Palm wearing a fabulous set of dangling earrings and three layers of multi-colored rings from Royal Gem.

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In a celebratory mood is Ballet Center artistic director Nicolas Pacaña whose two wards, Veia Lampert and Judith Olivia Po competed at the European Ballet Grand Prix and made their marks. Veia placed first in the Junior Classical Solo and first in the Kids Contemporary Solo. She got summer scholarships from Zurich Dance Academy, Berlin State Ballet School and Wienner Statsoper Ballettakademie. On the other hand, Judith placed second in the Senior Contemporary and fifth in the Senior Classical. She got a scholarship from Ballet Manila.

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A new addition to the facilities at SM Seaside City Cebu is the Kaiser Medical Center, a hub affiliated with the health maintenance organization known as the Kaiser International Health Group, and the International Marketing Group.

The center caters to the health care needs of the community, be they corporate groups, individual accounts or walk-in clients. It opens at 6 a.m. for early lab requirements and closes at 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. Among the services offered are diagnostic services, laboratory exams, consultations, annual physical exams, computerized imaging in radiography, colored ultrasound machine and other state-of-the-art diagnostic examination tools. Frontliner on opening was its medical director, Dr. Rodrigo C. Rodrigo along with his team.

SOUTHWALL LAUNCH. At Bai Hotel during the launching of Southwall, the newest glossy magazine in town, from left, managing editor Rione Palacios and publisher Caroline Tan Porras in front of the unveiled maiden issue cover with Cratos Publishing...

THE COVER STARS. The maiden issue cover personalities, from left, Kenneth Cobonpue, Bb. Cebu Apriel Smith, Bb. Cebu Charity Maria Gigante, Kenneth Lim, Raymond Tio and Bb. Cebu Tourism Samantha Lo.

BALLET DANCERS. Judith Olivia Po and Veia Lampert with their winning citations after they competed at the European Ballet Grand Prix in Vienna, Austria. At right, Veia and Judith in action.

ROYAL GEM BRAND AMBASSADOR. Heart Evangelista with the Royal Gem VIPs, from left, Margaret Gaisano Ang, Merrill Gaisano and Vivian Gaisano.

KAISER MEDICAL CENTER. At SM Seaside City Cebu during the opening of the center, seated from left, Dr. Faith Cagulad (Family Medical consultant), operations manager Tweety Julian and medical director Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigo with their team.

RADISSON’S NEW GM. Mr. Stephan Sieberg and his wife Stephanie.