AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR Rod Smith and Tourism Secretary Joseph ?Ace? Durano were guests of honor at an appreciation event held by the Foundation for Professional Training Inc. (FPTI). Also with them was Titon Mitra, Minister Counselor of AusAid.

The Australian government and the Department of Tourism are among those greatly responsible for the new facility that was inaugurated on this occasion at the Banilad Center for Professional Development.

For quite a number of years, the Banilad Center has implemented a poverty-alleviation project for young women from low-income families. They are given technical-vocational training, industry experience and consequent employment.

A larger and growing number of applicants will greatly benefit from this facility, which has expanded the classrooms. Additional funds have also been made available for an increase in scholarships.

A boon to this is a partnership with Reledev Australia Ltd. and its competency-based training for skills in hotel and restaurant services. Tourism continues to be a booming industry in Cebu and neighboring island provinces.

The Banilad Center does personalized mentoring in work values as only the Opus Dei can inculcate. On-the-job training enhances the students? skills. Many of them find jobs right after graduating from the program.

These students become assets to their employers like Shangri-La in Mactan, Marriott Hotel, Marco Polo Plaza, Plantation Bay, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Cebu Hilton and Casino Español de Cebu.

Impressive graduates

Top restaurants also seek Banilad Center grads, like Café George, where our story is set. An American client went in and after being attended, told the girl who waited on him that the service was impressive. She asked him if he had heard of Café George, or if it had been recommended to him.

No, he said, it?s just that his name was George, and he thought of going in. You may guess the rest. They met several times, fell in love and got married. When they went to the US, she found out he was a prominent New York lawyer. She visited the Banilad Center when she came to Cebu on vacation and left a generous donation, signing the check herself.

That puts her on a class with the Aboitiz Foundation, Rotary Club of Cebu East, Joseph Nitton King, J. Nitton Development Corp., Timex Philippines and St. Joseph Foundation, whose president is Amelia Castillo Lao.

They were all recognized during the program. It was nice listening to the testimonials of students Cendy Kho and Heart Pacana, as well as to Dottie Viajar Wurgler, operations director of the Marriott.

Most solicitous with the guests were FPTI?s president Imelda Silayan, executive director Milagros Araneta and trustee Arlene Keh; likewise, Banilad Center?s director Mary Anne Ruiz, Liza Marie Cabungcal who is the fund development director and Evangeline Urgello, industry linkage development director.

Among those present were Nicole Guihot, who is the first secretary at the Australian Embassy in Manila, DOT regional director Dawn Roa, St. Joseph Foundation representative Maribel Antunez, Tesda?s Isabel Buenconsejo and Susan Cuyno.

There were also benefactors Haydee King and Joy Borromeo, Rotarian Antonio Chua, Steve Paradies and Sonny Carpio of the Aboitiz Group Foundation, Nati Gonzaga, Freddie Salimbangon representing his sister Mariquita Yeung?s charitable foundation and Marco Protacio, general manager of the Waterfront Hotel.

May 9 Santacruzan

Marco is also the president of the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, which is staging its annual Santacruzan on May 9. Marguerite Lhuillier has been chosen as Reina Emperatriz, and she?ll wear a dazzling gown by Cary Santiago.

While in Cebu, Ambassador Rod Smith found time to meet with the Arts Council over coffee at the Garden Café of the Marriott Hotel. Present were president Petite Garcia, VP Vivinia Yrastorza, treasurer Elvira Lu Ym, plus trustees Teresin Mendezona, Marissa Fernan and Dominic Riegel.

Relations between the Arts Council and Australian Embassy date back to the 1970s when the Australian Youth Orchestra conducted by John Hopkins came to Cebu. In recent years, there have been varied events, the most successful of which were the film festivals. There?ll be more, said the ambassador.

A week later, Petite and the rest were discussing probable cultural activities with Ambassador Zvi A. Vapni of Israel over a gourmet dinner at The Gustavian in Banilad. Israel and the Arts Council have in the past presented varied events, ranging from high-brow music recitals to spirited percussion sessions. At one of them, Vice Mayor Mike Rama could not resist going onstage to tap and rap the bongo drums.

Ambassador Vapni also attended a luncheon hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Casino Español. He was warmly welcomed by incoming president Samuel Chioson, honorary consul of Portugal, and the outgoing Eduard Gaisano.

Later, the Israeli Ambassador, with Consul Chioson and his wife Emily Benedicto Chioson, had tea with Casino Español vice president Gabriel Leyson. They discussed some tourist spots off the beaten track, which Gabby has in a list of must-sees. One is a privately owned primeval isle. Whose? The ambassador was told, but that?s privileged info.