THAT was quite a gathering of ladies from Cebu’s elite circles at Casino Español for the launching of the book “The Ladies of Cebu.” It took Honey Jarque Loop more than a year to gather the photos and a little more to put them together with the assistance of ace photographer Daniel Carpentier.

The book has pictures of 208 ladies Honey has chosen. They are from Cebu’s oldest families, the corporate world, civic circles and some of them from various parts of the world and all over the Philippines who have become Cebuanas by choice or circumstance. It’s quite a collection indeed.

Honey has dedicated the book to her late father Eduardo Jarque and mother Adela Alvarez de Jarque who was present on this occasion. She is agile, spry and blessed with a very lucid disposition.

The book is selling briskly at National Book Store, PowerBooks, and for those who’d like to drop by, Honey’s home along Bauhinia Drive, Banilad, Cebu City. The success of it lies in the contents and Honey’s formula in obtaining material.

She asked the ladies to send their photos where they thought they looked best. Some sent vintage pictures, others had themselves photographed outright, while a good number sent favorite snapshots.

Of course, the 208 ladies do not make up a complete gallery. Honey’s choices have been highly personal, with a good dose of research as well. And that’s how it should be. Some declined to be in the book, others were not available, while some, we’re sure, forgot to send a photo. Now that the book is out, some have sent feelers to ask why they are not in it.

Honey is taking it all in stride. Will there be a second book of ladies? Maybe an updated one 10 years from now? The subject has not been exhausted. Honey says that what she’d like to tackle next are the men of Cebu. She can use the same formula. I know someone who will send his passport photo. Looks good in it, too.

Going back to the launching, it was graced with the presence of Cebu’s First Lady, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who sat with Honey and Mrs. Jarque. She has half a dozen photos in the book, depicting her hectic day-to-day life in what she calls “the premier province in the Philippines.” Debt-free, too.

There were just 10 men invited to the event, among them Honey’s very supportive husband, Glenn Loop. Of course, Carpentier was present. So was French Consul Michel Lhuillier who sat with wife Amparito, who also has half a dozen photos in the book.

Rating more than just one photo are Rosebud Sala, Teresin Mendezona, Tessie Javier, Moning Aberasturi de Garcia, Annie Corrales Mahrt, Pilita Corales, Annabelle Lu Ym, Honey’s best friend Mayen Tan, Mariquita Yeung, Joanna Lhuillier, Liz Garcia, Pinky Chang, Deena Pages and Carla Larrazabal del Prado.

Ladies who left their mark

The last chapter is dedicated to “Las Señoras de Cebu,” featuring those ladies who have passed on and left their mark. In it are former First Ladies Esperanza Limjap Osmeña and Leonila Diamataga Garcia, Angelita Lhuillier, Asuncion Rivilla Escaño, Pilar Jarque Campbell, Juanita Velgahen Velez, Anita Rodriguez and Pilar Blanco Sala.

Pilar Sala certainly certainly left her mark, founding the Battig Piano School and giving the first music lessons to her daughter Ingrid Sala Santamaria. She gave Cebu its golden era of music, establishing the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) which became the Peace Philharmonic of the Philippines (PPP).

Ingrid Santamaria is very much in Honey’s book, with five full-color photos wherein she wears some of the most sumptuous ternos she has donned in her recitals and concerts. She was also present at the launch, regaling the elegant assemblage with piano selections which were very much applauded.

Later, when we spoke with her, she enthused about her latest artistic activities. Ingrid had teamed up with flutist Ray Sison and together, they had embarked on a series of piano-flute duo education outreach recitals of favorite classical music.

The response had been tremendous wherever they played. They had been all over Metro Manila and the neighboring environs. In Cebu, they inaugurated the Virginia Sy Chiongbian auditorium at the Sacred Heart School in Canduman, Mandaue City. There was a memorable performance at Balay Negrense in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Ingrid will next perform in Cebu on October 4 at 10 a.m, at Salon Madrid of Casino Español. It’s an invitational event wherein she will play Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3, and Tschaikovsky’s Concerto No. 1. The orchestral accompaniment on a second piano will be rendered by eminent pianist Dr. Raul Sunico.

“Actually, it is an appreciation event,” says Ingrid, “for family, media, and supportive friends. I will do something similar in Manila on October 2, at 6 p.m., with the same program.” Venue will be the Yuchengco Museum at RCBC Plaza in Makati.

“It is a tribute concert,” Ingrid adds, “in honor of Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, who will be present.” The concert top-bills the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) conducted by Jeffrey Solares who spent many years in Cebu. He helped Ingrid nurture CYSO and PPP.

Featured as soloists with the MSO in this concert will be flutist Ray Sison and violinist Sarah Gonzalez, formerly a scholar with the CYSO and PPP. Sarah is now a violin scholar at St. Scholastica’s College of Music, supported by the Arts Council of Cebu.

The October 2 concert at Yuchengco Museum is also invitational. Anyone interested to attend may request for an invitation by calling 0918-9238707.