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| Cuyonon Baragatan Members with Rodrigo Franco. |
The annual reunion and celebration of Cuyonons from Metro
Manila and other parts of the world, once again takes place at Club Filipino
last August 14, 2016 for Cuyonon Baragatan, with around 300 in attendance
mostly retirees and old professionals who hail from the town of Cuyo, Palawan.
On its 9th year, the Cuyonon Stand Up Comedienne
Robert Eleazar aka Amor Powers is among this year’s performer that shared
laughter to the audiences, as he orchestrated some games on stage. He share the
stage with fellow comedian Junrey Gualvez.
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| Tudong-Cuyonon Rap Group. |
Fr.Alex Abia from Puerto Princesa City opens the
celebrations thru a holy mass, and he did surprise the crowd when he performs
some Cuyonon songs thru rap, he was join by Tudong-Cuyonon Rap Group.
But the man of the hour is Rodrigo Franco, this year’s
inspirational speaker, he express his admiration to Cuyonon Baragatan, on his speech
he said that this kind of group are the one’s needed for nation building, he
also share some stories in growing up in the island of Cuyo. Franco is the
President or CEO of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp that maintain and manage NLEX,
a popular expressway in the northern part of Metro Manila. Prior to that Franco
is the former Vice President of JP Morgan Chase Bank. His mother is a pure
Cuyonin name Magdalena Lagrosa-Emmanuel.
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| Comedian Host Junrey and Robert Eleazar. |
The biggest surprise to this year’s festival is the
attendance of Gretchen Abaniel, the latest Boxing champion who hails from
Palawan with Cuyonon blood. Abaniel is a WIBA and WIBF Lady Boxing Champion and
now in training to defend her title come October in Australia.
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| Boxing Champ Gretchen Abaniel with Bugtitinay and EFES Beer. |
Current and former Palawan leaders are also in attendance
like Amor Abueg, Baham Mitra and Gil Acosta. Nonoy Lanzanas and his Sinika also
return this year in performing old Cuyonon songs. Jojo Menorca and his wife is
this year’s winner in Best in Western Attire.
Rossana Pediapco
is this year”s over all chairwomen of the celebration, and to the next year
event. 2017 is already scheduled on August 20 still in Club Filipino. EFES, the
No.1 Turkish Beer supported this year’s celebration. The party ends with
community dancing.
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