Gov. Vilma Santos, OMB Chairman Ronnie Ricketts and actor Luis Manzano, joined a recent ‘Walk for a Cause,’ spearheaded by Frank Evaristo (left), president of the Alay Lakad Foundation. ‘

MANILA, Philippines — The Halili-Cruz School of Ballet and its performing group, the Quezon City Ballet, also known as the Halili Cruz Ballet Company, will present a ballet concert entitled “A Dance Offering” today, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre in Resorts World Manila.

The dance concert is a thanksgiving performance for all their successful endeavors.

There will also be an awarding ceremony for 124 young Filipino achievers in dance, all from the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, who won in international competitions. The school will showcase the versatility of more than 300 Halili-Cruz ballet dancers in various dance forms: Classical ballet, contemporary dance, hip-hop, neoclassical and lyrical dance.

Awarded as the “Most Outstanding Ballet School in Asia” from 2000 to the present, the school always searches for new and exciting things to offer its aspiring ballerinas. This year alone, the school had triumphant stints in international dance festivals such as the Dance Excellence 2011 in Los Angeles, CA where they won four gold prizes; the Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Bangkok; the Asian Arts Festival in Chongqing, China, the 21st Century Int’l Dance Competition in Genting Highland, where they won the gold prize; Love to Dance in Cornwall, England where they did a joint concert with the British Big Dance Company.

The HCSB is the only dance school in the Philippines holding at least three grand ballet concerts in a year (March, May, and December).

“A Dance Offering” will bring together the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet dancers from the Main Studio along Quezon Ave., and branches in Miriam College, St. Pedro Poveda College, St. Mary’s and Alabang Country Club.

Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz, the founder and artistic director, has maintained the tradition of having dance concerts and great productions as integral to the ballet training. She believes that since ballet is a performing art, performance on stage is of vital importance. The dance concert will feature new works by the equally dedicated dance teachers who trained under Ms. Halili-Cruz for the past 24 years: Grace Garalde-Perez, Anna Tuazon-Balmadrid; and Anna Kathrina Halili Cruz.

Carla can’t promote ‘Asiong Salonga’ 

At the recent press conference-cum-Christmas party tendered by Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito (a.k.a. Jeorge Estregan), the governor himself confirmed that there is indeed an issue about his leading lady, Carla Abellana, and that she won’t be joining in the promotion of his movie “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.”

Apparently, Carla and her manager, Arnold Vegafria, did not seek Regal Entertainment’s (with which the actress is under a movie contract) permission for her to appear in “Asiong.”

“Kaya hindi siya makakapag-promote sa movie namin at hindi siya makaka-join sa float namin,” Gov. ER said. Carla has another Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Regal’s “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.”

In “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story,” which is the fourth version already of the true-to-life story of the legendary “Robinhood of the Philippine Underworld,” Carla plays the wife of Asiong.

Directed by Tikoy Aguiluz, the action flick (produced, they say, to the tune of P75 million!) is produced by Viva Communications, Inc. and Scenema Concept International.

Carla previously appeared in “Mamarazzi,” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll XII” for which she won the Star Awards for Best Actress as well as the Young Critics Circle Best Movie Performer.

Another milestone in Carla’s career is her appointment as Tanduay’s 2012 Calendar Pin-Up Dreamgirl.

Clearly, this partnership with Tanduay is just a preview of Carla moving on to bigger and more exciting things and like everyone else, we can’t hardly wait.

Civic leader marks his milestone

Businessman, writer and civic leader Frank Evaristo marks a milestone, his 70th birthday, on Dec. 17. He will be feted by his five children Jun-Jun, Amy, Carol and Lorraine together with his four grandchildren, with a birthday bash at the Rockwell Club in Makati.

Frank, who is former president of the National Jaycee and Philippine British Society, is a core member of the “Bulong-Pulongan Media Forum,” held every Tuesday at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. He is also the president of the Alay Lakad Foundation which conducted the recent “Walk for a Cause” for the benefit of out-of-school youth with Gov. Vilma Santos, her son Luis Manzano and Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairman Ronnie Ricketts in attendance. Frank is currently vice president of the Rotary Club of Manila.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Dec. 16, go to Ms. Gloria Romero, and fellow Sampaguita star Amparo Lucas, author Kerima Polotan-Tuvera, Mrs. Mila Limgenco, former Quezon Gov. Eddie Rodriguez, Catherine Santos, Mrs. Tessie Benito and daughter Iris, Mrs. Annie P. Vergara, Frankie Pangilinan, Malou Pagar, Dr. Randy Dellosa, and Michelle Murenec... Happy wedding anniversary to Rollie and Linda Angeles of Guam...