By Susan Palmes-Dennis
*********
Indeed the stars cascaded down to earth to watch Carla Salvana make a grand entrance and receive his lifetime achievement award from the organizers of rhe Soiree 2018 event at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City last Nov. 20.
Salvana, the hair and make up artist known in Cagayan de Oro and the province of Misamis Oriental and neighboring provinces wore a bright red gown with bodice spread wide to the ground in the event as he profusely thanked the Soiree 2018 event chairperson Frank Tongco and the organizing committee for the award.
The simple plaque of recognition cited Carla's invaluable support and dedication to the hair and make up industry not only in Misamis Oriental but in northern Mindanao as well.
With more than 500 guests that filled up to capacity the Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Carla and other awardees were at their glittery finest as they each received awards and recognition from their peers.
Carla, better knownas Carla 2000 is known for kick-starting the makeup practice to highlight women's eyebrows back in 2000, a trend that the millennial's now label as “kilay is life.”
He takes effort to create the perfect brow and for that alone, Carla deserves the award since he is one of a kind. An artist on a different platform, a seasoned veteran that still works to improve his craft by attending trainings, readings and comparing his work with others abroad.
“He is always updated with what is new and trending,” said Carla's friend George Patalinghug. Carla was my official makeup artist when I worked as both station manager and anchor of TV 39 based in Cagayan de Oro College.
At the time TV 39 broadcast news live from 2000 to 2006. Despite his busy schedule, he would always work with me even if the elevator on the sixth floor was in the fritz.
Carla is no lightweight either. He studied at Xavier University and is very well informed of local and world news. Ask him anything and he can give his opinion on issues backed by proven facts, not fake news.
Maybe you know by now my source for local news in Cagayan de Oro and elsewhere. But more than anything, Carla's work is perfection and nothing else.
He can always earn money even if left alone at his home in Solana, Jasaan town armed only with scissors. He can trim and cut hair in buses to make money. There are no dull moments with Carla.
He takes pride in paying his own social security a long time ago and he already paid for his burial plans since he doesn't want to be a burden to the family should his time come.
He realized early on the importance of financial independence after seeing his contemporaries in the industry pass away without so much as a bank account or a centavo attached to their name.
That alone makes Carla deserving of the lifetime achievement award, said a friend who requested anonymity.
Carla said that success is not determined by what happens to a person but how he or she handles whatever comes his or her way.
“Life is full of beautiful opportunities,” Carla told me as he admitted that it was not an easy walk in the park for him who is part of the Salcedo-Salvana clan.
“During low moments I realized that my attitude, not my aptitude will determine my altitude,” he said. Carla said great work is the outcome of great effort and great attitude.
In thanking the organizers of Soiree 2018 led by Frank Tongco, Carla advised the millennials to follow their dreams, listen to their heart and be true to themselves.
And to his contemporaries Carla has this to say: "Don't think about retirement it is not the end yet, rather a beginning of a new life where we can do a lot of things which we had sacrificed and left incomplete.”
He also thanked the owners of Lerouge Salon family (Martin snd Love Joie Libago) for the support .
In closing, I doff my hat to Carla and the other winners for their commitment to quality service which shows just how they value and care for their customers (For comments and questions email me at susanap.dennis @yahoo.com).
