And the night belonged to women...
MANILA, Philippines - And their appreciative men.
A woman of style turns heads with her looks, but a woman of style and substance keeps those looks glued to her.
Six women were honored by PeopleAsia magazine for embodying style and substance in a glamorous soiree at the rose-bedecked Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.
This year’s honorees include corporate wife and children’s welfare advocate Marissa Concepcion, Lanao del Norte Rep. Aliah Dimaporo, graphic designer Isabel Gatuslao, brainy lawyer Karen Jimeno and San Vicente, Palawan Mayor Pie Alvarez, the youngest Filipino to be elected mayor at age 21 and sculptor Olivia d’Aboville.
The other ladies who graced PeopleAsia’s “Women of Style and Substance 2012” were as graceful as swans dressed to the nines!
VIP guests filled every square inch of the posh venue, which had towering topiaries of red roses complemented by red tivoli lights.
Hosted by GMA-7 hunk Victor Aliwalas, the program also featured the classical trio of The Angelos, delivering musical interludes to the delight of everyone.
Serving as a prelude to the main event of the night was a fashion show by Vito Store, with top male and female models donning the pre-holiday collections of noted Filipino designers Ronaldo Arnaldo, Ivarluski Aseron, Vittorio by Vic Barba, JC Buendia, Louis Claparols, Patrice Diaz, Maureen Disini, Rhett Eala, Jun Escario, Veejay Floresca, Lulu Tan Gan, Rajo Laurel, Jojie Lloren, Dennis Lustico, Rosanna Ocampo, Tippi Ocampo, Randy Ortiz, Mitzi Quilendrino, Yvonne Quisumbing and Joey Samson.
One of the much-awaited highlights of this year’s “Women of Style and Substance” was the announcement of the names of two best-dressed ladies — they whose outfits illustrate the meaning of “Divine” and “Diva.” Hands-down winners were Myx Philippines VJ Bianca Roque (“Divine”) and Allure columnist Joanne Zapanta-Andrada (“Diva”), who each won exquisite jewelry sets from The Heirloom Collection.
VIP tickets to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines were also raffled off to the excited crowd. Francis de Leon from Crimson Resort & Spa and The Philippine STAR associate editor Marichu Villanueva emerged as the night’s lucky winners.
Sponsors for this year’s “Women of Style and Substance” are Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Chevrolet, Citibank, Floriade, Vito Store, SM Accessories, Below Zero, Nu Asia, Zen Zest, The Heirloom Collection, Glupa, Meister Watches and The Philippine STAR. Photos by Fernan Nebres
