The Monique Lhuillier fashion show

With the most exquisite lace and the softest of chiffons, the finest jerseys and duchess satins, delicate ribbons and eye catching beadwork, plus subdued ruffles and muted sashes, Cebu-bred but Los Angeles based recent recipient of the Presidential Award of Merit Medal, Monique Lhuillier is, yes, the Filipino on the global world of fashion. How can we forget the red carpet moments of Nicole Kidman and Sharon Stone in a Lhuillier and photos of brides Britney Spears and Alicia Silverstone, among others, in wedding gowns from her atelier? She had artistically created an almost one hundred-piece collection of casual and evening wear women yearn for and bridal gowns brides dream of.

Organized by a you-somehow-could-not-find-a-more-tony-group of exceptional ladies led by Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Gina Lopez, Lizzie Zobel de Ayala and Mons Romulo Tantoco and sponsored by the Ayala Group of Companies, Nokia, Rustan's, Stores Specialists, and M. Lhuillier, with the Asia Society and the Bantay Bata 163 as beneficiaries, the well attended dinner show was held at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel where the property officials echoed by their sterling preferred clients claimed they have never seen a more crowded full house with nary an elbow room among the many tables.

As the evening began with glasses of champagne in a wonderful faux French garden setting with live statues that certainly brought European memories, one caught a glimpse of what the evening promised through the ultra elegant gown by Monique Lhuillier proudly worn by mom Amparito Llamas Lhuillier. And when the Guest of Honor, the President of the Republic Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrived, in a Monique Lhuillier masterpiece herself, the show began.

One by one, the islands' top models walked down the ramp just like they do during the Paris Fashion Week, the London Fashion Week and the Milan Fashion Week. And one by one, the designs simply mesmerized the discerning audience, both from Manila and Cebu, who were truly wowed over again and again and yet again. Applause, applause, applause.