Urban Beach In The City

Whether summer is coming or going, a toast to the season is always a fantastic reason to party and what better way to celebrate the summer than with lush cocktails, tropical treats, swaying palm trees, sand and summer beats. The one thing lacking was the ocean itself but the sea of beautiful people in white was a visual feast that more than made up for it. Now with a setting like that to bask in, who needs to go to the beach when Havaianas can take the beach and more to the city?

Dubbed the Havaianas Urban Beach, the leading Brazilian brand created an oasis where beach meets the city. Formo, many a Cebuano’s favorite restaurant lounge and watering hole was transformed into a big cabana with flowing white drapes and paper lanterns. Strategically placed chic loungers were specially brought in just for the event by Detalia Aurora –and made for a choice spot to luxuriate in. Arriving en masse in stylish blanc were Cebu’s young socialites, bright young things, friends from the media and style mavens. Leanne Florendo and Aimil Sarmiento of A.L. Amizade Marketing, Inc., the two gorgeous ladies responsible for bringing the brand to Cebu and to the rest of Central and Eastern Visayas, looked radiant in their white ensembles, an embodiment that wearing flipflops are indeed fun and fashionable. 

It was a starry, starry night and guests mingled with old friends and made new ones as they enjoyed the flowing signature drinks that made such a big splash that night —the mangojito and lychee mojito, served in branded cups no less. I was told that these drinks were made especially for the party with generous chunks of mangoes and lychees adding to the whole tropical vibe. Another first and ultra exclusive touch, guests also raved about the dishes that were served, developed especially by Formo’s Kristine Kokseng and Chef Lor Torres just for the Havaianas party. The baked baby tomato stuffed with chorizo and cheese topped with pesto and wrapped asparagus with grilled eggplant drizzled with sour cream tickled the guests’ discerning taste buds with bursts of sweet and savory flavors.

As if an epicurean experience was not enough, the hosts took it a step further by treating us to an aural journey with the DJ, drumbeaters, percussions and saxophone sounds of Tribo Manila plus more eye candy care of a copoiera demonstration headed by two masters from Rio de Janeiro and fire dancers as they performed amidst the Havaianas sand sculpture. To cap off the evening, guests took home a Flip-Float, which, I am told, is a must-have just like the a pair of Havainas flipflops not just for summer, but for the whole year round, since we do live in a tropical country after all and we are blessed to have summer not as a season but a lifestyle.

Havaianas surely knows how to throw a summer party unlike any other, one that will surely make waves in the months to come.

A.L. Amizade Marketing, Inc. is the exclusive sub-distributor of Havaianas in Central and Eastern Visayas. In Cebu, Havaianas is available at All Flip Flops, Rustan’s, What a Girl Wants, July, Republik, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Maribago Blue Water Resort, Meddah Spa, Abaca Boutique Resort.