CEBU, Philippines - Svetlana Osmeña (or Lana as she is fondly known to her friends, unless they call her by her other nickname, Lani) threw a memorable birthday bash for her closest friends on a stormy weekend.
As a typhoon lashed Manila, Cebu caught the backlash of gale force winds that made the party at Tops, that iconic mountain eyrie of the Osmeñas, a chilly affair. The glittering lights of the city served as a jewelled backdrop for wine-guzzling, food-chomping and cake-stuffing until the wee hours of the morning, a celebration befitting the luminous celebrant.
Helping their mother host the bash were her children, the brawny Santi and the lovely Annette, just in from Hong Kong as she takes a breather from her university education. Early bird Nikki Gaw-Yu bonded with the Spanish émigrés Diana Marugan, likewise a contributor to this paper and her pilot hubby, Javier Garcia. Fashion designer Arcy Gayatin curled up comfortably by a couch, trading inside jokes with Sonia Schroeder. Close friends Luisa Robinson and Rachel Genco also made sure they were there to support Lana, as did Bernie Aboitiz and Pia Mantecon.
More guests poured in after the Bastille day celebration down the hill, including partyphile Butch Carungay and restaurateurs Marco and Kate Anzani. On the other hand, fashionable Joy Onglatco together with designer par excellence Oj Hofer, skipped in after the fashion show at the lobby launch of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. Also making their glamorous presences felt were the immaculate duo June Alegrado and Iris Arcenas, towing along gorgeous daughter Mia Arcenas (in an incredible mini that dared anyone else to compete for who had the best legs in town.)
After the candles on the birthday cake were blown, and the obligatory photographs were taken, the party-goers refused to let the party die down, and more bottles were uncorked to toast the lovely Lana. Indeed, after her incredible triumph over the big C, there was much to rejoice over, and many more years to look forward to.