Luminescence, a runaway success

The entire world loves a maverick, as Mav "Maria Victoria" Rufino is fondly referred to in art and business circles. And there was a lot of love evident at the opening night cocktail of her 14th art exhibit dubbed, Luminescence at The Peninsula Manila’s The Gallery.

During the reception, the lovely Mav looked fabulous with her dapper and suave Paeng Buenaventura playing the perfect escort. They always make a handsome pair and being the perfect gentleman that he is, he fretted that the paparazzi was making too much fuss over him. "Don’t mind me," the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor told them, "this is her night." And what a night it turned out to be. Every piece of her lovely aquarelles was snapped by Manila’s mighty bankers, CEOs and chi-chi 400, as well as her umbrellas, sofas, lampshades, pillows, bags, shawls, and screens that had been silk-screened with her signature luminous dreamlike landscapes.

Come what may: A wedding with a twist

When you combine youth, class, style, beauty and good taste all in one very special occasion, what do you get? An unforgettable, spectacular event that people will remember for the rest of their lives. And these are the exact ingredients that made the union of Dondi Chiongbian and Sookie Villarosa stand out from all the other weddings we came across to.

The Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Makati was the venue for the happy ceremony, officiated by Fr. Toy Manlangit. The groom’s parents, Philip Chiongbian and Yeyet Albert, and the bride’s parents, Jose Villarosa and Rep. Girlie Villarosa, beamed proudly as they witnessed the holy matrimony. Several touching and amusing highlights took place when the maid-of-honor and the bride’s mother cried walking down the aisle, and when one of the groomsmen fell asleep during the ceremony because of jet lag.

The prominent wedding sponsors were lawyer Ericio Arcilla, Florito Maniego, Ador Maniosca, Renato Almeda, Arturo Buenaventura, Nelson Calimoso, Jose Alcabasa Jr., Carlito Tulod, Dr. Ma.Virginia Decangchon, Mayora Nila Aguila, Olivia Tan, Isabelita Villanueva, Carmen Cruz, Ma. Lourdes Rabato, Veronica Elazegi and Rita Claire Tambunting-Dabu. Assisting the bride was maid-of-honor Catherine Bejar with bridesmaids Alelie Legaspi and Carlota Nobie. On the groom’s side were best man Richard Caraan and groomsmen Yancey Duane Velasquez and Luigi Domingo.

And where else would young and thriving newlyweds celebrate the ever-special reception part of the wedding than at Le Souffle where Sookie and Dondi danced the night away from Dave Matthews Band’s Lover lay Down to Chicane’s Love on the Run. Indeed, Sookie and Dondi’s celebration of their love was expressed in a very solemn yet frolicsome way.

Greetings

Advance birthday greetings to Sari Sari’s Aleth Ocampo-Mapa, April 4; Nerissa Carbonel Berba, beauty queen Gloria Diaz and Harrison Plaza’s Irene Martel-Francisco, April 5; Angela Lopez-Guingona, April 6; 72 Traders’ Charlie Morelos, celebrity golfer Richard Gomez, DCR Marketing’s Donnie Ramirez and Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., April 7; HMI’s Ernest Rufino Jr. and lawyer Johnny del Rosario, April 8.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)