All about Summer Soul

For the last four years of my work-related life, Boracay has come to mean Lifestyle Network’s Summer Soul weekend at Discovery Shores. I am on my sixth year working at ABS-CBN’s Cable Channels and Print Media Group, so I was there as the event was first conceptualized, as it partnered with Metro Society, and found perfect synergy with Discovery Shores, which in our second Soul year, had just opened its doors, and hasn’t been able to get rid of us since. With Discovery Shores and GM Jun Parreno, the Lifestyle Network and Metro Society event has found a true “home” and the perfect host; and long may the partnership last.

For the 2011 edition of Summer Soul (Year 5), the theme was Fashion and Passion, and invited as special honorees for the weekend of pampering, dining and partying were fashion designers Tippi Ocampo, Rhett Eala and Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez, and jewelry designers Michelline Syjuco and Nicole Whisenhunt. The designers had participated in Metro Society’s event of Young Society Designers late last year, and this was a way of expressing gratitude to the designers, with three days of stress-free holiday-making  and yes, Rhett, somehow you slipped through, and got categorized as “Young,” as there is young at heart! A dinner was arranged at Shangri-La Boracay’s Rima, superb Italian cuisine served in a treetop location (Kudos to executive sous chef Gianluca Visciglia, for a truly special six-course meal), there was lunch at Asya, a buffet dinner at Siam Chili and of course, breakfasts and meals at Discovery Shores are always very special!

The “all white” party at Epic on Friday night was the first prescribed dose of merrymaking; when special thank you’s to the advertisers and sponsors who helped make Summer Soul happen were in order. L’Oreal Paris’ Total Repair 5, Sangobion, Sensodyne, Athena and Ceelin from Unilab, Mentos, Boracay Rum from Tanduay, Dermatix, Philamlife and Dole  they either gave out special awards, or were given special mention. And on Saturday night, SM’s Coco Cabana held a summer wear fashion show right on the beach, and we had Sysu’s Tabasco holding a “flairtending” competition  irony, and the fact that I had to judge the competition was not lost on me, as I’m allergic to alcohol. Century Tuna’s participation was highlighted by Discovery Shores’ F&B department concocting special dishes using the canned company’s tuna; and whenever cold refreshment was needed, Nestle’s Heaven Ice Cream and Fruit Selection Yoghurt was stationed by the Discovery pool. Friday night’s party was hosted by Fash’s Bianca Valerio and Ferdi Salvador, and Bianca performed double duty, also taking on host duty for Saturday’s “flairtending” contest and fashion show.

Toasting to Summer Soul’s fifth year at Discovery Shores: (From left) FASH’s Ferdi Salvador, Raul Manzano, Lifestyle Network’s Barbie Lara, Discovery Shores’ Jun Parreno, your columnist and FASH’s Bianca Valerio (in blonde mode). Photos by PHILIP SISON

Summer Soul is also about friendships being created, nurtured; about the bonding that happens and lives beyond the days spent at Discovery Shores. Two of the guests from last year, Marissa Lopa and Vina Monasterio, happened to be spending the weekend at Bora as well, and joined us, reminiscing about Year 4. It was Michelline’s first time in Boracay, and she was constantly amazed and gushing about all she saw  and I think her highlight was having a photo taken with Pilita Corrales; yes, the one and only Pilita, who we spied in the Shang lobby, wearing skinny jeans and six-inch heels. Because she comes from a family of artists, we joked Michelline about what would constitute “rebelling” in her family, and she smiled, recalling how she had gone “corporate,” and worked in a bank. Newly-wed Rosanna had husband Marco following Saturday, and when he missed his early morning flight, that led to endless teasing by Raul and myself.

Too often, when things go smoothly, we take it for granted that making it happen so smoothly is an easy task. It’s more the case that the marketing group is held to account when things go awry, or the best laid plans hit snags. With hindsight and confidence, I can say this Year 5 was one of the most stress-free ones I’ve attended, and special congratulations are in order for Marga Mendoza and her indefatigable team. The happy faces of the participants  guests, sponsors and representatives from agencies  were all testament to how successful the weekend was, and how Year 6 will be highly anticipated. Summer Soul, Lifestyle Network, Boracay, Discovery Shores; in my mind, they’ll always be etched together.