A golden celebration

Laguna’s well-known and tres respected couple from Alaminos, businessman Melecio "Miming" Zuñiga and nice Paz Zuñiga, dahlings, celebrated 50 years of matrimonial bliss a full moon ago. The touching ceremony took place at the historical San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manille.

Paz Z., a St. Theresa’s College (Class 1951) Bachelor of Science in Education degree holder, was so beautiful in an ecru-organza gown with gold trimmings and intricate floral beadwork. Miming Z. donned a barong. Both wore original creations by Via Firenze.

Dinner followed at the eye-catching Art Deco- themed Maynila of the Manila Hotel, palanggas. The elegant affair boasted of a well-prepared sumptuous buffet.

In stark contrast to the simple white and yellow floral arrangements in San Agustin Church, the grand reception hall was transformed into a colorful spring garden. It was bedecked with colorful Malaysian mums, roses, orchids and gerberas, and illuminated by thousands of tivoli lights.

St. Scholastica College’s Leggiero Strings provided not only the beautiful church music, but entertained the invitees with a varied repertoire of classical and modern melodies.

Msgr. Matt Garcia, parish priest of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Bel-Air Village, officiated the wedding rites which included a tres inspiring homily. The ceremony was made even more meaningful with the liturgy of the word read by the couple’s three sons, Joey, Ferdie and Nicky.

The principal sponsors, palanggas, were the couple’s close pals from Bel-Air Village (Sen. Bobby Barbers and his wife Virgie B.; Joe Briones and his wife Alice B.) and their pals from Alaminos, Laguna, Remedios Fule-Cordero and Antonio Bautista. The golden couple’s son Ferdie (who graduated magna cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila Law School and was a Bar placer in 1984), the secretary of Barangay Bel-Air Village, served as the emcee.

Enjoying the joyful ambience were VIPersonas like Philippine Stock Exchange chairman Ramon Garcia and his wife; Dr. Jazmine Gongora; Cali and Pepsi Aro; Dr. Andrea Dimayuga; Rev. Fr. Nick Yatco, S.J.; lawyer Santos and Pilar Estacio; Eta Mercado; Surigao Gov.-elect Lyndon Barbers; Dr. Leonida Monfero; plus so many other VIPersonas like them, palanggas.

The guests went home with gold-plated bracelet rosaries. These giveaways were a labor of love of Paz Z., who painstakingly made each of them, including the cute gold-rimmed boxes. Chocolate compliments of the hotel’s Cafe Ilang-Ilang were also given as extras for the sweet-toothed.

The affair, palanggas, was a blessed and a happy one, the result of the couple’s meticulous planning and the untiring efforts of their five loving children.

More than the physical trappings, it was the unconditional support of their pals, neighbors and relatives that made the occasion truly memorable for the couple. It certainly was "a living testimony to a long and lasting marriage, a lifetime of shared bliss and happiness," as conveyed by Cosmo Manille socialite Alice Roxas Briones in her greetings to her dear goddaughter.

It was definitely one big day that will never be forgotten. Cheers, palanggas! Here’s to the 60th!

Origins at Rustan’s

The popular Origins has finally opened in Cosmo Manille at the top-of-the-line Department Store Rustan’s Makati. The fabi body and skin care brand of the Estee Lauder Group offers products utilizing only glorious natural ingredients.

Origins opened with a ribbon-snipping ceremony attended by no less than Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., chairman of the Rustan’s Group of Companies, his popular son Rico Tantoco, president of Rustan Commercial Corp., and always a charmer Robert Kot, managing director of the Estee Lauder Group.

The namedroppables were introduced by gorgeous Trisha Salvador Ocampo who hosted the morning event.

Naturellement, the Tantoco royals were tres visible entertaining their guests. Among them were that beauty with a body to-die-for, fashion icon Marilou Pineda; adorable jet-setting socialite Maritess Tantoco; still on cloud honeymooners, well-liked Noey Lopez and super head turner Krie Reyes Lopez.

Dashing in apres an earlier appointment was busy, busy Philippine STAR’s EVP Grace Glory Go; workasonic (as in, speedy worker) socialite Sandy Prieto-Romualdez; and MEGA’s brilliant Sari Yap with fashion guru Liza Ilarde, who were introduced to Origins range of products by vibrant Sulin Yap; good-looking Sandro Raniolo; and Maribel Paterno of the Estee Lauder Group. Tall, elegant Myrza Sison and her girl Friday Ria Limjap of Cosmopolitan sampled Origins’ fantastic product line.

The opening ceremonies also included a pledge from Robert K. to donate a portion of Origins’ first week sales to "Chosen Children." Present at the symbolic ceremony were Chosen Children representative Elsie Colombo, lawyer Jaime Ingram Hisch, Phil and Marybeth Cohen and Ambassador Jaime Ingram and his wife Nelly I., plus other namedroppables like them.

"Launched in 1990, Origins was the first major brand to address total health and wellness with unconventional products," explained that elegant workaholic lady of means, Rustan’s Vida Estrella. "Origins studies the use of aromatic plants, earth and sea substances and other natural resources from different cultures, traditions and alternative therapies. The company perfects, shapes and refines these potent ingredients to create solutions for modern-day problems using the most advanced technologies available."

The Origins brand, palanggas, includes great must-have products – the skin care line; the sensory therapy line which relaxes, energizes and provides sleep solutions; the bath and body line; natural fragrances; and a hair care line for different hair types.

I went ga-ga over Sensory Therapy, which provides on-the-spot relief. It’s great for a quick relaxation.

Check Origins out, dahlings!

All set for CWC’s 80th annual tea event

The Catholic Women’s Club (CWC) has lined up major events to celebrate its 80 years of existence.

According to civic-oriented socialite Linda Pastoral, chairwoman of the Annual Tea Committee, "An Asian Festival will be held as our first major CWC event. This will be held on July 25 at the popular Peninsula Manila Hotel."

During the Annual Tea, palanggas, Limited Edition CWC Plates will be launched and new members will be inducted. A presentation of Asian dances and a costume contest will highlight the event. The ladies and their invitees will be asked to come in any Asian costume and participate in the contest. Judges will be chosen from the guests, the media, fashion, arts and from the chic diplomatic community.

Aside from the Elsie Gaches Village which CWC regularly supports, CWC has outreach activities in depressed areas like the Payatas dump site; orphanages; centers for abandoned and street children; hospital wards; plus so many others. This civic-oriented organization really cares, dahlings!

CWC president Lulu Castañeda explained to us that to support its various charities and projects, CWC will hold the Annual Casa y Jardin Bazaar and Annual Fund-Raising Ball in September. The much-awaited Casa y Jardin Bazaar, palanggas, will be held on Oct. 14 at the Hotel InterContinental and on Oct. 15 at the Peninsula Manila.

The 80th Annual Tea Committee chaired by Linda P. is composed of co-chairs, old-wealth society ladies Consuelo Preysler and Mabel Abano; Mabel A. and Linda Pastoral (publicity); Pilie Aquino, Tricia Vergel de Dios, Sofia Zobel Elizalde and Junie Peña (physical arrangements); Alice Briones and Letty Jorman (ticket sales); Lita Gelano, Linda Villadelgado and Celine Bautista (registration); Fanny Blanco, Baby Gloria and Baby de Jesus (prizes); and Nena Casimiro (usherettes).

Another hectic week of endless Cosmo Manille happenings.

See you, palanggas!