The ala-MTV Rock Awards event also served as the airline’s way of saying "goodbye" and "hello" to their outgoing and incoming general managers
Held at the huge NBC Tent at Fort Bonifacio, the funky event dubbed as "MTG" (TG being the airline’s international code), was hosted by popular VJs Mo Twister and Shaan Bermudez.
The show started off with a bang when the hip guests were greeted by an electrifying performance from the Powerdance. This was quickly followed by the awarding of winners.
The air was charged with glitz and glamor as the airline’s staff together with travel and cargo agents and hundreds of other hotshots in their trendiest attires all rared to have a great time.
Stand-outs were Thai land’s Ambassador Ravee Hongsaprabhas; NBC’s gorgeous couple Francis and stylish Maryann Lumen; Philippine STAR’s bright EVP workasonic Grace Glory Go; moi pal Johnny Litton; TV’s vivaciously smart popular host Che Che Lazaro; society columnists and PR men Donnie Ramirez, Resty Vergara and Gilbert Perez; our very own ace photojournalist Alex Van Hagen; handsome teen star Cogie Domingo; Silk Cocoon’s world-class couturier Jeannie Goulbourn and one of a kind Frances Lim.
Proudly receiving their golden trophies, dahlings, were Thai’s top Cargo Agents ——— Geologistics LEP, Nippon Express Phil., Bax Global Phil. and Sky Freight Forwarders.
Recognized as top travel agents were BTI Phils. Marsman; Horizon Travel and Tours; Morning Star Travel and Tours; Thomas Cook Phil.; Las Palmas Tours and Travel; Pan Pacific Travel Corp.; Adventure International Tours; Universal Holidays and Fiesta Travel and Tours; Rajah Travel and Grand Holidays and Fiesta Travel and Tours. Rajah Travel and Grand Holidays from Cebu City were also included.
The evening’s highlight, naturellement, was the grand tribute and farewell given to the airlines’ longest serving general manager in the Philippines, super well-liked Khun Sakhai Srongprapa. From 1995, he successfully steered the Thato Airways into what it is in the local market today.
Presenting the outgoing GM a plaque of appreciation and paying tribute to his outstanding leadership were two of the country’s distinguished travel organizations, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) headed by its president Ricky Ordoñez and Women in Travel (WIT) led by its president, Annette Feliciano.
The Thai Airways staff waxed sentimental, led by their cyber-smart sales manager, Malu Dueñas who took pains to prepare an audio-visual presentation for their beloved GM.
The staff and Khun Sakchai’s closest pals expressed heartfelt messages in the presentation, palanggas. Among them were IDEAZplus’ Bob Zozobrado; Grace Glory Go; Johnny Litton; Che Che Lazaro; NBC’s Francis Lumen; Lufthansa Airline’s well- respected GM Wolfgang Schmidt; Mike Lietz; Lufthansa’s prime asset, exotic beauty Jeanette See; Annette Feliciano, plus a couple of others too nice to mention.
Apres Khun Sakchai’s emotional "thank you" speech came one of the night’s highlights —— the outgoing GM turning over the baton of leadership to the airline’s new GM, suave and tres gentlemanly and already tres popular Khun Chertchai Methanayanonda.
Having celebrated its 41st anniversary, Thai Airaways also shared its blessings with treasured pals and partners by raffling off tickets to Bangkok, Australia and to its European destinations. This elicited screams and applause from the 500 or so guests who jam-packed that venue for one of the trendiest party venues in town, The Tent at the Fort, natch!
Well, the happening didn’t end there, palanggas. The party really rocked when power band, The Divas, took center stage. The party people dashed to shake, rattle and roll.
Everbody agreed that the MTG Awards was certainly an innovative way for Thai Airways to say "thank you" to its pals. The Airline certainly knows that when music rules, emotions follow. No wonder the gentle Thais say "Sawasdee!" so melodiously!
The elegant presentation featured Louis Vuitton’s new Mini Monogram Canvas Bags and Shoes Collection; the Autumn/Winter Men’s Collection 2001; and the City Guide 2001; asa well as the classic Monogram and Domier lines.
That articulate, eyecatching beauty of Hong Kong’s flashy young set, Katherine Kwei, Louis Vuitton’s master PR specialist, jetted to Manille to host the event with Louis Vuitton Philippines’ brilliant workasonic country manager Gigi Mabanta.
We were invited to take a look and to feel every Louis Vuitton item which, naturellement, embodies class-y chic as well as exquisite craftmanship.
The presentation started off with Louis Vuitton’s new Mini Monogram Bags and Shoes Collection. Spiced up with a splash of luscious colors, its six ultra-chic handbags now come in blue denim, cherry and khaki hues to match every occasion and fit every mood. All have leather finishing that match the colors of the Monogram flowers for a distinctly elegant yet playful look. All have matching shoes. Ladies can choose from Mary Jane 10-cm high heels; ballerina flats; five-cm. mules, moccasins; and sneakers.
Kathy K. then presented the Monogram line, undoubtedly Louis Vuitton’s most famous collection. The classic Monogram features designs that have made the line a must-have status symbol year after year, dahlings.
Louis Vuitton came up with delightful twists for its famous Damier collection, created in 1888 and re-launched in 1996. At the preview, Katherine K. showed both the feminine and functional side of the Damier with two new urban handbag lines, Sarria and Ipanema.
The sneak preview of the Autumn/Winter Men’s Collection on 2001 was more up my alley, palanggas. True to the military look prevalent in the Spring/Summer Collection, there are new bag designs which are elegant and functional.
But what caught my eye was Vuitton’s class-y-evening shoes for men in various textures suitable for any occasion and the men’s 2001 line of Monogram ties.
Three new tie models comprise the collection dominated by a monochromatic color scheme which plays up a palette of 12 chic colors. They come in three designs: La Cachemire (Cashmere); the Mini Louis Vuitton; and the Monogram. Each tie comes with its own box for easy storage. They’re perfect for traveling.
Another must have for all you travelers is the Louis Vuitton third edition of City Guide 2001, which comes in a striking purple color and covers 32 European cities.
It tells you where to dine; shop; what hotels to stay in; where to sight-see; plus, plus. There are 7,000 listings including 1,500 new entries. This handy guidebook is a perfect travel companion that provides indispensable information on the best of Europe.
With more exquisite yet functional designs in every collection making their way to the stylish set, Louis Vuitton continues to leaves its mark as the epitome of luxury and elegance.
Louis Vuitton’s new collections, palanggas, are now available at all Louis Vuitton stores. In Manillle they are located at the ground floor of 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati. It’s really the place to shop for real quality and style, palangga.
This floral fragrance and its range of bath products come in bright, fresh colors inspired by today’s young vibrant "Gen-Y" 20-somethings called. They are confident, empowered but decidedly feminine ladies who manage to have exciting careers, get involved in the latest "save the world" campaigns and still have the energy to party 24/7.
Our local gals who match the RALPH girl profile are Southern beauty and one of Manille’s five loveliest, Celine Lopez, a magazine beauty editor who is taking up fashion design in the big apple, New York; attractive Ana Cruz, fashion stylist and entrepreneur; and Vicky Abary-de Leon, a newly-wed graphic artist. After being invited to preview the fragrance early this year, the ladies gushed that they really loved the new fragrance’s delightful floral scent and its cool water bottle-inspired packaging.
RALPH made its grand entrance at a press debut at Essences Tea Bar in Rustan’s Makati. Here, palanggas, everyone was invited to experience RALPH through a relaxing hand massage with the lightly scented sparkly Rub-A-Dub body lotion and specially concocted fruit tea shakes plus a menu by Aqua that came in the RALPH colors of aqua, pink, mint, lavander and orange.
RALPH was officially launched in Rockwell Centre’s Powerplant Mall a full moon ago through a fun and fabulously feminine RALPH fragrance Fair. A rainbow of tents housed a slew of freebies like fuzzy fragrance snap bracelets and funky activities like daisy nail art; floral face and body tattoo; Ralph Daisy logo downloading from GLOBE Gentext; fashion and beauty consultancy by TEEN Philippines; Colour Horoscopes using colourful I Macs; plus loads of fun games.
In keeping with the launch, dahlings, the hip "laid-back vibe", the latest videos care of MTV and chill-out tunes were played throughout the day by Tower Records’ deejay Adrian Monsod.
The event was capped off by a witty and tongue-in-cheek fragrance/fashion presentation directed by Robbie Carmona of Saga Productions in which featured various Ralph Girl personas brought to life by 10 of Manille’s most promising models as ladies. They interpreted the Ralph Girl as a lady who dares, dreams, laughs and knows what love is all about.
You can be all these, palanggas, with a little press on Ralph’s automizer’s Body Spray and Eau de Toilet.
Take that stop forward and be a Ralph gal. It’s so cool!
Now, with all these happenings, need I say more? Yes! Be happy, palanggas. See you!