In a most exciting and dramatic departure from past celebrations, the Ablazas requested the invitees to come in Balinese costumes. And come they did, showing off their creativity by adhering to the theme of the night. The event celebrated the birthday of business tycoon Louie Ablaza, that mega socio-civic leader and mover of an association of the country’s jewelers.
Naturellement, with Bali as the party motif, Cosmo Manille hotshot social movers donned vibrant colors and bright dangling accessories. Their presence made moi swear it was a scene straight out of La Dolce Vita in the heart of Asia.
The couple of the hour, Louie and ultra-glamorous Mellie A., welcomed the invitees wearing Balinese costumes patterned after the world-renowned Wayang Golek of Indonesia’s popular puppet theater characters, dahlings. This was revealed to moi by that prize-winning space planner himself, the Ablazas’ super talented son, Jun-Jun Ablaza, who conceptualized the event.
Mellie A.’s coiffure featured a striking headdress that framed her doll-like face. She wasted no time in mingling with the hotshot invitees, palanggas, who were later treated to a buffet cum sit-down dinner of exquisite Indonesian cuisine. The sumptuous food was laid out on a table that evoked a green patch of marshland with ducks nesting and hovering about.
Jun-Jun A. was obviously at his most creative, dahlings, transforming the interiors of the elegant dining area into a Balinese dreamland. There were lanterns of various sizes hanging from the high ceilings. Even the chairs and wall panels’ decor adhered to the night’s theme.
The fun affair, palanggas, was highlighted with a special Indonesian ritualistic thanksgiving dance dedicated to the gent of the hour, Louie A. It was performed by an attractive Indonesian lady taking International Studies at UP, complements of the Indonesian Embassy.
Shortly apres, guests were ushered to an adjacent room where they had a ball on the dance floor. The socialites in particular never had it so good, dancing adrenalin-pumping numbers with expert dance instructors thoughtfully provided by the Ablazas. The dancing went on until way past 2:30 a.m. That’s how much fun they had!
The affair was attended by members of the chi-chi diplomatic corps like Ambassador and Mrs. Theo Arnold; Ambassador Enrique and Letty Syquia; Ambassador and Mrs. S. K. Uppal; Ambassador Domingo and Kaye Siazon; and Alice Buckley.
Among the perfumed set who either people-watched or hit the dance floor were Evie Costa; Thelma Gana; Malu Unson; Mila How; Felice Sta. Maria; Rustan’s elegant designer Criselda Lontok; Edith Nakpil Rabat; vivacious Roi Philips; perky Cez Manalo; Baby Antonio; gorgeous Celia Cuasay; Alice Briones; mi amiga, author Bambi Harper; our dearest dahling palangga, Ethel Soliven-Timbol; fast on the draw Sol Tan-Gatue; Ayala’s elegant and sociable Ofelia Jacomina; Lou San Diego; Nenuca Blardony; Southern civic-oriented lady Olga Martel; Myrna Borromeo; Beth Tiosco; Lolette Carillo; Aiko Taylor; Isabel Abella; eye-catching Tessie Villanueva; Mila Cruz; Mila Lim; Ericka Markham; and Zozima Romero.
Famous couples who circulated that night included Nick and Nita Ablaza; Bobby and Tess Rodrigo; Fred and Christy Ablaza; Andy Liboro and his vivaciously fun wife Tereret L.; Gene and Lydia Reyes; well-respected businessman Abe Licaros and hard-working civic-oriented Nini L.; Bert and Tess Castro; Manolo and Olive Villacorta; Danny and Baby Ortega; Oca and Fely Bautista; Ping and Evelyn Duran; popular taipan Ernie Yu and head turner Fe Y.; Henry and Linabelle Villarica; Joey and Mabel Abaño; Rudy and Viring Santos; Pincoy and Carol Duque; Jake and Karen Macasaet; Felix and Tessie Amparo; Joe and Marilou Alejandro; Tommy and Beth Syquia; Bert and Baby Manlapit; Mac and Linda Cuan; Benny and Lourdes Pe; George and Frieda Hizon; Martin and Joanne Syquia; Bob and Luz Cullen; Orly and Gyn-Gyn Quiazon; Joe and Liza Justo; Ed and Tessie Tumañgan; Johnson and Eva Chiu; Guiller and Letty Tamañgan; John and Malou Bautista; Cesar and Joy Corpuz; Chris and Gel Magno; and Mike and Alice Guerrero; plus so many others like them too glamorous and famous to mention, palanggas.
To our Balinese King for a Day, Louie A., here’s to more dazzling happenings in the years to come. Cheers, palangga!
Flowers greeted the invitees from the entrance all the way to the stage. They were designed especially for this year’s reigning muse, Lindamarie "Babylyn" Reyes. Tivoli lights twinkled amidst white chrysanthemums and Malaysian mums and Queen Anne’s lace that trailed down the lattice design of the arbour-like background.
Sen. Ed Angara; Rep. Aleta Suarez; Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr.; Quezon Gov. Wilfredo Enverga and his beautiful wife Grace E.; Secretary Lilia de Lima; DOJ Asst. Secretary Mercy Gutierrez; muy simpatica Ruth Guingona, the wife of Vice President Teofisto G.; and Senate Secretary Emma Reyes led the hotshots during the grand affair, dahlings.
The reception line which included Gov. Enverga; socio-civic leader Tanini Serrano-de Leon; lawyer Leandro Garcia and Jocelyn Lirio, 2001 gentleman and lady presidents of Quezonian 1923, respectively; Quezonian 1923 adviser and host with the most Ado Escudero; and philanthropist Glady Cabunag, donor of the land on which the Quezonian 1923 Multipurpose Center will soon rise; Gen. Nestor Castillo and Concepcion "Ching" Farah Sales, immediate past gentleman and lady presidents of Quezonian 1923; Gov. Obet Pagdanganan and his nice wife Susan P.; mega art collector and connoisseur Danny Dolor; Secretary Emma Reyes; Salvador Clemente and Elvira Castillo, incoming gentleman and lady presidents of Quezonian 1923 respectively; Renato Lirio; Grace Alcaneses, treasurer, Quezonian 1923, 2001; and engineer Dennis Abcede and his vivacious wife Dulcinea A. reveled in the pleasure of welcoming the perfumed-set who graced the glitzy occasion, dahlings.
The program began apres a well-prepared dinner with the Doxology sang by beautiful Southern belle Ana Tirol, no less, and Arturo Nievera. The Manila Ballet also interpreted the song in dance. The welcome remarks delivered by this year’s president followed the National Anthem.
The Rigodon de Honor this year, explained choreographer par excellence Budjing Danao, is the traditional rigodon with the clapping of the hands after each set of dance combinations.
The ladies were dazzling in their traditional baro’t saya made popular by the late Doña Aurora Quezon. These were matched, naturellement, by dazzling jewelry. Their outfits were created by prominent fashion designers like Patis Tesoro, Nolie Hans, and Quezon’s very own Rholand Roxas. The gents were dapper in their white chaquitillas and black pants, the late President Manuel Quezon’s favorite formal wear which is really chic for men.
The rigodon participants were POC president Celso "Cito" Dayrit; Ophie Clemente; lawyer Deo de Luna; Lydia Hao; lawyer Bernard Virtucio; Jasmin Enverga; realtor Tony Constantino; Baba Santos; Emil and Lin Pilar; Andy Clemente; Maritza Alzona; Tony Palad; Minnie Seneres; Cesar Insua; Lody Rivera; Dr. Johnny Nanagas; socialite Carrie Bautista; BIR director, lawyer Aguinaldo "Nonoy" Miravalles; Mitz Piad; Gen. Levy Malto; Helen Castillo; Roger Cabunag; Dr. Cesar Reyes; Dr. Larry de Leon; Bernie and Nilda Jamilla; Salvador "Benny" Clemente with Elvira "Vim" Castillo, incoming Quezonian presidents.
A dance tribute was then presented by the Quezonian 1923 Youth Chapter, palanggas, led by last year’s muse and this year’s lady president Jaclyn Clemente, and this year’s gentleman president Royce Cabunag. This dance was especially choreographed by Budjing Danao. "The Tango Group" later performed modern cha cha number.
The introduction of Quezonian 1923, 2002 incoming presidents Vim Castillo and Benny Clemente ended the program.
Apres the program, Gloria Gatmaitan and Romy Rule provided ballroom music. Everyone had a blast as they tripped the light fantastic until way past the crowing of the roosters.
It definitely was another glitzy night for the Quezonians, palanggas.
The afternoon tea bunch planned future projects and welcomed new members who incidentally are wives of cabinet members of our workaholic President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Presiding at the meeting, palanggas, was current Bigay Puso president, Bebot Carague, wife of COA Commissioner and former Budget Secretary Gem C.
New members include Sonia Roco, wife of Education Secretary Raul R.; Ellerie Dayrit, wife of Health Secretary Manuel D.; Emily Alvarez, wife of Transportation Secretary Bebot A.; Sigrid Datumanong, wife of DPWH Secretary Simeon D.; Ces Cabrera, wife of Press Secretary Noel C.; Susana Canlas, wife of NEDA Secretary Dante C.; Erlinda Villanueva, wife of AFP Chief of Staff Diomedio V.; and popular hairdresser who is always involved with charity work, Ricky Reyes, no less.
Apres feasting on excellently prepared calorific goodies including all kinds of pastries and cakes, Bebot C. presented the newly organized "Junior Bigay Puso" members led by brilliant Luli Arroyo. They include the daughters of Executive Secretary Bert Romulo, sisters three Berna Romulo-Puyat, Lupe Romulo and STAR columnist, Mons Romulo-Tantoco; spit fire Rosanna Tuason Fores; adorable Patsy Zobel; and the Vice President’s vivacious daughter Mari Guingona. Kim Camacho, the wife of Finance Secretary Isidro C., had a previous engagement and was not able to make it.
A surprise cake was brought out for birthday celebrator and one of Bigay Puso’s original leaders, old-wealth socialite Mercy Tuason who looked absolutely radiant, palanggas.
Bigay Puso was organized during former President Cory Aquino’s term, dahlings. Continuing its work even apres President Aquino’s term and with the new members’ valuable support, the good news is that there will be more projects to help more of our less fortunate countrymen.
So, palanggas, if you and your children would like to help in any way you can, please, please do contact any of the Bigay Puso members at tel. no. 631-0321 (look for Marissa). It’s high time we do our share to make our country a better place to live in.
Cosmo Manille had a first-hand taste of Old Siam’s exotic flavors when The Peninsula Manila jetted in top-of-the-line Executive Sous Chef Sakchai Disakul of The Regent Bangkok for "Flavors of the White Elephant Kingdom" at The Pen’s popular Spices restaurante.
All the invitees at the inaugural cocktails agreed that Thai cooking is a source of pride. As Chef Sakchai put it, "A Thai chef always strives for a balance of flavor, texture and color in a dish. This is why sharing food is always a celebration. A Thai meal offers a combination of flavors – sweet; hot; sour; salty and sometimes bitter, with the best Thai chefs tending to cook by ‘feel’, taking into account taste and preferences."
No wonder this Thai festival has many Cosmo Manille gourmands returning to Spices again and again even before this successful festival ended, palanggas.
Well, that’s what our town is all about, palanggas. See you!