The party theme was mysterious, sensual, exotic India. Everyone sat on tons of pillows on huge Persian carpets inside a tent-like cocoon featuring colorful Indian silks. As we entered the Ocampos’ fabi home in posh-y South Forbes, dahlings, we beheld candles floating in a pond.
And what is a party – Indian or otherwise – without music? So, a musical group played the sitar and other classical Indian instruments. The exotic sounds regaled the guests as much as the sari-clad nimble Indian folk dancer.
Stylish Tina O. never leaves any detail to chance, palanggas. For her hubby’s bash, she chose an authentic and delicious Indian menu excellently catered by the original Indian resto Kashmir. The scrumptious cake was by Heny Sison, natch. The Ocampos’ best pals, top of the line workasonic PR man, Keren Pascual and civic leader Doris Ho helped the couple for the bash.
Visibly enjoying the one of a kind affair were elegant Sen. Loren Legarda and her witty husband, former Batangas Gov. Tony Leviste; tycoon-born and bred sisters, Liza Gokongwei and Robina Gokongwei-Pe; inimitable Tingting Cojuangco; a slim, slim, eye-catching Karen Santos with her handsome brother Duane and his wife Mandy, another sultry beauty and fashion plate; popular editor Anton San Diego; top restaurateur Maritel Nievera of Cabalen; and Ricco’s Kitchen resto partners and super close pals, well-liked Rikki and attractive Beng Dee.
Resplendent in her Indian costume, Tessa Prieto-Valdez made a grand entrance (as usual), performing an Indian dance. Applauding her entry were power couples Bobby and Chingbee Cuenca; photographer Neil and Susan Oshima; Sander and Mons Tantoco; and Philippine STAR’s magnum Lifestyle editor and fashion plate Millet Mananquil and mega businessman Robert Mananquil.
Enjoying the yummy dinner were ultra glamorous Vicky Zubiri; Cinderella’s very own Therese Coronel Santos; feminine beauty Mia Borromeo; our palangga, Miguel Ongsiako; fashion designer extraordinaire, Rajo Laurel; and classic beauty Tingting Cojuangco’s attractive daughters and their respective husbands – Dr. Liaa and super nice Noel Bautista and Pin and top photographer Jojo Guingona.
The delightful evening had all of us wishing Ricco Ocampo all the best of health and blessings.
Cheers, palangga!
Omega’s hotshot executives who jetted in straight from the Omega head office in Switzerland, dahlings, lent the launch their full support. Joining them were their local counterparts from F.E. Zuellig (M), Inc.
Tall and well-versed Omega mega sales and marketing project manager Oliver Hugentobler, palanggas, led the delegation, along with tres charmant product manager Andre Nunziata and merchandiser project manager Charles Martinelli. F.E. Zuellig’s president Kasigod Jamias, Luxury Division general manager Louie Vargas, and brand manager Martin Lacson joined them.
Richard and Lucy Gomez added glamor to the event, dahlings. So did vivaciously adorable Gelli de Belen and her cutie pie son Wacky. Mega movie and TV persona, our handsome palangga, Edu Manzano was the event’s perfect emcee. He never failed to humor the invitees with his witty remarks.
Oliver Hugentobler briefed us on Omega’s thrust now that the brand is aggressively banking on its latest collections. Andre Nunziata (on his first visit to the country), meanwhile, gave an in-depth presentation on the genius behind the conception of the Co-Axial Escapement. The watch also features a new lever design with three ruby pallet-stones, designed in collaboration with master watchmaker George Daniels.
The launch also featured the unveiling of the Omega De Ville Collection. Encased in smartly designed display modules, the new collection has 12 models in 18-karat yellow gold and another dozen in stainless steel, palanggas. A striking element is the unique metal bracelet intricately made of small, interlinked sections with satin-finished central links and polished edges, which Andre N. revealed was an Omega exclusive.
There are also models featuring a shaped, rolled edge alligator leather strap with polished fold-over clasp, also in 18-karat yellow gold or stainless steel for those who prefer a more traditional look.
"The new collection links Omega’s past with its future," Oliver H. proudly said, dahlings. "The past being the classic shapes of the successful Omega models in the ’50s and the future is the ingenious mechanism that works from within – the Co-Axial Escapement."
Founded by Louis Brandt in1848 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Omega has been the official timekeeper of over 21 Olympic Games. Omega even introduced electronic timekeeping at the Helsinki Games in 1952.
Its unquestionable precision, meanwhile, made the Omega Speedmaster NASA’s official chronometer in 1965. Four years later it accompanied Neil Armstrong on board the Apollo XI during his historic expedition to the moon.
Brand Ambassadors of Omega in the field of the arts, fashion and sports have included supermodel Cindy Crawford, actor Pierce Brosnan, tennis superstar Anna Kournikova and Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.
As host Edu Manzano delivered his trademark "Goodbye!" to mark the end of the launch, there was no doubt that the event had merely marked the start of a new journey for the Omega De Ville with Co-Axial Escapement. Symbolizing elegance, refinement and technical perfection, it will not be surprising if it becomes another classic in the years to come, palanggas.
Their first fundraiser will benefit the Kabalikat Buhay Foundation which aims to improve the welfare of street children, abused children, juvenile delinquents, unwed mothers, the elderly and the disabled in Makati City. The event will take place – take note, palanggas – tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Dish. Believe me, this super happening will be absolutely mah-velous!
Called The Celebrity Cocktails Dish Out, the fundraiser will feature over a dozen of our pals and fave personas who will commandeer Dish’s bar. They will be the dazzling, glamorous bartenders for the night, palanggas. So, can you imagine how much fun this Celebrity Cocktails Dish Out will be.
Moi heard loud whispers – this is a not too secret a list – that hotshot showbiz namedroppables like Troy Montero; Victor Neri; JM Rodriguez; Derek Ramsey; Kenjie Marquez; and some of The Hunks will take time out for this good cause.
Naturellement, dahlings, the night won’t be complete without gorgeous gals like Mylene Dizon; Assunta de Rossi; G Tongi; Vina Morales; Bianca Araneta; Audrey Tan; Pia Guanio; Connie Sison; Angel Jacob; Angel Aquino; Daphne Oseña; and Julia Clarete who will also take their turn behind the bar.
But that ain’t all; the alluring stars and all the guests at Dish tomorrow night can pamper themselves at the booth set up by the Beauty Bar (a creation of that divine Store Specialists, Inc.). Fun fashion brand Bench will also be there. Premium Wines and Spirits will provide the liquor while the League of Cayuca, the band for which the tres talented Jay Cayuca plays his electric violin, will add to the night’s thrills.
All you palanggas are invited to come to the Celebrity Cocktails Dish Out. And you’ll simply be ecstatic to learn that your mere presence, dahlings, will already help, since Philip C. and EJ L. told moi that a percentage of all sales tomorrow night will be donated to the Kabalikat Buhay Foundation, natch! Gates open at 9 p.m. Don’t walk, palanggas, rush over and have a great time rubbing elbows with some of our town’s cool babes and dudes. For more info and reservations, do call tel. nos. 898-1771 or 898-1824. See you there.
C! delivers honest opinions and focuses on the most popular cars in the country today. The mag’s editors have personally taken the featured cars to test to deliver a "driver’s seat point of view" that will take readers down the winding road of the sleek four-wheel world. C! is guaranteed to put the industry on its toes.
C! will mark its grand debut at a by-invitation-only grand launch showcasing some of the country’s most exclusive cars today, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. at The Fort’s NBC Tent. An after-party continues at Venezia from 10 p.m. until who-knows-when where everyone is invited to join and come up with their most prized automobiles.
Apres this fabi launch, C! hits local mag stands later this month.
Check it out, palanggas. It’s a real cool car magazine.
Smile and see you.