I first met Allana Montelibano more than a decade ago and was aware of the deep friendship of her great grandparents Fernando and Mariquit Lopez with my mother Nati Osorio- Aguinaldo. They were childhood friends and Nati was asked to be the baptismal ninang of their only daughter Mita Javellana Lopez. Their friendship flourished in the pre-war years and remained intact until the end of their lives. Luckily for my generation and the next, the friendship has been reinvigorated and gone full circle because I am now the ninang of Allana’s eldest daughter Bianca.
The young Allana grew up in the Lopez house and was considered her lola’s daughter since Mita only had sons with her then husband Junior Montelibano who eventually became a governor of Bacolod. The marriage was shortlived.
An honor student all the way from grade school to college, Allana belies her socialite glam facade because this entrepreneur has a string of successful businesses that include a boutique hotel in Tagaytay, popular restaurants in Boracay and Makati as well as a spa in Metro Manila. Until recently, she was the purchasing officer of the Lopez family’s University of Iloilo for over a decade until it was sold.
When the hardworking Allana recently turned a year older, she wanted to make sure that her family and close friends would be present, just as they have been with her through her growing-up years in Iloilo, Bacolod, and Manila. The evening started with a delicious spread at the popular Atelier 317 in Palma St., Makati, and a super crispy lechon that literally melted in your mouth by Marla Calleja of Lechon Republik. If you are a die-hard fan of lechon, this one should be on top of your list.
A few nights later, the popular Allana was feted by another group of friends led by Lucille Locsin and her aunt Bettina Lopez Osmeña with an intimate gathering of more friends. We were lucky to have the busy senatorial candidate Migz Zubiri with one of his best weapons, his charming wife Audrey. Between the two of them, they speak a handful of Filipino dialects that endear them to the audience during their political sorties and they certainly make the best-looking couple in the Senate slate.
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