Hong Kong’s ‘Queen of Cakes’ comes to Manila
With guests asked to come in pastels and wedding finery, they wondered who was getting married at the exclusive Manila House.
Hong Kong’s dazzling “Queen of Cakes,” award-winning author and overall style icon, Bonnae Gokson, no less, dahlings, launched her second book Weddings, Butterflies & The Sweetest Dreams recently at Manila House.
The Intramuros ballroom was transformed into a dreamy wedding reception that evening to celebrate love and the sweetest dreams.
Award-winning author and overall style icon Bonnae Gokson with Tatler editor in chief Anton San Diego
The room was made even more dazzling by beautiful wedding gowns by Vera Wang. One of the highlights of the evening was the seven-tiered cake trimmed with beautifully wrapped handcut pastillas from Bulacan, which took hundreds of hours to make.
Among those ooh-ing and aah-ing at the spectacle were the single, the formerly married and the still very much married. For some guests, the night was like a hen party as many women flew solo such as Gina Roxas, Bettina Aboitiz, Barbara Aboitiz, Marilu Batchelor, Ina Ayala, Laurie Westfall, Lizette Cojuangco, Marianne Po, Dina Tantoco, Ria Prieto, Evelyn Forbes, Ana de Ocampo, Kaye Tinga, Bea Lhuillier, Ria Santos, Charmaine Lagman and Audrey Zubiri.
Tina Cuevas, Dr. Vicki Belo, Rocio Olbes
Making goo-goo eyes at each other were lovey-dovey couples Zelda and Max Kienle, Cris and Butch Albert, Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho, Cristalle and Justin Pitt, gorgeous Stephanie and good-looking Christian Gonzalez, Patrick and Lorraine Maxwell, beautiful couple Jesse and head-turner Jessica Maxwell, Tessa and Dennis Valdes, and Carla and Joel del Prado.
Adding even more glam to the occasion were Ching Cruz, glamorous Ria Prieto, Carol Garcia, Helen Ong, Therese Santos, Mons Romulo, Agnes Huibonhoa, Tina Cuevas, Babette Aquino, Karen Santos, pretty, pretty Ling Ling King and Linda Ho McAfee. And don’t forget the dashing men, palanggas. Bonnae’s best friend, Anton San Diego, who helped her organize the spectacular evening, was there, of course, together with an exuberant Jojie Dingcong, Kevin Tan, Joe Miro, Ben Chan, Miguel Pastor, Rex Gloria and Budji Layug.
Ben Chan, Babette Aquino
Bonnae also brought along her trés chic gang from Hong Kong to help her celebrate her new book. Celebrity hairstylist Kim Robinson gushed at how beautiful Manila House was so did born-and-raised in Manila, now based in Hong Kong heiress Shirley Hiranand. Jeweller Narcisa Pheres was there, too, as well as Mabel Au-yeung, Cissy Wang, Jonathan Hui and Joyce Lee.
Guests were delighted to have their own copy of the book signed by Bonnae herself. The King of Philippine Acoustic Pop Nyoy Volante made the night even more special when he serenaded the author and romanced the crowd with his heartfelt rendition of My Eyes Adored You that brought the house down with applause and shouts of “More! More! More!”
Author Maurice Arcache, Ina Ayala, Cris Albert
The night ended with lots of dancing and free-flowing wine and cocktails from Moët Hennessy Philippines, Wine Warehouse, and drink of the hour, ARC Gin.
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For inquiries, call Bambina Olivares at 0917-8290819 or email bambinawise@mac.com.
