The hottest ticket in the city

Dishing time

The loud dish goes, dahlings, that the popular secretary of this well-known old-wealth businessman (or philanthropist, or politician) last week received a call from someone who sounded like a young lady.

Well, when the caller asked where the old-wealth businessman (or philanthropist, or politician) was, the secretary replied that he had just gone out to lunch with his wife.

The young lady then told the secretary, "Well, okay, just tell him that his secretary called." The secretary replied, "But I’m his secretary and I don’t know of him having another one!" The young lady then answered, "Well, I’m his other secretary. Just tell him that!" apres which she hang up.

Now, dahlings, that’s what I call a real bobo. Ouch!

They say there are two kinds of secrets: The first is not worth keeping and the other is too good to keep. Since this secret is too good to keep, let me dish it out.

This supposedly happily married gentleman (or actor, or politician) has been going out on the sly with a very married woman (or married actress, or a socialite). He was caught by his wife one night when the gentleman (or actor, or politician) forgot to turn off his cell phone before going to bed.

An hour later, his cell phone rang. Guess who answered the phone? Yes, you guessed it – his wife! When the caller heard the wife’s voice on the cell phone, the caller immediately said, "Tell him he lied to me and that he did not have a meeting after all!" and then she hang up. Since the caller’s number registered on the phone, wife wrote it down.

Without telling her husband, she called the number the following day. She, however, did not get an answer. She tried again several times, but failed. When she finally gave up, she told her husband about the call, but as she expected, the husband played dumb and denied knowing any woman who would call him and accuse him of "not showing up."

The moral of the story: Get another cell phone you can use for philandering.Yes?

The loud dish goes that PEOPLE Asia executive editor Philip Cu-Unjieng’s article on Inno Sotto in the last Sunday’s issue of The Philippine STAR’s STARWEEK mag was an excellent piece of writing. Inno S. in one part talks about fashion editors and fashion critics and our world.

He also complains about how many people these days write about fashion, culture and even high-society. He also points out, "Anyone with a modicum of looks becomes an actor or actress." So true, sir!

"Everyone is a talent scout or manager. It’s too much," he notes. Correct again! Inno then pointed out the lack or absence of quality in reporting these days, which he partly blames on editors. He says, "If you know enough of the right people, voila, you’re a writer." Correct again, sir!

"You can buy the right magazines abroad and pass (their contents) off as your thoughts if you have a column." So very true, sir. Do you see a certain face coming into view? Well, I certainly do, palangga.

And Inno goes on. "Or, since you’re practically always in some gimmick party, you’re now an event chronicler and a society columnist." Oh wow! This sentence is so true. Now, whose face flashes in your mind with this statement? I certainly see someone clearly, palanggas.

Inno goes on. "And the sad part is, it even becomes a business, with people referred to as ‘eventologists’." You hit another bulls-eye, Inno. Fantastic! Now, whose face flashes before you, dahlings? But that does not end there. Inno continues, "But can they actually write, interview with intelligence, probe?" Another bulls-eye!

And finally, Inno notes, "Then they get their friends together, put little napkins and shoelaces on the women and call it ‘club-dressing,’ which they claim to be ‘fashion’." Okay, whose face are you thinking of now? Well, I have all my faces flashing correctly.

Bravo, Inno! You’re not only a brilliant creative designer but a brilliant imaginative observer as well.

And lastly, the loudest dish of the weekend was about the grand, super smashing fashion show of still the Royalty of Alta Moda, Inno Sotto, whose fabi and classy "On Red Carpet" was held at the Shangri-La Plaza Hotel with the chic-est of Cosmo Manille’s alta sociedad in attendance.

Inno’s creations were perfect. The colors, styles, and cuts were simply at their elegant best. But more on his show sooner than soon, palanggas.

But it was off the catwalk that moi spotted the best-dressed women of the affair. The three low, "lowest backs of the night" belonged to twinkled-eyed beauty Marilen Santos Concepcion who wore a black and jade-green silk chiffon halter gown; statuesque Carla Reyes Tengco who donned a black gown with beaded fringe at the back; and Tricia Panlilio Cu-Unjieng, who wore a butter-scotch bare-back gown. All three gowns were created by Pepito Albert.

Exotic beauty Bledes Araneta Fores wore a gorgeous black and white striped silhouette gown. Her sister Margarita F. was in a Pucci-print vintage gown that belongs to her mother, socialite Baby Araneta Fores.

Stunning Samantha Eduque wore a chic white top, oyster grey gown, and fully-beaded silver belt by Inno S. Blonde Southern belle Maricris Vasquez Prada looked richer in a royal blue Thai silk gown by Pepito A. with a sapphire diamond brooch for that touch of class. Art Collector Josine Elizalde wore a black cotton mousseline top with an embroidered silk organza skirt by Pepito A.

Josephine Knox was "aflame" in a fire engine red silk satin gown, by Inno S. Cebu’s reigning high-society royal, vivacious Amparito Llamas Lhuillier wore a basic black slinky-gown with black beads by Inno S.

Old-wealth jet setter Mely Concepcion Hechanova looked regal in her pale salmon, fully beaded Inno S. outfit. Glamorous Vicky Zubiri wore a fabi silk play of fuchsia, purple, pale taupe and Bordeaux on a black background with a long draped panel from the Spring-Summer Collection 2001 of Lacroix, no less.

Now, palanggas, this is what a true glitzy affair is all about.

* * *

Cosmo Manille’s creamiest of the cream came out in full social force during the chic-ky grand launch of lifestyle and society magazine, The Philippine Tatler, dahlings. If you are still not in the know, palanggas, Tatler was created in London last century. It has featured grand events in London’s social scene. It has been in Asia for over 20 years, with publications in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Now, it has finally hit our shores.

Needless to say, our town’s alta café society hotshots (easily be a PR’s dream list) breezed into the affair in their chic-est best. Well-heeled socialites, hot politicians and power brokers came to see and be seen at the elegant Mandarin Oriental’s Captain’s Bar. The strictly by-invitation-only affair intended for only 250 invitees instead filled the venue to capacity, breaking expectations.

With moi pal Johnny Litton as the evening’s host, palanggas, the event kicked off with a speech from the Philippine Tatler’s tres popular editor-in-chief Anton San Diego. Jetting in from Hong Kong were the tres charmant well-respected tycoon, Dr. M. Mohindar, chairman of the Asia Tatler group, and his tres elegant wife, publisher and editor-in-chief Lina Ross.

The Tatler group saw for themselves what Philippine society is all about. Following some inspiring words from the chairman, good-looking (and many said, "actor material") Dondi Almario and old- wealth hardworking heiress Irene Martel-Francisco, the Philippine Tatler’s managing director and associate publisher, respectively, joined other Tatler hotshots on stage as they pulled back the curtains to unveil the premiere issue’s cover girls – the First Daughters.

The First Daughters looked fabi as they gave a toast to the magazine’s success – brilliant Luli Arroyo; super talented Jo Ramos; and lady politician with tons of savvy, glamorous Imee Marcos. The last speech was delivered by Irene Martel-F. who spoke about the formation of the Philippine Tatler Foundation, which she put up to help people with tuberculosis.

No show was First Daughter and co-cover girl Jackie Ejercito-Lopez who has always been a very low-profile persona. She asked to be excused that night.

Vivacious TV host Kris Aquino didn’t make it to the cover with the other gals because, moi was told, "Her mother, former President Cory Aquino told her it would be better if she begged off." Oh, well.

Special guest that night was no less than the Concert King Martin Nievera, who wowed the chi-chi invitees with a medley of Broadway faves.

The biggest surprise of the affair came when Martin called his gorgeous former wife Pops Fernandez to join him for a song, which coincidentally was entitled, When I Fall in Love. Their romantic duet, dahlings, truly made many the music lovers’ day complete and made the super launch even more memorable.

Moi was able to chat with loads of the social pack apres the launch, dahlings, who all gushed about the fantastic way Philippine Tatler was introduced to them, and how our town’s A+ list of personas were in attendance.

As they left the Captain’s Bar, each guest received a copy of the mag. They were even more amazed at how the Tatler was able to bring together four of the First Daughters on the cover. All thanks to the imaginative and creative mind of the editor-in-chief, Anton San Diego.

All in all, palanggas , it was truly a great event featuring an excellent cocktail-buffet; the beautiful set; and a high-energy atmosphere. All these definitely made the Philippine Tatler launch the hottest ticket in the city that memorable night, palanggas.

La Diva Mitch V.

After entertaining sell-out crowds last May at Music Museum’s "Mitchbehavin’", la diva Mitch Valdez is back this month, dahlings, with another repertoire of witty, hilarious anecdotes and diva-nesque renditions of all-time popular songs.

This time we can all sing and laugh along with Mitch at the Stage Greenbelt every Saturday (Oct. 13, 20 and 27).

Yes, dahlings, "Mitch Valdez — Golden Girl… DIVA-h?" is a show which is definitely not to be missed! It’s time for a good laugh, believe me.

See you there, palanggas!