Cebu dresses down in dressed-up denims

It was an exclusive gathering at Cebu’s most favored Spanish restaurant, Sol Y Luna, ideally located at the Ayala Entertainment Center, when the enterprising "Tres Marias," as they are fondly called – Iris Fernan Arcenas, Grace Colmenares Lerma and June Alegrado Ugarte, owners of the establishment – hosted an all-white themed party to launch its much talked about Sol Y Luna VIP cards.

Among the many cardholder’s privileges are priority reservations on peak hours, discounts on meals, as well as invitations to intimate quarterly parties where good food and excellent wines will be served carte blanche. Wine and food tasting events featuring new varieties of beverages and exceptional gourmet tidbits will be held as well.

As the guests arrived, they were welcomed with refreshing white sangrias, garnished with tropical fruits and a surtido of Spanish tapas that included tortillas y croquetas, jamones y chorizos y una variedad de diferentes clases de quesos.

Seen at the affair were Chiling Sala, who is looking so well after a quadruple by- pass and his gracious wife Susan, exceptionally talented jewelry designer Butch Carungay, who raffled off some beautiful pieces, florist Rose Amores, fashion designers Ditas Rodriguez and Jun Escario, golfer Baby Schaap and gifted theater actress Carissa Garcia Codilla.

By the time it all came to a close, several brought home their own VIP cards, such as Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Michel Lhuillier, bubbly and so-full-of-life Margie Lhuillier, personable Cebu Marriott Hotel GM Karl Hudson, restaurateurs Jun and Conny Selma and successful businessman Jay Aldeguer.

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Absolutely no one recognized the popular Pacific Ballroom of the Cebu Waterfront Hotel when it was completely transformed recently as the preferred venue for the glitzy party held to launch the fashion program, anchored by Mario Colmenares for Cebu Channel 28, aptly dubbed Stylefile.

Guests who were requested to come in their favorite denims were likewise encouraged to creatively dress up their jeans in the manner they very well pleased.

Fun-loving invitees who indulged were Queenie Amman and her daughter Vanessa, Butch Carungay with his chastity belt-inspired pair, Albert Arriba bedecked in black feathers, Agnes Heutel in traditional jeans over a tweed jacket, Amparito Lhuillier in black denims with lace and strands upon strands of 18k gold chains full of tiny ornaments, Cebu Levi’s franchisee Tess Albulario very becoming in a mini denim mini, and Joy Onglatco in dark jeans and gold corset by Oj Hofer. The highlight of the affair was the never-seen-before fashion show that showcased the evolution of Levi’s dating back from the 1940s to the present, using simply one fabulous fabric – denim, naturally.