Seeing stars in Cebu
Michel Lhuillier, Bailli Delegue Philippines and his lovely wife Amparito, Bailli de Cebu, recently hosted a fellowship dinner for members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs and their guests at their magnificent new home in posh Maria Luisa Estate Park. The affair held at the sprawling, beautifully landscaped garden which was splendidly dressed up for the occasion was aptly billed “A Night with the Stars.” The invitees, graciously adhering to the evening’s mid-Eastern theme, came in every imaginable attire. Michel in gold tunic with matching turban was the perfect royal sheik while Amparito looked gorgeous in lounge pants, and tunic printed top accented with plumes held together by a circlet.
Wines from the president’s private cellar flowed throughout the evening. Gustavian’s very own chef Dietmar Dietrich and the hands-on Joel del Prado, general manager of Pino Restaurant, incidentally owned by the Lhuilliers, worked together and masterfully prepared and created authentic dishes from Greece, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and India.
After a truly fabulous meal, guests enjoyed a fast-paced dance number by ladies dressed in shimmering outfits with bangles and armcuffs that bedazzled everyone with their hip isolations. A snake dancer soon appeared with his gigantic python and paraded around. Some guests bravely and gamely volunteered to be enwrapped by the non-venomous snake. The few courageous souls included Sandra Pesch, Louie Thevenin, Hans Hauri, and Mila Demecillo.
Highlight of the evening was the parade of costumes. Individuals and couples vied for the nod of the three out-of-town judges composed of Las Vegas resident Cristina Llamas Araneta, Martine Klieger from the Union Bank of Switzerland in Hongkong and London- based Margie Richards Taylor for the much coveted best in costume awards.
Judge Romulo Senining dressed in multi-colored kaftan and Mariter Dumon Klepp as a belly dancer won hands down in the individual category. Not to be outdone were Louis Thevenin and his statuesque wife Honeylet in glittering gold and silver outfits and Herve Lampert and Maritess Gonzales in authentic Moroccan attires who won as the best dressed couples.
Bong Suzara and his band provided the music that had everyone dancing and swinging on the dance floor.
Michel and Amparito Lhuillier were all smiles for the event proved to be a success beyond expectations.
The beauty and perfection of the affair was easily detected in the glowing, radiant faces of the happy and pleased guests.
