For the sun to shine, STARS must fade

Hordes of Cosmo Manille’s partying animals trooped STARS Bar and Dining when it bid farewell to its famed monthly Zodiac parties. The revelry featured just the right mix of groupie.

Aptly titled "Attitude", even the evening’s sentimental undertone failed to restrain the celebrators and the invitees to put on their dancing shoes and booze to a bacchic frenzy.

Celebrators with an "Attitude" that night were Pepper Teehankee; Faith Amigo Lavarro; Donnie Ramirez; Raquel Uy; Philip Cu-Unjieng; and Nancy Irlanda.

Hosted by articulate gent with a fabi voice Charlie Ysmael, palanggas, a familiar chap in most of STARS Zodiac parties, the celebrators were showered onstage with special gifts from two of the best products – Clarins and Guerlain of Rustan’s, naturellement.

A birthday cake was also whipped up by STARS for the celebrators in commemoration. Wishes yet to be fulfilled hung in the air as the celebrators blew their candles.

A shot of that wicked oh so good AGWA was served for the birthday toast led by Future Trade Int’l., Inc. marketing director Lito Caballero. Other must- have sponsors crucial to the evening’s success were Chivas Regal, Absolut Vodka, San Mig Light, Remy Silver, Vodka Cruisers, Blavod and Vodka Ice.

The program ended with something special, palanggas – the tear-jerking toast led by the icon of revelers, STARS’ mega president EJ Litton. EJ L. thanked all his pals, celebrators both old and new, sponsors and everyone else who patronized STARS for their support, until the very last hurrah of the Zodiac parties.

One memorable moment that evening was when STARS in-house DJs Ayee and Jeff played Daft Punk’s latest single, One More Time (We’re gonna celebrate), which ultimately turned out to be the fun night’s theme song.

Among those who danced and sang in unison were the still lovey-dovey David Bunevacz and eye-catching Jessica Rodriguez-B.; pretty, pretty Pia Marquez; gorgeous Ana Shier; good-looking Jojo Manlongat; glamorous Jayne Yu; gentleman Manny Padilla; smart Amanda Griffin; handsome Hans Montenegro; movie and TV actor Rico Yan; Gelo Serrano and Jomar Munarriz.

As with the past Zodiac parties, dahlings, dawn inevitably witnessed the high energy of a swinging happening. This time, however, even the peeking sunrise failed to signal a wave of closure, to the wild bravura of a party taking place at STARS.

Although STARS has moved on from its celestial celebration of the Zodiac, parties like these live on to become legends that are never forgotten in the party circuit.

As the man EJ Litton himself said, "For the sun to shine, STARS must fade."

Venezia conquers Spam’s

Renowned as Cosmo Manille’s hottest upscale bar, Venezia, apres their smashing success at the North’s swinging Borracho bar, this time painted the South a hot red, dahlings. Venezia did this with a Davao gig at one of the best "in" places, the city has to offer, The New Spam’s Party House of moi favorite hotel, The Apo View Hotel.

Formerly known as One Down Disco, Spam’s has become one of Metro Davao’s premier party addresses. Also a multi-functional resto-dance club, Spam’s has hosted various prestigious events, such as beauty pageants, corporate and rave parties, product launches, plus, plus, palanggas.

Spam’s is also known for its melange of nightly entertainment that make perfect weeknights for Davao’s partying pack. These consist of social and corporate club shindigs, ballroom dancing, and the always fun ladies’ night rendezvous.

Even if Davao’s legendary night life was seriously curbed during the trying times of the ’70s and the ’80s, nothing could suppress the Davaoeños exuberance as they manifest in Spam’s. As Spam’s celebrates its 18th year, palanggas, the city’s party-animals realized that it’s hard to squelch having a great time down town for long.

That hot gang of partners – Venezia president and CEO the King of the Night Life Luis Miguel "Louie" Ysmael; international polo player and businessman Iñigo Zobel; construction tycoon Philip Cruz; and mega businessman Ed Roxas – helped Spam’s to counter the raving spirit of Manille’s fast crowd with the Davaoeños own kind of vivacity.

Venezia took the South by storm with an all-night spectacle of lights, booze and music. Among those who shocked, rocked and rolled, palanggas, were Apo View’s tall, dashing GM Sonny Pamintuan; gorgeous couple Louie and Cecille Ysmael; world-class chef, cookbook author and artist Gene Gonzales; popular man of all seasons Rep. Tony Boy Floirendo; and well-respected businessman Anton Lagdameo who breezed in with his gorgeous wife, the former multi-awarded actress Dawn Zulueta-L.

Also seen rocking and rolling away were Binggoy Montemayor; Venezia’s spin man Chito Melo; photographer Pepper Teehankee; head turner Thelina Nuval; Dr. Anthony Angala and his wife Fadji Azurin; Jing-Jing Magno; Venezia’s DJs Piccard, George and Popit Garcia; Davao Tourism’s Roger Layson, Ian Garcia and Art Boncato; the swinging set of Kaye Flores, Jasper Huang, Richard Yap, Edwin Balabis, Zeev Cosid and Maan Serrano, plus so many other fun personas of the fast-track and night owls like them, dahlings.

The Apo View’s rah! rah! sales and PR staff arrived in full tidal wave force, palanggas, together with beauty and brains workasonic Bambi Tan, palanggas, The Apo View’s mega sales and marketing director. Having a blast while circulating and grooving to Venezia’s hard- to-beat continental sounds were fun personas Cardinal Ceramics’ Paul Tan; popular Babes Jaldon, with his wife and their groupie; Sports World’s Ruval Magpayo, seen chatting like forever with Ateneo Varsity Basketball hunks Mark Bonifacio, Jonas Serrano and Jerome Canlas.

The Venezia-Spam’s happening, palanggas, was sponsored in part by San Mig Light, Remy Silver, Jack Daniel’s, Pepe Lopez and Southern Comfort.

It was a fun, great night when Spam’s, Davao’s greatest partying nest, was conquered by Venezia, palanggas.

All set for May 27

SMB Bikini Beach Buddies II took off with a bang, heating up the crowd at Padi’s Point Mindave a couple of sleeps ago. The event was generously hosted by owner Wilson Lee Flores.

After the curvaceous female bets and handsome hunks, palanggas, were whittled down from a whooping 60 candidates at the Cafe Overdrive last May 12 during the Summer Heat Party, the eye-catching fashion collection of southern-based L’Atelier and Frederick Alba was presented last May 17 at The Fort’s Caramba.

Major title sponsor San Miguel and Thunderbird-Univet co-hosted the main pageant activities at Puerto Galera’s famous White Beach in conjunction with San Miguel Beer’s "Summer Means Beer" campaign to take place on May 25 to 26. Starlite Ferry’s fast, comfortable and convenient Roro-Vessels will ferry candidates from Batangas Port to Puerto Galera for the big swinging event, palanggas.

The grand proclamation and continuing pageant activities will take place on May 27, dahlings, at the Purple Ostrich Bar, Island Cove Resort and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite, the complete leisure park closest to Manille.

WG&A Philippines ferries will then transport all the winners to several top Philippine destinations such as Coron in Northern Palawan, and Dumaguit Port close to Boracay.

The SMB Mr. & Ms. Bikini Beach Buddies winners will each receive a total package consisting of P50,000. The prizes consist of a cash prize; a trip to Hong Kong or Bangkok; round-trip tickets to any point in the Philippines courtesy of WG&A Superferries Phils. and gift products/certificates from sponsors San Miguel Beer, Thunderbird Univet, Starlite Ferry, Inc., L’Atelier for Men and Women; Fashion House by Frederick Alba; Avon Beauty Products; Acecraft Swimwear; Male Power Energy Tablet and Perskindol from Zuellig; South of the Border Resort; White Coral Garden Resorts; White Beach Lodge and Restaurant, plus so many others like them, palanggas.

The runners-up will also receive domestic round-trip tickets compliments of WG&A Superferries Phils. and gift prizes from all the above sponsors.

A busy week of goodbyes and introductions for the famous and not so famous.

Smile. See you.