During the last few years, French travelers have contributed significantly to Cuba’s tourism boom. Cuba has continued its efforts to develop tourism activities by investing millions of dollars in infrastructure and modernization projects. But that does not end there, dahlings. Foreign investors have increased tremendously since 1996 when a lot of restrictions were abolished.
The super demand for this fast-becoming-a-major-tourist-destination has encouraged tres chic Air France, naturellement, to increase its flights to Cuba from four times a week to once-a-day daily flights from Paris to Havana starting this winter. From Manille, Air France flies non-stop to Paris thrice a week – every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – with super easy connections to palpitation-inducing Havana.
What better way to fly to Cuba than via Air France’s long-haul flight? Passengers on Business Class can enjoy optimum in-flight comfort in an almost flat 145-degree reclining seat equipped with state-of-the-art individual electronic gadgets. Pure wool blankets and comfort kits are available in case it gets too chilly for you.
Excellent French regional dishes and a fine selection of wines are offered during flights from Paris. Plus, Air France’s latest baby – a fabi self-service buffet – is available for flights over 10 1/2 hours long, would you believe?
Over lunch, Air France’s super sales manager Bingo Braganza explained to moi, "Project ‘Envol Asie’ or ‘In-flight Asia’ was created by Air France in early 1999 when Asia was recognized as an increasingly important market for the company. Its ultimate objective is to achieve customer satisfaction among Asian customers. The philosophy behind this improved service is the airline’s desire to be more sensitive to cultural differences within the Asian context.
"A special booklet to learn about each Asian country is available for the Air France cabin crew at all times and especially before flights. It consists of background info on everything about a destination and what to avoid, plus some basic words in the local languages. Thus, Air France passengers traveling to and from Manila will notice that the crew has some understanding of Filipino culture."
"Envol Asie," palanggas, does not aim to convert Air France into an Asian airline.
"We are not an Asian airline and we will never be," noted tall and dashing Louis Vergeon, Air France’s magnum Manille general manager. "Neither do the customers traveling on Air France anticipate it. We offer our passengers the French or European environment which is the reason why passengers choose to fly with us. But we take into account cultural sensitiveness. That is exactly our standpoint."
Naturellement, the beehive of Air France, Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 Hub or CDG2, is Europe’s most efficient hub offering connections in less than two hours. This puts CDG2 far ahead of Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Heathrow airports. Flights arrive and depart every two minutes for an average of over 650 aircraft movements each day.
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle 3, meanwhile, business travelers are really given special treatment, dahlings. In all five halls, Air France offers private-lounges for L’Espace; Tempo Challenge; Club 2000 and Frequence Plus Red passengers. These lounges have all the amenities one could possibly ask for.
Those located in Halls F and C have fantastic shower rooms. Hence, passengers can have the pleasure of a moment’s peace and quiet, far from the airport hustle and bustle.
Hall F, the most recently constructed terminal of the Paris-CDG2 Hub, is designed to handle 10 million passengers a year, or an average of 30,000 passengers daily. It is also conveniently located close to the TGV/RER train station, which can whisk you faster than you can bat your eyelash.
Apres seeing four of the gorgeous ads (which I have reprinted here) and reading travel brochures on Cuba, moi immediately made a reservation to jet off and check out Havana for the holidays. Moi will spend the New Year and two gorgeous weeks thereafter in Cuba.
Yes, palanggas, Cuba has become the in-est country to check out for the year 2002.
For more info on Air France’s thrice a week flight from Manille to Havana, do call Tess Zulueta at tel. no. 887-7587 or fax no. 887-5686. She’ll answer all the questions you might ask.
Cuba, here moi comes!
The Prince threw a bash, palanggas, that had the invitees swinging, grooving and relishing fabi food and drinks. The Prince of Wales’ royal couple, tres charmant Henry and Ayssel Sawaya were pleased to see the chic invitees having a great time. Suave general manager Ian Gray, meanwhile, oversaw the efficient staff who made sure the opening went smoothly. Chic PR lady and sultry beauty Rossana Peña, dahlings, made sure the party was in high gear.
Seen socializing all over the place were the power groupie of publisher Henry Locsin; former Tourism Undersecretary Russell Sobrepeña; distinguished diplomats, Ambassadors Mohammed Ebrahim Al Jowaid of the UAE, Saleh Ibrahim Al-Kuwari of Qatar, Lebanese Vice Consul Jose Assad with his tres elegant wife, Vicky A.; plus British Immigration hotshots.
Business heavyweights chatted big bucks, natch, while sipping wine, beer, or hard drinks at the super luxurious lounge. Among them were mega insurance man Ed Buendia; construction hotshot David Lim; Hermie Zayco; cement magnate Tim Schroeder; Fouad Mazloum; fun L’Opera owner, Remo Calvi; smart Canadian couple, Rene and Jean Bruyere; Haresh Hiranand; Albert Awad; Narcing Mabanta; Bob Paradies; and that beautiful couple who are great to know and delightful to look at, David and Janine de Padua.
Among the elbow-to-elbow crowd at the expat-filled bar, palanggas, were adorable couple Joost and Babes Pekelharing; guapo Pacqui y guapa Lilibeth Campos; fun sisters two, Elena Arias and Elsa Bouffard; fashion star of stars, Knit Queen Lulu Tan Gan and her husband, to-die-for macho looker, businessman Josef Gueta; physically fit couple, Edmund and Demitra Nassr; Mango’s workaholic Edi Tekeli; dancing empress Becky Garcia and Frenchman businessman, VONOTEC’s VP for business, Henri Muzzarelli.
For the non-boozers, dahlings, there was sparkling Perrier courtesy of dapper Christian Clerc, who made sure the famous sparkling drink flowed throughout the night.
Circulating with glass in hand were popular Greek Vice Consul Phil Adamson; Foreign Post’s Simon and Nina Halley; debonair Jun Valenton and constant date, Mari Deitz; Mari Grace Katigbak; restaurateurs, simpatico Gino Martinel of the fabi L’Incontro and Dixie Mabanta of Cafe Mediterranean with his lady love, Caitlin Ryan; brilliant businessman Basil Ong; Renol Urra and his lady love Gigi Benitez; and gym goddess Apple Mateo.
Moi also zoomed in on French Consul Pierre Coquillat; Rene and Cherry Olbes; Jes Villa; fun couple Noel and Monette Vicencio; the French Embassy’s good-looking Erwan Lecarer; Vietnamese beauty, Thelina Nuval; sexy duo Minna Estrada and Evie Guevara; va-va-voom Cynthia Reyes; Chiqui Mabanta and Mia Trinidad; Gunther and Joan Matschuck; fabi hosts, Gerard and Leah Meriguet; Stan Hilker; irrepressible Brian Lane; Diether Woelfel; plus the rip-roaring rah! rah! Nomads rugby team, led by handsome Romain Barbarais who came with his super nice wife, Claire B.
With such a chi-chi crowd, no wonder Manille’s swingiest set came in full force to party hard, palanggas.
It was definitely a bash worthy of a Prince!
The event was held at the private room of the resto Mi Piace, palanggas, whose ambiance easily transports guests to Italy. The affair was beautifully sponsored and organized by hostess with the mostest Nedy Tantoco and her father, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. in behalf of the Philippine Italian Association.
Ambassador Tantoco had served as president of the association for 10 years while Nedy T. is now a board member and vice president.
The rich table arrangements by one of the best, Rustan’s Flower Shop, contrasted with the room’s rustic atmosphere. There were dark pink mokara and kagawara, celosia, asters and foxtail on burgundy tablecloth with red cylindrical and square candles.
Lina Lorenzo, dahlings, breezed in fashionably on time, sporting the color motif of red. She has been with the association since its inception in 1962.
Mi Piace, palanggas, prepared an excellent menu: Prosciutto Pizza slices during cocktails and then leek potato and chickpea soup, grilled mackerel with anchovies sauce and coffee parfait with amaretto sauce.
There were a lot of surprises prepared for the invitees like the beautiful singing voice of the simpatica Clara Colesanti (she gamely sang a few songs with Galleria Duemilla Inc.’s art curator Silvana Diaz and the Italian Embassy’s vivacious Grazia Anelli who played the guitar and the flute); the vivacious emcee Betty Chalkley; and Gloria Reyes and Tillie Pelagallo who joined the impromptu program by showing off their vocal talents. They were cheered on by Marilou Alejandro, mega restaurateur Conrad Calalang and Christian Monsod. Accomplished accordion player Nori Ongsiako vowed to bring her accordion next time.
Towards dinner’s end, palanggas, well-loved working socialite Chit Montenegro presented a crystal tree to Ambassador and Mrs. Colesanti which the couple warmly received. A toast by Ambassador Tantoco and a groupie photo op for posterity capped the memorable Note Italiana, dahlings.
The mad rush has begun, palanggas, and that’s what makes Cosmo Manille go round and round with its endless circle of activities.
See you.