Lighting up in Manila

The latest US Embassy Cigar Club dinner held at the Century Park Hotel’s Top of the Century Bar truly topped all other cigar club dinners held in the past. First, the dinner was hosted by three respected gentlemen and long-time cigar aficionados: Mayor Lito Atienza of Manila, Consul Sonny Busa of the US Embassy, and Century GM Bobby Carpio.

Second, a unique menu card decorated each table. The cover had the Office of the Mayor’s Lungsod ng Maynila insignia, with the Mayor’s face imposed on an Indiana Jones-like character smoking and holding a cigar.

The Century’s army of chefs, led by Rudy Delapacion, prepared an exquisite menu.

The three hosts left the special group of cigar smokers in sampling the variety of cigars from Tabacalera’s La Flor de la Isabela. Among the excited guests were members of the media: Butch Bonsol of What’s On & Expat, Heidi Ng and Don Lianzon of Tribune, and Butch Gamboa of Motoring Today.

Completing the group were restaurateur Larry Cruz, businessman Babes Romualdez, engineer Marvin Caparros, and members of the diplomatic corps such as Second Secretary William Haya of the Embassy of Peru, and Chief of JUSMAG Air Force Programs Lt. Col. Dwight L. Kenyon. What added more flair and color to the occasion was the presence of lovely ladies Tina Bautista, Annette Ablan, Bea Zuñiga, Ana de Leon, Tanya Dee, top model Josephine Gregorio, Karen Covert, Rosa Laurel and Dee Dee Aquino.

Mayor Lito Atienza concluded the evening by announcing to the crowd the venue of the next cigar dinner: Larry Cruz’s Milnuevociento Restaurant at the Remedios Circle in Malate.

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Jose Cuisia Jr. and his ever charming and congenial wife Vicky recently tendered an intimate luncheon for visiting Philippine Ambassador to Washington Albert del Rosario and his beautiful, stylish wife Gretchen. The very fitting venue for this high-profile affair was the exclusive Pinot Room, a Tower Club private function room with one wall tempting the palate to taste its over 2,000 bottles of wine.

The Ambassador looked every inch the dapper diplomat in his Giorgio Armani suit. A who’s who list of people in the business and political scene turned out for the event and were very satisfied with the amenities and culinary services of the Tower Club. There was Philamlife’s Bobby Romulo, Mila Drilon, wife of Senate President Franklin Drilon, Tower Club GM Rupert Haarhoff, Bambina Buenaventura, wife of Tower Club governor Cesar Buenaventura and many more.

At the end of the dinner, Joey Cuisa thanked Ambassador del Rosario for all his exemplary performance in strengthening ties between the Philippines and the US.

Mabuhay, Ambassador del Rosario! May you continue to be an instrument in helping uplift the lives of Filipinos here and in the US.