Starting another new year right

As always, the very hospitable and stunning socialite Nedy Tantoco ensured that spirits remained high during the entire New Year celebration held in her plush residence in South Forbes Park. The setting was perfect with its subdued elegance and a home decorated with the best of European and Asian timeless furniture and masterpieces – clearly reflecting the fine taste and refinement of the lady of the house. A five-piece band and a deejay were on hand to keep everyone energized on the dance floor with alternate bouts of live and recorded music.

Taking in the Filipino party spirit with relish were Austrian Ambassador Christian Krepela and his wife Irmgard, Indian Ambassador Navrekha Sharma, German Ambassador Herbert Jess and his French wife Micheline (who also took her son Frederick and brother-in-law Buckhard), French Commercial Counselor Jean Philippie Quercy and Consul Gildo Tivetta of the European Union. Other guests from the European side of the global village included Petrana Colesanti, the bubly Rome-based daughter of the Italian Ambassador, Jacques Chahine and Jean Jacques Cohen from France, Madrid domiciled Mari Borao (spending his annual sojourn in Manila) and Alan Thomson and Neil Gundry from London. Consul of Bolivia Don Pepe Rodriguez dedicated two Spanish songs to his Filipino wife Lulu.

Also spotted was Nedy’s Morocco-based sister Maritess with her partner Renato Enriquez and his son Jules who lives in Australia. Last but not the least were the stateside contingent who were all from Los Angeles, California – Marc and Tess Pijuan, Merl Gotico and Judd and Beth Jackson. Joining them were Nedy’s friends Governor Tony Leviste and Senator Loren Legarda with children Lean and Lanz, DJ Lopez, Mel Meer, Peter and Minnie Jentes with sons Mark and Alexander, Ana Tirol, Pocholo Martinez, Rosemary Lopez and George Sison.

Fireworks from China lit up the night sky over the Tantoco abode as the countdown to the New Year approached.

It was, for sure, a sparkling and dazzling start to 2003!

Washington’s Address

The house is as interesting as the man. Your columnist had the chance to peek into Washington SyCip’s elegant abode in the posh community of North Forbes. You could tell right away that this is Wash’s place – everything in it reveals the man‘s exquisite panache and class.

The opulent yet restrained design of Wash’s imposing residence is a mix of classic Oriental and European styles, as evident in the littlest art pieces such as intricately-carved ivory figurines and gold candelabras. Old Chinese vases transformed into lamps give off muted lighting, exuding a relaxed, laid-back mood. Other ancient Chinese ceramics look like interesting artifacts dug from an archaeological site. All of it, I’m sure, are rare finds. What caught our eye was a beautiful medicine cabinet of dark wood with golden filigrees and colorful paintings, both a utilitarian and aesthetic heritage that only a true man of taste like Wash can appreciate.