There’s a renaissance happening, and I know you can feel it. Every industry is in a state of boom — from the art and theater scenes to the nocturnal circles, even the charity circuit. There’s this feeling that’s so palpable that things are on the upswing. Don’t you just love it?
Last weekend, I was at Crimson Mactan sampling the new dishes of chef Godfrey Laforteza, fresh from his stint in Bali and now in Mactan Island to open his new restaurant Azure this October. A few of us were given a sneak peek into what it will be like, and I guarantee you a palate full of heavenly tastes. I also swam with the whale sharks in Oslob to check it off my bucket list, but that’s another story.
Sunday night, in between ice bucket challenges met by everyone from CEOs to celebrities, I hopped over to the PETA theater to catch the much-talked-about Pinoy musical Rak of Aegis which has been running and re-running due to popular demand. Nothing gives me more of a high than seeing a fully packed theater, filled with local and international audiences applauding Filipino talent. I had a great time laughing at the onstage antics of RJ Napoles (not pork-related) and the musicality and bravura of Aicelle Santos, Robert Sena and Isay Alvarez and the entire cast. Why, Lea Salonga was even in the audience and made a little cameo at the beginning of act two. I also spotted theater crossover stars Gian Magdangal, Frencheska Farr and Kris Lawrence in the audience. How’s that for stellar attendance?
Dr. Vicki Belo came in with son Quark, daughter Cristalle and former husband Atom Henares. It was their 35th wedding anniversary, “But we were together for seven years. The rest we were separated.” And yet they celebrate the day they got married. That’s the best BFX set-up I know. BFX stands for “best friends with my ex,” if you didn’t know, in this day and age of modern families. “Whatever works,” said Lea, upon leaving the PETA theater, all smiles after watching the show.
Midweek I found myself at Vinyl Gallery’s new headquarters at 2135 Warehouse 2 in Chino Roces Makati where more than 30 young artists were being showcased — from a solo show by Iya Consorio to a two-man exhibit by Anjo Bolarda and Iyan de Jesus plus a group show of the scene’s most happening young visual provocateurs who all painted on — what else? — vinyl. Before that I dropped by the final exhibit of NOW gallery, whose main man Patrick Reyno is scheduled for diplomacy studies in Oxford University. You’ll be missed, Pat!
Aivee leaguers at Mega Fashion Hall
Thursday night and beauty lovers flocked to the Aivee Institute launch at the SM Mega Fashion Hall. Aivee leaguers Karen Davila, Inno Sotto, Maricel Soriano, Bea Rose Santiago, Judy Ann Santos, Coco Martin and a few others led the ribbon cutters, while I hosted the short program with dear friend JM Rodriguez.
Aivee and husband Z have long been a well-kept industry secret, frequented by celebrities and politicians for their weight loss, vanity, health, among other concerns so I guess their Mega Fashion Hall foray is to reach out to those people living in the northern villages, those who can’t go to their Fort and Alabang branches for their preferred treatments.
It is said that there are three types of Aivee Leaguers: the bonafide Aivee Leaguers, which are the tried and tested loyalists of Aivee and Z; there’s also the “secret” Aivee Leaguers —those who go but never tell people they go, or clients associated with other doctors but who secretly go to Aivee and Z; and the wannabe Aivee Leaguers — those who wanna go but can’t — because the wait list of clients is too long. Now, all of them can converge, because the Aivee clinics are growing in number. “I don’t want our expansion to be too fast. Maybe one clinic a year, to better serve our patients with the topnotch service that they deserve,” said Dr. Z, as wife Aivee entertained their guests that night at the SM Megamall’s Fashion Hall.
Same night was the fifth anniversary celebration of Resorts World Manila at Bar 360. I remember the time when I was given an ocular inspection of the whole complex, when it was just about to be constructed. My partners and I were in hard hats, amazed at what we were seeing. Now an established casino and club destination, it continues to innovate with world-class shows, global acts and more surprises. Bravo!
I also drove by the Solaire and City of Dreams area, and I could already feel the action pulsating in that side of town, even if the latter was still under construction. Over a glass of wine with Michael Ault, the famed owner of Pangaea, he explained to me his plans for the nightclub circuit in casino town. Nothing short of exciting.
With everyone opening their doors — from hotels to clinics to galleries to clubs — and brand-new concepts, the scene is about to change. Brace yourselves for it. Be ready for bold expansions. And before you know it, the city will never be the same again.
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Open a new door or a window, @officialtimyap on twitter and Instagram.