PeopleAsia’s Women of Style & Substance Awards Night 2023: Stars among men — and women!
The sky had fewer stars the other night because they descended upon the grand ballroom of Raffles & Fairmont in Makati City.
Dressed in their spectacular gowns and armed with inspiring words — and songs —PeopleAsia’s “Women of Style and Substance” 2023 awardees continued to shine during the magazine’s glittering awards night. Now on its 18th year, the highly anticipated event was headlined by some of the country’s most prominent female figures in the fields of diplomacy, entertainment, business, sports and advocacy work, to name a few.
Speaking from Washington DC, PeopleAsia’s publisher (on leave), Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said: “Women of Style and Substance is an annual event that recognizes women with exemplary achievements, blazing trails, and breaking the proverbial glass ceiling.”
PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez, gorgeous in her Puey Quiñones gown, also said in her speech, “Ngayong gabi ay parangal sa mga bituing may ningning. Tonight is an homage to stars that shine, and shine bright…We may not be a North Star, but the sky has room for all of us.”
And indeed, stars from various fields and industries went out to shine on the PeopleAsia stage.
Among them are “Women of Style and Substance” awardees U.S Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Media Quest Inc. president and CEO Jane Jimenez-Basas and Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee.
They were joined by fellow awardees such as Philippine Airlines’ AVP and head of Catering Operations chefVallerie Castillo-Archer, climate warrior and advocate Mache Torres-Ackerman, Raffles and Fairmont hotel manager Aubrey Ada, volleyball stars Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez, Luminisce Hollistic Skin Innovations founder Dr. Kaycee Reyes, Aboitiz Group’s chief reputation and sustainability officer Ginggay Hontiveros Malvar, and Converge ICT president and co-founder Maria Grace Uy.
The magazine also recognized its first “Rising Entrepreneur” awardee, Jujuglow founder Acee Sayson-Paita.
Also included in this year’s “Women of Style & Substance” list are BlueWater Day Spa’s Mary Simisim and Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominated actress Dolly De Leon.
Aside from the ladies’ inspiring speeches, the gentlemen also added a touch of magic to the show.
Aside from Monaco Vice Consul RJ Ledesma, who served as master of ceremonies, Jed Madela also serenaded the crowd with his powerful renditions of Hero and Moon River. The Marcy David Band and singer Ralf Adrian Tacogue also opened the ceremonies with an array of musical numbers, including US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson’s favorite song, A Kiss to Build a Dream On, which the top diplomat gamely danced to.
Event stylist extraordinaire Dave Sandoval, on the other hand, decorated the venue in a flurry of fresh blooms and fall colors.
Saving the best for last, Megastar Sharon Cuneta ended the show in style with her impromptu renditions of Pangarap na Bituin and Ikaw, after the crowd cheered her on.
PeopleAsia’s “Women of Style and Substance” 2023 Awards Night was held in cooperation with Raffles & Fairmont Makati, Singapore Airlines, Volvo Cars Philippines, Shell Pilipinas Corp., PLDT Smart, Vistaland and Lifescapes Inc., Grab Philippines, SM Supermalls, Kiko Milano, Philippine Wine Merchants and The Philippine STAR.
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