King for a Day

Dishing time

During the 40th day Mass and dinner held in memory of the son (he passed away in a tragic accident) of one of Cosmo Manille’s true alta sociedad familles, among those present was his former girlfriend who had broken up with him months before the accident.

Well and fine but the dinner was held at the home of the former girlfriend’s stepmother. Among the invitees was a stunning beauty who was linked to the deceased years ago. She is studying in Europe and will probably tie the knot in the near future to one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors.

Now here is what our town’s café society tongues are wagging about. While the guests were getting ready to drive to the former girlfriend’s dashing father and stepmother’s house, the former girlfriend approached the stunning beauty and flatly told her she was not invited and to please do not show up.

The shocked beauty elegantly ignored the former girlfriend, naturellement, and went off with one of her male pals, a well-known businessman, for dinner instead at the Manila Pen’s Mi Piace resto. The dish goes: Why did the former girlfriend act as if she was the "widow" of the deceased when her love affair had ended before he died? Well, moi guesses–as everyone has concluded– she must be terribly insecure, n’est ce pas!

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It was done, as always palanggas, in that recognizable Ablaza style.

Chosen famille and super pals gathered half a full moon ago at the Ablazas’ gorgeous mansion to celebrate the birthday of popular business magnate, Louie Ablaza.

Invitees relaxed in the ballroom as jazz music played, sipping on superb wines from Italy and France, paired with the oh-so-good, Pritson (deep fried lechon de leche wrapped in pita, similar to Peking Duck) plus loads of cocktail canapés.

Apres cocktails, palanggas, we were ushered into the dining hall for dinner. Moi again noticed the master stroke of Louie’s son, talented interior designer Junjun, who transformed the dining hall into something totally new and cool. He used true-blue denim tablecloth to contrast with the richly colored silk Tibetan tapestries hanging from the ceiling. The result: A colorful palette of reds, yellows, blues and golds enlivened the dining hall.

Moi also noticed bright red round lanterns of different sizes hanging from the ceiling. They symbolized prosperity and luck. But the most striking of all were Junjun’s one-of-a-kind inverted centerpieces–floral arrangements of Australian proteas, leucadenrons, curly willows, and polypodiums seemed like they had fallen on the middle of the table. Everyone wondered how Junjun pulled that off!

Guests enjoyed Italian treats like pastas, salads, brochette, chicken, roast beef as well as a surprise song number rendered by a group of sopranos, courtesy of Louie and Mellie’s close pal, Mila Haw.

After the must birthday song and candle blowing, a dance number was performed by Louie and Mellie’s famille, palanggas. Among them were Zosima Romero, Mellie’s mother; eldest son Marc and his wife Tessa and their son Xavi; Junjun; Czarina and her husband Dr. Jofe Syquia and their son and close knit gang.

Among those who basked in the fun were honorable members of the diplomatic corps led by Louie and Mellie’s in-laws, Ambassador Enrique and socialite Letty Syquia; los simpatico y popular Ambassador Ramon Domingo Alonso Medina y su esposa, Mercedes Medina; super couple Andy and vivacious Tereret Tambunting- Liboro; brilliant Justice Consuelo Santiago; and Justice Bernardo Pardo; and Bert and Baby Manlapit.

Also seen were world traveler and cruise vacation specialist, that fashionable president of Cruise Ship Travel Center, Beth Tioseco and Thomas Garcia; Thelma Gana; Ofelia Trinidad; Mac and Linda Cuan; Nena Casimiro; our amiga Bambi Harper; glamorous Pilie Aquino; Pitoy Moreno; Joanne Salgado; Minnie Fernandez; Bert and Tess Castro; Mon Tantoco; Bert Basilio; Luz Cullen; Tito and Pacita de Guzman; Jack and Annie Bautista; Nelly Bengzon; and Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo.

Like most of the Ablazas’ happenings, this one lasted way past the hour of Cinderella.

To the simpatico Louie Ablaza, here’s more rah! rah! rah! years to come!

Cheers, palangga!

That’s Business Class!

The posh Fernando’s at the Rockwell Club was the first stop in a series of road shows featuring Cathay Pacific’s fantastic New Business Class seat, dahlings. The new seat was flown in from Hong Kong, palanggas, and will do the rounds of social circles.

The event was the perfect chance to touch base with urban dwellers who do jetset a lot in style. The venue was packed with distinguished personas as well as some tres chosen travel agents.

The world travelers started coming fashionably on time at 6:30. They were welcomed by Cathay Pacific mega country manager, super popular gent Adrian Harley and Rockwell Club GM Terrence Theberge.

Invitees had a great time trying out the fabi new seat which boasts of a longer stretch aside from features like video on demand, a water bottle holder and a super dressing room with–would you believe?–a full-length mirror! Now, that’s real cool!

Everyone had a blast from Da Capo’s soothing music, flowing cocktails, superb canapés and the zany antics of Jon Santos. The night became even more exciting with the grand raffle of four business class tickets to Hong Kong, which naturellement, was the perfect prize to experience Cathay’s already renowned new Business Class, dahlings.

An acoustic shell for St. Cecilia’s

The beautifully refurbished and restored P44-million St. Cecilia’s Hall of St. Scholastica’s College was inaugurated two years ago, dahlings. The hall was fully funded by generous donations from Cosmo Manille’s cream of the creamiest art and music lovers, and Scholastican alumni.

The authentic art-deco auditorium was originally designed and built in 1930 by famed architect Andres Luna San Pedro, the son of National artist Juan Luna, no less. It was officially designated as a historical marker by the National Historical Institute on August 1999. Moreover, St. Cecilia’s Hall has become the home of the Manila Symphony Orchestra II.

Well, palanggas, beauty and brains super benefit organizer, world traveler Josephine Knox and beautiful Mindy Perez-Rubio, who originally spearheaded the mega bucks restoration/fund-raiser project A Chair For St. Cecilia, are back in town and are at it again, this time to raise a cool P2 million for the much needed acoustic shell to give the hall the best sound possible. Assisting Josephine and Mindy are cultural powerhouse and Sen. Frank Drilon’s chief of staff, Menchu Padilla and the St. Scholastica’s Music Alumni Association.

To achieve this goal, world-class pianists Nena del Rosario and Reynaldo Reyes have teamed up to appear gratis in a duo piano performance with a repertoire only talents of their caliber can perform. You should not miss this once-in-a-lifetime concert! Moi will most certainly be at St. Cecilia’s Hall on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at the hall on performance night and at Makati Garden Club, EDSA cor. Ayala Ave. For inquiries, do call tel. nos. 526-8080 or 818-2670.

Please drive sober and safely. Remember that speed kills!

Have a great weekend, dahlings. See you.