Here’s to more gorgeous years ahead

Working socialite Juliet Ticzon ("Tabeng" to her pals), had planned to spend her 60th birthday, dahlings, with a quiet dinner with her famille and probably a trip abroad to visit her relatives. But things took an unexpected turn, palanggas, when her nieces and nephews decided to throw her a big bash at the exclusive, chic-ky Tower Club to mark her big day.

The invitees feasted on an excellently prepared dinner buffet at the Taipan Room. Apres the yummy dinner, the lights dimmed and a surprise video presentation was shown. Nostalgia filled the air when Tabeng’s famille expressed their affection and appreciation for her kindness and support through the years.

It was evident that Tabeng has been a"Pillar of Strength" as her sister, philanthropist Belen Martel, announced in her toast to the old-wealth Lovina-Ticzon clan from the South.

Apres the toast, everyone hit the floor for ballroom dancing (to burn all those calories from the dinner) with the one-of-a-kind Lady Valerie and her orchestra. Rocking the floor was, naturellement, the entire Ticzon famille–business magnate Antonio Martel and his wife, elegant Belen Lovina Ticzon Martel and their daughter with four B’s Antonia; Benny and Ophie Clemente and their daughters Chinkee, Rachelle and Sansan; Ina Ticzon; Mon and Portia Santos and their heirs Pepel, Pauline and Gabe; Romeo Ticzon Jr. and the apple of his heart AR; Vince, Adolf, and Julius; Troy and Liza Ticzon and their daughter Lala.

Watching and sometimes joining in the action were Robbie Martel, his wife Melissa Gonzales-M., with their children, eligible young bachelor and top gent of C! Magazine Paolo, Nikki and Anton; Dionisio and Rosario Jao; Renato Jao; Mat Ranillo and his wife Linda Tupaz and their kids; the adorable Lovinas, Ding and Irma; Don and Norma Sanders; Boy and Ching Sales; Willie and Josie Fernandez; Bombit and Sharon dela Peña; Carlo and Lizette Dinglasan; plus so many others like them too nice to mention.

Juliet Lovina Ticzon is indeed everyone’s favorite sister, aunt and friend. May her 60th year just be the start of more gorgeous years ahead.

Cheers, palangga.

This will be long remembered

Music-loving diplomats and clique-ish gang of world traveler and host with the most Ado Escudero braved rains, wind and floods to attend the fabi going away party he tendered for outgoing Russian Ambassador Anatoli Khmelnitski and his gracious wife Valentina at the one-of-a-kind, world-class resort Villa Escudero in Quezon, dahlings.

The grand evening opened with superb cocktails at the Escuderos’ gorgeous ancestral mansion, palanggas. The invitees were then escorted by torch bearers as they rode in carabao carts to the resort’s tropical Garden Pavilion. There the Khmelnitskis and their host formally received the elegant guests that included loads of hotshot friends of the honorees: Brazilian Ambassador Claudio Maria Henrique Do Couto Lyra; Brazil’s Minister Carlos Augusto Loureiro de Carvalho; already tres popular British Ambassador Paul Stephen Dimond and his nice wife Carolyn D.; Indian Ambassador Navrekha Sharma; Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti; Portuguese Ambassador Joao Caetano da Silva; Ambassador Saleh Mohamed Al-Ghamdi and his famille; plus Finnish Ambassador Raimo Antolla.

Everyone then enjoyed the musical highlight of the evening, dahlings, a two-piano rendition of Rachmannoffs’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor by world-class, popular concert pianist Ingrid Sala-Santamaria and Prof. Reynaldo Reyes, no less. As the last passionate chords of the concerto died away, dinner was served. Each course was accompanied by a dance number by the well-trained, versatile staff of the resort, as it was served, much to the delight of members of the diplomatic corps. Requisite round of toasts of the bubbly followed and the company raised their glasses to bid the well-liked and respected Russian ambassador and his wife a fond farewell.

Clearly enjoying the high-brow cultural evening, palanggas, were Vina Alcantara; Dr. Greg Alvior; Bu Azucena; vivacious Nelly Bengson; Robert and Rosalie Blume; Louie Centenera; Clifford Chua; Archie de Rivera; Bobbet Escudero; Millie Escudero; Flora Consing; Tony Gallibo and his wife, Naty Arambulo; Noni Guia; Pancho Lardizabal; Rolando Leyesa and his wife, Merlyn Villamin; James Uy and his wife, Raquel Siy-Yap; Pacita Uy; Erlinda Poonin; Manolet Escudero and his wife, Ana Regina Araneta; Beth Candido; Elsie Escudero; Jun Gesmundo; Cita Cosico; Dr. Adolfo Bellocillo; Tonette Capiña; Chona and Rica Malabanan; Alex Maralit; Paul Cuna; Mario Liwag and his wife, Lydia Perez; Tyrone Magsino and his daughters Tita and Trixie; Jake Merin; Mandy Marino and his wife, Anselma Montero; Larry Masanga; Ruben Mesinas; Hans Neiderer; Joey Agao; Carlito Ortega; Elma Paraiso; Joel Paraiso; super pals of Ado E., fantastic couple, lawyer Tito Tesoro and his wife, renowned couturier Patis Pamintuan Tesoro; Dr. Tony Protacio; lawyer Alfonso Quisumbing; Farida Reyes; Oding Reyes; Reynaldo Reyes; and Marie Ambray, plus others like them too glamorous to mention.

Leave it to Ado Escudero to host an affair that the honorees, Russian Ambassador Anatoli Khmelnitski and his wife Valentina will surely long remember, palanggas.

An exciting finals party!

It was that time of the year again, dahlings. Cause if you’re an NBA addict, you’ll know what we mean. It was the finals of the NBA season and top sports broadcaster ESPNStar Sports’ yearly NBA finals party.

The aspiring New Jersey Nets were taking on the favored LA Lakers for the hotly contested championship, and the sure-to-be-thrilla of a game was going to be shown on the huge screen at Glorietta. The venue was all decked out with banners, balloons, posters, the works, just for this occasion. Cinema 6 of Glorietta was definitely the hottest ticket in town for all NBA fans and basketball "crazies" during the 2002 NBA finals party.

ESPNStar Sports and the NBA wanted to show its appreciation for the way local viewers turn on their TV sets for the NBA season. So what better way to reciprocate this devotion than to throw a party? And one with a capital "P" at that with all the NBA icons prancing about a cinema big screen!

Right from the escalator going up to the theater level, the mood was festive, with all the colorful bunting and welcome music. At the counter manned by ladies, one registered what team he was rooting for, got a goodie bag of giveaways and a couple of food stubs.

As the mob excitedly crowded into the theater, super hosts Bill Velasco and DJ Crystal, togged out in matching ESPN T-shirts, climbed onstage and got the ball rolling with a trivia game. Then, two groups of cheerleaders garbed respectively in Nets and Lakers’ colors sprang into action, sending deafening whistles and shouts from the onlookers.

With the celebratory mood in full gear, glow sticks suddenly turned the theater into a kaleidoscope of colored lights as people dipped into their goodie bags and discovered–what else besides sticks?–Wendy’s yummies!

The time for the game arrived, palanggas. Thanks to the digital satellite feed, the big screen made the competing teams really big. Shaq’s wrist looked gigantic! And Kobe’s lay-ups were really spectacular from this monster of a perspective! Fifteen minutes into the game, the Lakers seemed to have more people on their side. At least to moi, their voices overpowered the Nets’ cheering squad.

Half-time had the audience sinking into their bags where they found posters, key chains and even ESPN windbreakers. "Cool," agreed the crowd. Who was winning? But, amidst the rip-roaring fun, who really cared?

As the game wound down to its hair-raising finale, dahlings, it was clear the Nets were not going to be this year’s champ. If the shouting was loud during the first half, in the final half it was deafening! The Lakers’ fans went wild! And who could blame them? If Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls was the "Dynasty of the ’90s," the Lakers were obviously going to be this decade’s own dynasty.

Once the game was over, the crowd spilled out into the street with just one thought in mind: "What a game! When is the next one?"

Please drive sober and safely. Remember that speed kills! Have a great weekend, palanggas. See you.