Fly miles ahead of the competition

The elegant, eye-catching Quezon Ballroom of the colossal Shangri-La Hotel, Makati was the witness to the gathering of our town’s hotshot heavyweights in the business world together with VIPs and celebs who share one thing in common, dahlings, they are definitely frequent fliers of Asia’s first Philippine Airlines (PAL), no less. Being PAL’s most loyal customers, they were also the first to be presented the flag carrier’s new and improved frequent flier program called, "The Mabuhay Miles," which has more to offer to its Elite and Premier Elite members.

The launch, palanggas, was a happening of songs, entertainment and naturellement, rewards, as PAL’s well-respected and COO Avelino Zapanta welcomed the almost 500 invitees who attended the event.

This super successful affair brought together its valued members led by its Million Milers, Friedrick Jahns; David Tan; Nand Prasad; and George Drysdale; its terrific HSBC co-brand credit card partner for Mabuhay Miles Visa; hotels; resorts; and car rental partners, as well as its program partners for the new Mabuhay Miles Sportsplus Program; and top travel agents, natch.

PAL jetted in MTV’s perky, head turner VJ Donita Rose from Singapore, who perfectly hosted this special event. Excellent entertainment was provided by that sultry song bird Vernie Varga and Cosmo Manille’s top three tenors, Nolyn Cabahug, Robert Seña and Lemuel de la Cruz. The highlight of this successful happening was the grand raffle prizes consisting of Business Class air fare cum hotel accommodations at the Peninsula Bangkok; Marco Polo Saigon and Marco Polo Hong Kong. PAL also gave away return Business Class tickets from Australia and Guam.

An excellent choice of heavy cocktail finger food was excellently prepared by Shangri-La Hotel’s talented chefs. Wines and spirits poured like rain, palanggas, needless to say happily noticing the smashing success of this affair were PAL’s mega hosts, like president Lino Zapanta; EVP Henry So; dynamic and dedicated original workaholic, VP for corporate communications, palangga, Rolando Estabillo, with that vivacious hostess with the most of the affair, AVP Joy Lynn Pasiliao; and tall handsome, workasonic country manager Enrique "Jing" Javier; plus the Mabuhay Miles rah! rah! team.

My zooming eagle eyes couldn’t miss such hotshots as HSBC’s program partners, led by its CEO Paul Lawrence; SVP for personal financial services Peter Yeates; and SVP for marketing James Benoit. Then there was the hotel bunch, headed by that young, dynamic beauty and brains, Southern belle, Marco Polo Hotels’ top regional sales manager Undine Homena; always with a smile and a terrific disposition, PAL’s staff manager for publication, Rene Soliman; Boracay Regency’s Mary Ann Ong; Century Park’s Jessie Rivera; Days Hotel’s Rey Concepcion; Premier Wines and Spirits’ Maricris Tan and Fran Ribano; Lorenzo’s Boracay’s Danilo Lorenzo; Samsonite’s Susan Thai; Shangri-La Hotel, Makati super hotshot, dedicated persona, well-respected GM Richard Riley and fun Peggy Angeles; Audi’s Frederick de Guzman; Forty Winks’ James Murrihy; UAE Mercator’s Patricia Eadon; hot Newsweek’s Cory Ramos; PDI’s Raul Marcelo and our pal Donnie Ramirez; Asia Brewery’s Michael Tan; Air Ads’ Jose Mari Roa; ABS-CBN’s Monchet Olivez; IBM’s Vic Silvino; Basic Holdings’ "young dragon" Lucio Tan Jr.; our very own hot, hot namedroppables Philippine STAR publisher and chairman Max Soliven and vibrant EVP Grace Glory Go; PLDT’s Enriquez Perez; Felino Falafox; What On’s Hertz Murray; CCAK Trading’s Bernard Floedl; Mizuno’s Lovell Gopez; Friday’s Boracay’s Apple Manubay; and Siguion Reyna Law’s Leo Siguion Reyna.

A partnership with the world’s local bank, the world-class HSBC, palanggas, gives travelers another reward opportunity to earn more miles—faster. The Mabuhay Miles Visa from HSBC allows card holders to earn tons of bonus points for all their card spend, including gas, groceries and medicine, or whatever. Every P45 charged to the card, one earns a bonus point which is equivalent to one mile. Definitely a great card, moi got one and have used it on my latest trip to China, so imagine how those miles are rolling in.

But this didn’t end here, palanggas, Mabuhay Miles’ next big bash is all set to happen in Cebu. Be there when it unfolds!

Brave The Heat

Check out MTV’s first-ever super eye-catching coffee-table book, dahling, entitled, Brave the Heart. It’s hot off the press, with its successful launch at one of the hottest places in town, Dish at the Power Plant Mall, during a new moon, having well-attended by prominent society, media and political figures along with some Manille’s freshest and most beautiful faces.

Singapore’s gain and Cosmo Manille’s loss, renowned VJs and beauties, Donita Rose and Manille gorgeous babe Sarah Meier graced the fun happening, palanggas, which was hosted and organized by the fantastic, hard-to-beat Singapore Tourism Board (STB), no less. The stunning pair welcomed the crowd which was treated to a sumptuous fusion-feast of "East meets West," and entertained with free henna tattoos, tarot card sessions and Chinese calligraphy. Later on as the party got hotter, Donita and Sarah were busy signing autographs for the invitees who purchased limited copies of the MTV book, with all the proceeds going to the UNICEF.

The book is a colorful fusion of trendy MTV and Singapore, Asia’s cosmopolitan and dynamic, Lion City. Our very own Donita Rose; Belinda Panelo; Sarah Meier; and KC Montero joined other MTV VJs, Utt; Shanty; and Belinda Lee, in seducing the camera while exploring over 30 locations in that modern city-state. Catch glimpses of urban scenes, ethnic districts like Little India and Chinatown, along with snapshots of the great outdoors at the Singapore Zoological Gardens, and at the Jurong Bird Park. Brave the Heat exposes the VJs in a more playful, and sometimes sultry-light, palanggas, as they parade in eye-catching outfits, donning big hair and fancy hats, in true MTV style.

You are now able to flip through its pages yourself, by purchasing a copy at a cool P450, available at National Bookstore outlets and other major bookstores, premier hotels and magazine stands all over Cosmo Manille.

The front cover features the happy face of famous VJ Belinda Panelo, finishing off a dripping ice cream, inviting you inside its pages for a sticky, sweet and glamorous summer day, "Braving the Heat" in Singaporean style.

The launch was sponsored in part by Dish, the Singapore Embassy, and world-class Singapore Airlines.

As an added treat, Singapore Airlines, together with the Singapore Tourism Board, is now offering an irresistible package called, "Singapore Snapshots," in tune with the new book. For only $333, you’ll get round-trip economy fare, three-night accommodation (based on twin-share), daily breakfast, airport transfers and a half-day city tour. To top it all, dahlings, you’ll also get the chance to win round-trip economy class tickets to Singapore by joining a photo contest.

Interested? Well, do hurry and call Singapore Airlines’ Tour Desk at tel. no. 751-5151 to 52 ext. 4005/6 for more details.

Christmas bazaar

Venture 7, dahling, was formed by seven dynamic business and civic-minded women. These ladies were past presidents, or officers of well-known organizations. This same gang has been involved in many successful bazaars and fund-raising activities.

Since Christmas season is fast approaching, just a couple of sleeps away, Venture 7 will hold its first Christmas Bazaar 2002 on, take note, palanggas, Oct. 6 and Dec. 8, both Sundays at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel InterContinental Manila, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Items ranging from imported wears for everyone; fashion accessories; toys, jewelry; icons; bags; food stalls; plus great unique items from Israel, Greece, Italy, China, Vietnam, Thailand and the UK. These items will be on sale at, I was told, "unbelievable affordable prices" and for extras, a free trip to Hong Kong awaits lucky customers.

Some of the bazaar participants are Rustan’s Department Store; Casa Amarillo; Play & Display; Justin’s Treasures; Home Express; T-Bags; Soul Swimwear; Country Favorites; Asiacrafts; Sifra Arts; and many young movers and shakers, all entrepreneurs on the rise, such as Ana Lagdameo; Myra Wassmer; Marvie Young; Tracy Poblete; Liezel Enriquez; Roselyn Tiangco; Cathy Yu; and Laura Lim.

Venture 7 is composed of (the gang of seven), naturellement, Pilie Aquino; Fanny Blanco, bazaar’s chairperson; Celine Bautista; Lita Celano; Chit Gohu; Fortune Ledesma; and Linda Villadelgado. Part of the bazaar’s proceeds will go to each of their favorite charity, like Elsi Gaches Village and Makabata Foundation.

Should be a fun way of spending Sunday and for a good cause at that. Check them out, people who know what bargain one can find.

PAL’s Mabuhay Miles with HSBC Visa card will definitely take you a long way, palanggas. And what better way to brave the heat than the MTV Style, n’est ce pas?

Do smile and be happy. See you.