Manila’s Five Loveliest 2003

Giving others hope, dahlings, is a grand gesture of charity. This is the mission of that group that really cares, the Love 14 Foundation. Now on its 14th year, the foundation works tirelessly to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Love 14 Foundation officers, palanggas, include civic-oriented personas Nini Licaros, chairperson; Irene Martel-Francisco, president; Therese Santos, vice president; Nini Valdez, secretary; Mel Meer, treasurer; Donnie Ramirez, PR officer; and trustees Becky Garcia, Frederick Go, Mario Katigbak, Joanne Matschuck, Nina Herrera and moi.

The foundation has given financial assistance worth hundreds of thousands of pesos to the following institutions: the Stepping Stone Learning Center wards for the Handicapped in Makati City, the abandoned children of the Home for the Angels, and the Bethlehem House of Bread, a temporary shelter for malnourished children in Baliuag, Bulacan.

In 1991, dahlings, the foundation raised funds to upgrade the Burn Unit of the Philippine General Hospital. Two years later, the foundation bought specialized equipment needed by burn victims. From 1996 to 2000, the foundation supported the health program and provided necessary equipment for the Ospital ng Makati. It also assised the Gintong Pangarap Foundation which provides care for terminally ill indigent patients 15 years old and below at the Ospital ng Makati.

Last year, in collaboration with the world- renowned jewelry house Bvlgari and Manila’s Five Loveliest 2002 (Nicole Jacinto; Karina Mantolino; Gabie Santiago; Cara Sarmiento and Ella Villanueva), the Love 14/Bvlgari Scholarship Foundation was launched. The goal was to raise enough funds to send 14 young and deserving but financially-challenged students through college. The response was tres overwhelming and the objective has now become a reality. Here are the 14 scholars: Diana Jean Infante (Centro Escolar University); Jovilly Donna Vertulfo (Ateneo de Manila University); Baby Molina Gandala and Eleuterio Mayor Jr. (Colegio de San Juan de Letran); Cathleen Ann Enrera and Flora Mae Josol (Philippine Christian University); Al Farigh Bato and Mary June Tesoro (Far Eastern University), Windylyn Jeruz and Lovelyn Hidalgo (Adamson University); Mary Cresilda Pesito and Cherry Lynn Ordoña (University of Santo Tomas); Napoleon Paul Golez and Jovencent Cabotage (University of the East). The respective deans of the colleges the students are enrolled in were the ones who selected the students, ensuring that they are truly qualified.

This year, five hip and well-bred young ladies embodying the ideals and aspirations of the Love 14 Foundation were presented during a grand Gala Night Presentation. The event was held a full moon ago at the elegant, one-of-a-kind Makati Shangri-La’s Rizal Ballroom. The special event featured special performances from the world-renowned Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Ruggero Barbieri; prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso of Ballet Manila; Iwi Laurel; and superb emcee, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. The world-class artists made the night one that will be long-remembered.

The elegant chi-chi affair drew mega namedroppables from the diplomatic corps, politics, business, academe, entertainment, plus the country’s outstanding socialites, naturellement.

As major presentor and sponsor, Bvlgari’s top-of-the-line gent, multitalented Mario Katigbak, did wonders for the decor and gala presentation which showcased the entrancing ne Bvlgari B. Zero1 collection of watches and jewelry. The collection’s contemporary design enhanced the femininity and understated elegance of the five young ladies. Bvlgari’s mega managing director Mario Emprin Gilardine and wholesale manager Wong Wei Ling, both of Bvlgari South Pacific, jetted in just for the grand annual happening.

Manila’s Five Loveliest 2003 are five vibrant and talented personas brimming with energy, a passion for life, and optimism for the future. These young ladies look forward to making a difference in the lives of their underprivileged countrymen. They hope to contribute to nation-building as a whole.

The five articulate super head turners with the four B’s (as in beauty, brains, breeding and bucks) are 19-year-old Marie Camille Therese "Tracy" Abad, the daughter of Antonio Abad III and Dulce Abad; 19-year-old Pamela Kathleen Bautista Ayson, the daughter of Serge Ayson and Yolly Bautista Ayson; 17-year-old Maria Isabel Dominique Floirendo Lagdameo, the daughter of Antonio Lagdameo and Linda Floirendo Lagdameo; 18-year-old Michelle de la Paz Robles, the daughter of Exequiel Robles and Matilde de la Paz Robles; and 22-year-old Christine Marianne Tañada Yam, the daughter of Carlos Yam and Tessie Tañada.

Love 14 Foundation reaffirms its commitment to serve and fulfill its mission of love and to continue the cycle of hope, palanggas.

‘Singapore Snapshots’

Popular Singapore Airlines, dahlings, and the one-of- a-kind, hard-to-beat Singapore Tourism Board (STB), is offering an irresistible, must-take package called "Singapore Snapshots" in tune with MTV’s first-ever fabi coffee-table book, Brave the Heat.

Unbelievably priced at $333, the package includes round-trip economy fare with three-night accommodation (based on twin share), daily breakfast, airport transfers and half-day city tour now. That’s a real cool treat, dahlings! One also gets the chance to win round-trip economy class tickets to Singapore by joining a fun photo contest.

Brave the Heat’s launch was attended by hotshot society, media and political personas, plus some of Cosmo Manille’s freshest and most beautiful faces. They were led by the STB’s brilliant "secret weapons," vivacious workasonic Shirley Yeong and tall, smart, and witty Nicholas Lee, naturellement.

A bevy of namedroppables also graced the affair, palanggas, among them were tres popular Singaporean Ambassador Jacky Foo; Singapore Embassy’s Counselor, eligible bachelor Paul Koh; Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) well-respected gent of all seasons, GM David Lau; SIA’s marketing communications manager, super asset, beauty and brains Rita Dy; and STB’s shining PR agency, Nancy Harel & Associates, Inc., president/CEO Nancy Harel.

VIP guests included Presidential Daughter Luli Arroyo; handsome Energy Secretary Vincent Perez; Justice Undersecretary, brilliant lawyer Manuel Teehankee; and Presidential Staff Director Ferdinand Cui.

This super happening sponsored by the Singapore Embassy, Singapore Airlines, and naturellement, Dish, featured world-class beauties and VJs Donita Rose and Sarah Meier.

Brave the Heat, the MTV coffee-table book, is a colorful showcase of trendy MTV and dynamic Singapore. Featured in the book are our very own beautiful babes Donita Rose, Belinda Panelo and Sarah Meier, tall, good-looking cool dude, KC Montero, other MTV VJs, Utt, Shanty and Belinda Lee in cool poses.

Check out Brave the Heat now at all National Bookstores and other major Metro Manila bookstores, premier hotels and magazine stands. "Singapore Snapshots" was beautifully introduced in the STB’s introduction to the coffee-table book.

For more details on Singapore Airlines’ packages and photo contest, call SIA’s tour desk at tel. no. 751-5151 to 52 with ext. 4005/6.

Do smile and be happy. See you!