Scenes from the Garden of Eden

The usual scene of hip chinos, cool pinstripes, power suits and ties at the new Greenbelt Park got a much needed "loosening up" during Ayala’s big Halloween ball. Personas in the most interesting costumes of every fantasia were seen around the gorgeous new mall cum park. Runaway brides and their bridesmaids in sneakers, Rainbow Brites, archangels, Count Draculas and Harry Potters, and other assorted characters filled up "The Garden of Eden."

Neon-bright giant mushrooms served as backdrops alongside the park’s lush greens and water fountains, setting the pace for the A Midsummer Night’s Dream theme that night. With the help of PR gent and columnist Tim Yap, Ayala Center held the event in cooperation with Globe Communications.

The mystical garden setting was conjured by designer par excellence, Jun Jun Ablaza. Several parts of the park were decorated with lounging setups by Greenbelt owners of shops like Firma, Kish, ABT Design, Pineapple and Bianca Luna. The setups are part of the new Greenbelt’s ongoing Green Lounge activities for the holidays.

The gathering of some of Cosmo Manille’s super DJs like BBC’s Edge Pamute, Latin Canteen’s Mike Constantino and Mystical Musical Merchants’ Mon Maramba, was enough reason to rock and party.

And what would a Halloween costume ball be like without a grand costume competition, palanggas? Ayala Land’s smart think-tank of twinkle-eyed beauty Winnie Nazareth, Firma’s Chito Vijandre, Wink’s one-of-a-kind designer Rhett Eala, and, naturellement, yours truly, were especially privileged to view as judges the myriad of costumed characters up close and personal.

Winners received fantastic prizes like a giant flat TV set, a Nokia 7650 from Globe, a gorgeous TechnoMarine watch, a Firma lamp, plus Shu Uemura and Prima Linea gift certificates. Apres the contest, winners were announced by the night’s "Eve," Shannen Torres. DJ Steve Mills took to the turntable and animated the rest of the early morning with R&B fare.

Indeed, it was a real blast Halloween happening Ayala came up with, palanggas. This was clearly seen on the fun, sober, smiling faces of Cosmo Manille’s darling set and the young society and Gen-texters gang who came in full fighting form.

The Garden of Eden ball is just one of the many events lined up this holiday season at the hard-to-beat Ayala Center.

Check out the Green Lounge nightly at the activity park. It features pieces from Greenbelt 3’s home design stores in a relaxing holiday outdoor setting.

Metrobank reaches 40

Metrobank marked 40 glorious years in the banking industry, dahlings. It celebrated the milestone with four days of fantastic happenings beginning with a photo/memorabilia exhibit entitled Forty Firsts a new moon ago.

The exhibit was opened by tall and articulate Diosdado Macapagal Jr., no less, the son and namesake of the former president who happened to open the doors of Metrobank four decades ago.

The celebrations were highlighted by the awarding ceremonies for the 2002 Outstanding Teachers. Twelve brilliant educators were chosen from a field of 222 candidates nationwide.

Former Education Secretary Raul Roco led the board of judges which included such hotshots as Associate Justice Reynato Puno; Marinduque Rep. Edmundo Reyes Jr.; Cyberdiyaryo editor Paulyn Sicam; CEU president Dr. Rosita Navarro; SGV chairman and managing partner Cesar Purisima; Tagaytay Mayor Francis Tolentino; and PRC chairperson Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, naturellement, was the guest of honor during the awards night. He presented the winners with trophies and cash prizes worth a cool P150,000 each.

Metrobank ended the fun celebration, palanggas, with the awarding of the Young Painters’ Annual Competition and an exhibit of the winning and selected entries this year.

Foie gras at the Prince Albert Rotisserie

With a luxurious, melts-in-your-mouth, buttery taste to-die-for, foie gras ("fat liver" in French) remains a favorite of discerning gourmets the world over, dahlings.

The ancient Egyptians were the ones who discovered that migrating geese and ducks had over-sized yet flavorful livers. These fowls are known to overfeed themselves to prepare for their long flights from cold to warmer climates. So the Egyptians captured and overfed the fowls with wild figs that resulted in enlarged, delicious livers that became popular also in Greece and Rome.

"Today, the French regions of Perigord, Alsace and Toulousse are considered the world’s best sources of foie gras. Goose and duck livers from these places have a rich, buttery taste owing to the flock’s special corn diet," superbly explained to moi by tres charmant, world-class wine connoisseur, Monsieur Jerome Philippon.
For the best velvety foie gras in Cosmo Manille, the Prince Albert Rotisserie of the Hotel InterContinental is still the place to beat. Loyal patrons swear that the hotel’s renowned executive chef Cyrille Soenen still whips up the most creative French duck liver recipes. His absolutely excellent choices: Duck Liver and Cepe Mushroom Raviolis with Truffle Oil Scented Chicken Consomme; Pan-fried Duck Liver coated with Hazelnut Crumbs and served with Pandesal on a bed of Mango and Blueberry Compote Salad; Duck Liver Terrine with Walnut Bread; Duck Liver Papillotte with Apples and Bacon; plus so much more.

Diners craving for that delightful fusion twist must try the new and yummy foie gras-filled lumpia and dimsun, a must with your soups. Also ask for the red wine cuvee Guillaume 2000.

The luscious foie gras specialties, palanggas, are available for lunch Monday to Friday, and for dinner Monday to Saturday at the Prince Albert Rotisserie until Nov. 23. Popular Sommelier Jerome Philippon will be around to present all those excellent wines from Southwestern France.

For reservations, call tel. no. 815-9711, local 261 to 263.

Check it out, dahlings, while the festival lasts. You won’t regret it, I promise.

Leave it to Ayala’s rah! rah! gang of movers and shakers to organize our town’s best spooky nights. What a night, palanggas!

See you.