A golden bash for our golden girl

Dishing time

One popular restaurant in the new Greenbelt is getting a bad reputation because of the food it is serving. One statuesque society lady recently had dinner there. She ordered what she was made to believe was one of the specialties of the house. Well, palanggas, to her shock, her order turned out to be "real bad." So bad that the lady promised "never to return." She said it all in three words: "The food sucks!" Ooops!

Naturellement, the loudest shouts of "Shame! Shame!" were aimed at actor and endorser Diether Ocampo who gave a tactless, mindless remark to a mob of music lovers at the NU 107 Rock Awards a couple of sleeps ago. He addressed the very same people who made him what he is today as "mga jologs" which could be interpreted as "kanto boys" or "istambays." In plain lingo, a bunch of bums!

When things got rough, the innocent one, Rikki Kwek, an ABS-CBN reporter and Diether’s co-presentor, got hit on the face with one of the things hurled on stage. Too bad whoever threw the empty water bottle or soft drink hadn’t aimed at the person who started that mess. Pity!

Two weeks ago, moi reported that two popular couples had gone their separate ways, with one of them denying it even if they have been spotted separately on several occasions. Well, palanggas, on the very day moi report came out, the two gents had a blast at a tres, tres popular night spot in town with their male gang partying with a bevy of beauties. They were like two tomcats on the prowl again! Ooops!

Did you also hear of that report last week about how those basketball players, whose work permits are being investigated, are claiming they are mestizos? They are now in a deeper fix, dahlings. When Sen. John Osmeña asked one of them, Andy Seigle, what particular town in Samar his mom hails from (since several of the players had claimed they were all from Samar), Andy S. answered, "In Tacloban." Honey, Tacloban is in Leyte! What a farce!

What is so irritating is that even in basketball, supposedly our national game, honesty is not the name of the game. So, do you wonder why our country has been named among the most corrupt in Asia?

Dedicated and brilliant personas, Tarlac Rep. Gilbert Teodoro and Speaker of the House Joe de Venecia are pushing hard for a parliamentary form of government. The move is absolutely admirable on their part because this can potentially cut down rampant corruption in the government and other high places. N’est ce pas? (as in, di bala?) Vote for the parliamentary form!

Did you also hear the dish about this beautiful couple in their thirties who belong to our town’s alta sociedad? They were happily married for several years and had a child but they’ve suddenly parted ways. Well, the dish goes that the pretty, pretty wife bid her good-looking hubby adios. He got the shock of his life when he found out his wife has been madly smitten by a younger, handsome, popular dude who was also linked to a pretty young socialite for a while. The latter were always seen together around Cosmo Manille’s hang-out of the rich, the Manila Polo Club.

Needless to say, the ones completely stunned are the parents of the now-former husband and the mom of the young handsome dude. This only goes to show, dahlings, that such things happen even in the best of familles.

And then there is this dish about either one or two personas who are super visible in everything they do. There is nothing wrong with that but somehow their wagging tongues have distressed and angered those who they have gossiped about. One example–if they hear a certain story, the next thing they do is to approach the persona being gossiped about. Then they will name the person who told them the info and add that the other person is spreading it around. They maliciously tell their hapless victims, "Alam mo, si Pedro (fictitious name) kinakalat niya sa lahat ito!" Well, what they didn’t expect was that " si Pedro" learned about how the wagging, tactless, trying-hard tongues were saying about Pedro, which naturellement made the actual Pedro hit the ceiling!

When you think about it, the two gossip-mongers must be forgiven. After all, it’s not the first time they have done this; they’ve done it to many others in the past. Well, what can you expect from the (fill in the blanks)?

Over and out!

* * *

When Belcro Marketing, Inc.’s brilliant chairperson, civic leader and fashionable Belen Lovina Ticzon Martel turned a golden 50, dahlings, famille and close pals gathered on the eve of her birthday for a super fun dinner-dance bash given by Belen’s husband, old-wealth business magnate Don Antonio Martel Jr. and their attractive daughter, debutante Antonia. The celebrator asked New Yorker and dear pal Josie Fernandez to organize the intimate and tres elegant bash at The Pavilion of the Martels’ posh upscale Edgewater, New Jersey address, Admiral Walk, along the Hudson River overlooking the gorgeous Manhattan skyline.

The superbly-prepared buffet assured the invitees of energy for a fun night of dancing, palanggas. As always, Belen M. sparkled in her gold St. John attire as she opened the dance floor. Seen rocking on the dance floor were Juliet Lovina Ticzon; Portia Santos with her sons, Raphael and Gabriel; businessman Robbie Puyat Martel with moi pal wife, eye-catching Melissa Mercado-Martel and their good-looking heirs, super eligible gent and magazine entrepreneurs Paolo, Nikki and Antonio III; Louie Mercado and socialite Vina Concepcion-M.; Willie and Josie Fernandez; Al del Rosario and his wife, Lorna and their children Mae and Jules; Domeng Ramos and his wife, cardiologist Dr. Linda Ramos; Toto Cian and his favorite doctor, Cora Cian; Henry and Emma Villareal and their daughter Giselle; Carlos Canlas; Shirley Ibañez; Kyla Ibañez; Senny and Remy de Leon; Mike and Aster Arguelles; Caroline Atanacio; still in cloud nine, honeymooners Glen and Shigeko Fernandez; plus other jetsetting personas.

The next day, palanggas, Belen M. celebrated her birthday with a dawn Mass at New York’s landmark, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where by the by Don Antonio and Belen were married by Rev. Fr. William Scafide, many years ago. This was also where their child, popular debutante Antonia was baptized. A quiet dinner followed at the super chic Oak Room of the ritzy Plaza Hotel with close relatives and pals.

It was indeed a fitting celebration for the always charming and tres elegant, statuesque Golden Girl, Queen for a Day, Belen Lovina Ticzon Martel.

A new TV technology

Renowned, world-class Philips Consumer Electronics (PCE), dahlings, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics companies, launched its Pixel Plus, the latest TV innovation that promises to revolutionize the way we watch TV.

Hotshot Philips executives were led by GM Angelo Valenton; newly-appointed Philips president and CEO, brilliant Med Mateo; and Singapore-based marketing consultant for Color TV, super charmer Michael Chang, who jetted in for the happening.

Naturellement, members of the press came in full force to see Philips’ new technology. Pixel Plus combines state-of-the-art digital image processing technologies to improve the image quality of everything from video games, DVD movies, to even ordinary TV signals.

"Philips has always been a pioneer in developing new technology for TV," explained Angelo V. "and our place as a major industry leader comes not just by bringing our consumers top-quality products but also by making sure we improve on these products to suit their changing needs and lifestyles."

Tres charmant Michael C. told the guests, "We say it is a resolution revolution because Pixel Plus provides viewers with images of incredible sharpness, natural details and motion smoothness never seen before on any conventional TVs."

To cap off the presentation, dahlings, the curtains were raised to reveal top models Isabel Roces and Kelly Davis watching movies on the Pixel Plus TV.

With its outstanding performance and sleek design, palanggas, Pixel Plus combines the best of Philips in one package. It’s just an amazing addition to a long line of Philips innovations developed to give credence to the company’s pledge to make things better.

For inquiries, palanggas, do call Elen Torres, Philips Consumer Electronics’ marketing communications supervisor at tel. no. (+632) 845-7878 or e-mail elena.1.torres.philips.com.

A glittery evening

Manille’s buying social pack, dahlings, again breezed into the elegant two-storey showroom of the chi-chi Borders for the unveiling of the store’s much-prized Christmas collection designed by no less than master interior designer and also a renowned floral architect, Rachy Cuna.

Those who share a passion for the good life were thrilled and eager to discover what Borders and design wiz Rachy C. had cooked up for the holidays this time around.

A colleague and pal of the store owner, la simpatica Alice Cruz, Rachy C. waved his magic wand to transform Borders into a wonderland filled with his unique concoctions–gold-spun Christmas trees; red berries; colorful beaded lanterns; sparkling capiz stars; golden bamboo twigs; butterflies; and acorns perfectly mixed and matched with the store’s one-of-a-kind export quality furniture.

Admiring the exquisite pieces and the enchanting living space setting, palanggas, were Women of Style and Taste Marissa Cojuangco; Maui Ledesma; Menchit Ongpin; Annie Young; Gianna Montinola; Debbie Tan; Lyn Revilla; Mardes Nicandro; Cecile Santos; Marie Villalon; and Nenen Pleno.

Definitely having a great time and joining in the holiday toast to Borders and Rachy C. were world-class furniture designers Bernice Montenegro; Southern gent Jonathan Matti; furniture enthusiasts Leo Almeria, Miguel and Romy Romero Salas; Allison David; Baby de la Cruz; Kim Nyggard; and Lifestyle Asia editor-in-chief, our fave Lisa with an "L" Ilarde- Cuenca; plus others like them too nice to mention.

Check out Borders, dahlings, at the ground floor of the GE Philippines Buildings, 2291 Pasong Tamo Ext. Makati.

Accolades galore

Months of uncertainty in the travel community, dahlings, following the tragic 9/11 event strained the airline industry including Philippine Airlines (PAL). From those "crunch-time" months emerged globe-trotters and die-hard supporters of our very own PAL. They have been undeniably responsible for the millions of dollar sales generated since April of last year.

This was one reason to celebrate, palanggas, and a grand celebration it was a full moon ago. Playing dinner hosts to travel industry heavyweights, PAL’s dedicated passenger sales department and very special invitees circulated with glass in hand around the grand ballroom of the Century Park Hotel.

Leading the hotshots, palanggas, were PAL’s vice chairman and treasurer Mariano Tanenglian and PAL’s board of director Harry Tan.

Four-way buffet tables were set at the foyer. The venue was packed with friends from Pan Pacific Travel, Inc. and that reliable and tres professional Uni-Orient Travel, Inc., which reaped the Diamond and Platinum International Sales Awards. Also present were our pals from Travel Proponents, Inc. who brought home the Platinum Award for domestic sales. Mingling with wine glasses of Sauvignon and Rouge were PAL’s former top asset in Paris, tall and suave, well-respected achiever Enrique Javier; mega country manager (Phils.) Henry So-Uy, EVP for Commercial Group and executive assistant to PAL’s chairman Lucio Tan, no less. The affair’s super head turners and charmers were the tres chic (Phils.) AVP for passenger sales Milagros Revilla and her pals, district sales managers Josefina Baena and Soledad Solleza.

PAL’s eye-catching movers and shakers, account executives and gorgeous flight attendants welcomed more party-goers from Horizon Travel & Tours; Travel Savers; Las Palmas Tours & Travel; Morning Star Travel; Satellite Travel; Ark Travel Express; Thomas Cook; Extra Mile Travel; and Q-Travel, Inc. who later each received a Gold Award.

Bituin Escalante, Ariel Rivera and Arnee Hidalgo added more dash to the bash. How could anyone miss the oh so vigorous voice of Bituin who electrified the crowd which included the handsome VP for sales Dave Lim and the stately AVP for Metro Manila and Luzon sales Miguel Estrada. The night then segued to equally adrenaline-packed swing numbers as the sounds of the Q & Q Band switched the spotlight on the other end of the ballroom.

It was definitely a perfect backdrop for the night as triumphant winners emerged and rocked the dance floor with swirls and shouts of "Victory!" given to our PAL that flies the friendliest skies, palanggas.

It was definitely a golden week with Belen Martel turning an elegant 50; Philip’s latest cool baby, Pixel Plus; Borders’ shining event; and our very own Philippine Airlines still flying higher and higher.

Stay cool, palanggas. See you.