Out with the old, in with the new

"Parties are just so much more fun when you enjoy it with all these beautiful people!" gushed a grand lady from North Forbes who was dripping with aquamarines and diamonds. "And I don’t mind the crush of people at all. It just makes things a little more... sweaty!" She said all that with a delightful little shiver, dahlings. But she definitely had no reason to complain when the "crush of beautiful people" crowding the gorgeously decorated lobby of still the best place for a new year blast, The Peninsula Manila, had enough pedigrees (ancient, nouveau and dubious); bank accounts; glitzy rocks; and pinned, tucked, sucked and pulled bodies that would have sent Liz Smith into spasmodic heaven 10 times over in all social-climbing approval, palanggas!

The whole of tout Cosmo Manille’s hot social pack flocked to The Peninsula Manila’s New Year’s Eve Grand Ball to party and welcome 2003. Ladies in their expensive gowns (and industrial-strength rocks) and gentlemen in black ties filled the lobby and all the restos in the hotel. You just have to hand it to The Pen’s rah! rah! team who really knows how to party extravagantly, whole-heartedly and unabashedly.

You can just imagine the splendor of the celebrity hotshots present. This was one evening where one was guaranteed a well-dressed fashionable crowd. While some sat in a unique, strategic position which allowed them to check out each guest at least once during the night, at times they thought they were witnessing a parade of the "best of the best" in New Year’s Eve finery.

But there were those who towered over the already decked-out throng, starting off with a great-looking Marivic Rufino and Paeng Buenaventura who are always a handsome pair. Then, there was Nini Licaros, fresh from her Boracay Christmas Holiday trip, who made her way to her table, luminous in pearls and in a Bob Mackie. She was accompanied by her hubby, mega businessman Abe and their two sons, Angelo and Andrew.

Naturellement, we also couldn’t miss debonair Vic Reyes with his Boling Tuason-R.; Gen. Rafael Ileto and popular Rep. Raul Villareal with his super fashionable wife, Lita in an eye-catching fire engine-red Aureo Alonzo.

Others in our great-to-look-at list were gorgeous beauty and brains Marilu Batchelor, ravishing in a blue Rajo Laurel gown strewn with swarovski crystals. With her, of course, was hubby, The Peninsula Manila’s muy guapo GM David Batchelor.

Moi also zoomed in on Doody Tuason; Marissa Rocha wearing an Inno Sotto; Lilibeth Fernandez, a knock-out in Jessica McClintock outfit; Marissa Fenton, slinky in a filmy black Max Mara studio number; and Cosmo Manille’s newest fashion princess, Mich Dulce, looking every inch like a doll in one of her signature shredded chiffon creations paired with a Vivienne Westwood jacket.

In addition to the parade of fashionable personas, there were business hotshot heavyweights–RCBC’s Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco; Peter Go-Pailan escorting his wife Margaret; GUESS USA’s Michel Stamati; and Arthur Yang.

As guests sipped their Peninsula Champagne Deutz, they couldn’t help but marvel at the floor-to-ceiling tropical ballroom decor in the bi-level Lobby space. Applause goes to The Pen’s creative director Anna Fay Rosal and her Flower Shop team! Gen. Rafael Ileto couldn’t keep from gushing.

Now, who else was there? There was Framie Manotoc in a tight embrace with her one-and-only Gary M.; Caroline Dimond beside her hubby, UK Ambassador Paul Dimond; Jorge and Letty Lopez-Jorman with close pals, Dutch Ambassador Theo Arnold and his wife, tall, exotic beauty Kessara A.; and naturellement, Andy Liboro with his adorable wife, Tereret Tambunting-Liboro.

Perennial Pen favorites Frank and Cora Yulo-Ebdalin danced till they dropped for hours to the music of Hyperbeat, Nonoy Lopez Band and Shoop, as did Tito and Marit Colome-Yuchengco; Lolita Mirpuri and Zeny Cabral; former Quezon province Gov. Eddie and Emy Rodriguez; and Cheding and Jun Arroyo.

Since this was a Peninsula party, naturellement, The Pen’s distinguished gentleman P.L. Lim and his fascinating wife, Madeleine (with a new, great hairdo) held court at their table. So did the Rufino royals– Assunta, Joey, Ching, Junn and Ruffus Rufino along with BR and Michelle Lim and their two boys, Bryan and Brent.

Nellie Bengzon chatted into the New Year with her favorite physicians, Dr. Adolfo Belosillo and Drs. Amelia and Manuel Catalan of Carmona, Cavite.

Head turners of the Night were definitely top-of-the-line singer Vina Morales and Lyn Ching. Other hotshot namedroppables included the Brioneses; Duartes; Arroyos; Limjocos; Oblifias; Romualdezes; Pastors; Katigbaks; Olbeses; Lopezes; Saldañas; Balquieders; Sunicos; Liboros; Aysons; Lichaucos; Mathays; Tambuntings; Romulos; Carloses; De Leons; plus so many others like them who welcomed the new year with another spectacular bash at The Peninsula Manila.

Can’t wait for the next one, palanggas.

Two thumbs up

The popular Jacob’s Creek unanimously received high marks from Cosmo Manille’s true wine connoisseurs, dahlings, during the recent Grand Wine Experience at the swinging Manila Peninsula Hotel.

With an amazing array of wines from all over the world, Jacob’s Creek stood out with its fresh, fruit-driven, unpretentious, quintessentially Australian style.

"Jacob’s Creek is known worldwide for its authentic and consistently fruity flavor. (It offers) great value for one’s money and is always a welcome gift," said Edna Diaz, GM of Bestworld Beverages, the local distributor of the Jacob’s Creek range.

"I especially like the Shiraz Cabernet. Mmmm!" exclaimed Bill Vincent, GM of Holiday Inn Manila.

Now you know why Jacob’s Creek is a mainstay of the local hotel row from Westin Philippine Plaza to Mandarin Oriental and the Hyatt Regency, and why it is tres popular in most soirees of the chi-chi embassy row, palanggas.

The unpretentious Jacob’s Creek has been reaping awards. Its winemaker Philip Laffer was chosen "Winemaker of the Year" by Gourmet Traveler Wine and that airline from down under, Qantas Airlines, no less.

Reliable and super credible just like his wine, Philip Laffer is scheduled to visit Manille early this year. "And we’ll drink to that!" said on of the most knowledgeable of wine connoisseurs, Ralph Joseph, who is the man behind the Grand Wine Experience. Well, dahlings, now you know why anyone who knows anything about superb wine and liquor rushes to Ralph’s popular wine shop, Ralph Liquor.

Leave it to The Pen GM and his excellent team to come up with the best partying place for new years and one of Cosmo Manille’s most in-demand wine.

Drive safely and do drink moderately, palanggas.

See you.