Still gracious at 70

How does a respected, old-wealth Cosmo Manille society lady–who happens to be one of our town’s hostesses with the mostest in the year for 2002–go all-out to celebrate her 70th birthday?

Well, dahlings, world traveler Mely Concepcion-Hechanova really didn’t want to celebrate her big day this year but her children wouldn’t hear of it. The matriarch of the Concepcion industrial conglomerate who, as some business insiders put it, is "the real power behind the throne," was enjoying the early winter weather in Vancouver, Canada, when her heirs asked her to take the next jet to Manille because they had already sent out invitations for her 70th birthday.

"I thought it was going to be a small affair because many of our friends were either out of town or vacationing abroad," Mely said.

But as it turned out, over 800 invitees filled the huge, cool NBC Tent at The Fort, palanggas, for Mely’s birthday bash. In formal evening wear and priceless jewelry, Manille’s elite brigade greeted the gracious birthday celebrator. Mely showed no signs of jet lag as she warmly greeted our town’s namedroppables belonging to the alta café sociedad in an eye-catching emerald gown designed by the Prince of Fashion, Inno Sotto, no less, matched with emeralds!

Mely’s hubby, business magnate Paing Hechanova, was as dapper as when he was a hardcourt heartthrob playing for the UST Goldies in the UAAP. He cut a smart figure in a dark suit. The Hechanova children also wore shades of emerald: eldest daughter, vivaciously adorable Renna, wife of popular businessman Ed Angeles, a senior executive in the family-owned Concepcion Industries; only son, Raffy and his wife, attractive Southern belle with the four B’s Gina Gabaldon; workaholic Raissa, married to investment banker Ramon Posadas who works at Citibank; and youngest daughter Riana whose hubby Ramon Trajano is a top exec of Ayala Healthcare.

Widely regarded as one of Manille’s best party hostesses, Mely and her close pal Mary Prieto personally taste-tested and approved the menu from that famous caterer, Via Mare, palanggas. Another bosom chum, Rica Gonzalez-Garcia, spent hours with Toni Parsons making sure the decor was memorable. The NBC Tent looked like a lush fruit orchard with hundreds of red apples tied on the branches of tall driftwood. Repeating the emerald and crimson motif, the dance floor was strewn with petals of red roses.

Johnny Litton emceed the short program which began with a delightful video showing the high points of Mely and Paing’s lives with their children and Mely’s brothers Joe Jr. and Ronnie Concepcion (youngest brother Rene was out of the country).

Ernie Pasamba provided dinner sounds and the popular Q & A Band played swinging music for the dancing, palanggas, which followed the excellently prepared dinner. In lieu of gifts, Mely’s gang made donations to the PGH Pediatric Ward.

The invitees were a formidable mix of old rich and tycoons: Benpres Holdings’ Oscar Lopez and his regal wife, Connie L.; Rustan’s Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr.; ABS-CBN’s Freddie Garcia; diplomats Singaporean Ambassador Jacky Foo and Ambassador Theo Arnold of The Netherlands; glamorous high-society ladies, Imelda Cojuangco, Menchu de las Alas-Concepcion, Josie Padilla-Rufino, Baby Araneta Fores, Inday Lacson Gabaldon, Maridol Sequera Mabanta, Edith Nakpil-Rabat and Mellie Ablaza; Mely’s colleagues from her numerous charity groups led by sisters two, Nene Leonor and Fe Rodriguez; FCCP’s Letty Bonoan; Sayaw Foundation’s Consul of Belize Helen Ong; Catholic Women’s Club’s Letty Syquia and Pitang Tiongson; the celebrator’s super pals from way back, Marlyn Santos-Velayo; PDI chair Marixi Rufino Prieto; Nenuca Araneta-Blardony; Buda de Leon-Samson; our palangga, Tere Rufino-Litton; former Trade Secretary Jose Pardo; former QC Mayor Mel Mathay Jr. and former Solicitor-General Frank Chavez.

Apres all the excitement, entertaining and dancing till way past 2 a.m. (would you believe?) Mely and Paing and their whole famille jetted off to Shanghai, China for a well-deserved rest!

Wow! What a dazzling night for our Queen for a Day, Mely Hechanova!

Cheers, palangga!

When ladies indulge

"Breathtaking!"gushed Maryann Lumen, one of the invitees, dahlings, who attended the Ultimate Dove Moment at Fort Bonifacio’s Kasalikasan Gardens.

"What a production!" Carmita Francisco exclaimed while Marijo Reyes Ferraren urged, "You must do a repeat!"

The ladies who were privileged to experience a night of pampering and well-being didn’t know what to expect when they received the invitation offering such tempting indulgences as massage therapy by physical therapists of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary and the Orient Day Spa, meditation the Raja Yoga way by Brahma Kumaris, and Pure Yoga instruction by Prakash, Mandarin Oriental resident yogi.

Chat Silayan, dahlings, spoke about the benefits of being physically and spiritually fit to an audience seated on banig mats.

Comfort food was lovingly prepared by Marcus Gfeller’s Aqua restaurant, served with Ana Ugarte’s soya milk drink. No one could resist the good old taho served the classic way.

Jeannie Goulbourn and daughter Katrina with their pals, the Franciscan Sisters. Rita Dy, Ping Valencia and Tina Jacinto opted for a relaxing back massage. Elsa Payumo dropped by in an all-black ostrich-trimmed outfit. Also spotted were Lisa Gokongwei; Nini Licaros; Eva Abesamis; Vicky Cuisia and daughter Ina; Therese Santos; international jeweler Jul Dizon; Maan Hontiveros and Nina Romualdez; Marilen Espiritu; and Menchu Henson. Dove’s senior brand manager Alex Tacderas came with his team, brand manager Trina Almario and support staff Gerry Sioco.

When Cory Quirino took center stage to conduct an affirmation, dahlings, everyone stood up to recite the "Power of One," a strong covenant empowering oneself to be whole, to love, to heal and to lead. Dressed like a Grecian goddess, Cory mesmerized the guests.

What a fabi night at the birthday party of Mely Hechanova and at the Ultimate Dove Moment with a yoga session, palanggas.

See you!