All that jazz

Nuvo became a melting pot for almost 600 guests who recently enjoyed the music of The Chillout Project’s Anton Ramos and free flowing white and red wines from Rene Barbier.

The party started with a dinner for friends and trade partners of ADP Industries Corp. (ADPIC) which exclusively distributes Rene Barbier Wines. Diners were treated to fresh and light Mediterranean red and white wines and the fuller-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay varietals.

Pinky Webb co-hosted with the wine house’s marketing manager, Aaron Palileo. Anton Ramos also spoke of a Chillout Project Compilation CD which he developed especially for Rene Barbier. A gift certificate to a weekend drive of the new BMW 3 Series was raffled off and won by Carla Sibal.

Copies of the limited edition Rene Barbier Jazz Lounge were given out. Premium Rene Barbier wines shipped for the dinner were uncorked and served by Sommeliers’ Honey Obusan, Joanna Serrano and Mariam Uy Corral.

After dinner, DJ Joseph of Couchlab kicked off the party with lounge music shortly before Anton Ramos played his. Guests enjoyed both music and wines all throughout the night.

Seen at the event were Cory Quirino, ETC Channel’s new VJ Sam Oh, ADPIC’s Arthur and Vangee Palileo, Prince of Jaipur’s Max Talreja, Citibank’s Benjie Oliva, Carmina Sanchez, Jayne Yu, Plinky Recto, Aliya Parcs, Embassy’s Erik Cua, Dunhill’s Mico Pascual and DJ Karl Ty.

Some lucky guests took home gift packs of Rene Barbier wine and the Jazz Lounge CD.

Coming home to perfection

A perfect combination of lush natural surroundings and modern amenities is something rare for urbanites. Thus they flocked to Serendra Pavilion in Bonifacio Global City to witness the development of this prestigious condominium from Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) and Community Innovations, Inc. (CII).

Serendra treated guests to an exclusive night of art, beauty, music and a high-end metropolitan lifestyle in a party called Coming Home to Perfection.

Welcoming guests were Ayala Land, Inc. SVP and Community Innovations, Inc. president Angie Lacson and Ayala Land VP for sales and marketing Rene Almendras.

A mini gallery featured impressive post-modern paintings and sculptures contributed by Filipino masters Ben Cabrera and Malang and National Artist Arturo Luz.

In another wing of the pavilion were exquisitely crafted jewelry and luxury timepieces by Park Lane Jewelers alongside ladies’ evening clothing by designer Rhett Eala.

Guests were treated to wine and cheese and live music from violinist Jay Cayuca whose music accompanied a ballet performance and a fashion show. TV show personality Suzie Entrata-Abrera then explained the real estate masterpiece of Serendra.

Angie Lacson further explained: "In Serendra, we have combined the best of European community planning with Filipino warmth and sensibility. This will be a complete family sanctuary, bordered by nature, abundant with facilities, seemingly a world apart from the busy cityscape yet just a few minutes away from it all. Nowhere else can you see such a balance of nature, perfect amenities and a prime location."

Guests also toured the eight fully-furnished model units. Some bedroom units are in a community enclosed by nature yet firmly at the heart of the city.

Masculine Manila

It’s a fact: Men’s skin has higher excess oil levels and more excess dryness than women’s. Zirh was created primarily to address the skincare requirements of the discerning modern urban male. It was created solely as a male skin brand and not as a spin-off male brand from an existing line.

Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, Fred Durst, James Gandolfini, Donnie Wahlberg, Grant Hill, and the cast of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy have become loyal users of Zirh’s cleansing, treatment, anti-aging, shaving, hair and body care and fragrance lines.

Zirh was launched in the country with a "Rat Pack" themed event at Rockwell Powerplant’s fountain area. A live big band belted out Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin’s classic hits as guests enjoyed food from Teak and drinks from Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Raffle prizes like DKNY and Emporio Armani timepieces from L-Time Studio were given to lucky attendees, plus Zirh gift packs and other fragrances distributed by Luxasia Philippines.

Zirh’s guests of honor were shuttled to Rockwell by Jaguars as they were introduced by host Chinggay Andrada. The five individuals who exemplify the values of the Zirh man were Studio 23’s supervising producer for sports and entertainment content Itos Valdes, basketball player Will Antonio, Skyphone president Jose Moreno, MTV Philippines director of sales Rod Nepomuceno and photographer Victor Consunji.

The English floral collection

The Shangri-La Mall has a semblance of a romantic English countryside as Crabtree & Evelyn (C & E) recently launched its new English Floral Collection. Fresh English flowers Wisteria, Freesia, Lily of the Valley and the Evelyn Rose were flown in from Europe to complete the look.

Fragrances inspired by the scent of these English flowers took the spotlight as did the Crabtree & Evelyn women of the evening: fashion designer Katrina Golbourn-Feist, accessory designer Amina Aranaz-Alunan, museum curator Mia Lauchengco and designer and editor Carla Sibal.

"We carry unique, award-winning products with an English heritage," said Rob Ditchfield, Global CEO of the company, who flew in especially for the event. Crabtree & Evelyn Philippines sales and marketing director Diana Lorenzo described the brand’s wide assortment of bath, body and lifestyle products and said the products add "pizzazz to the simple things in life." 

Raymond Lauchengco hosted the event and rendered a medley of Broadway songs. Also seen were Crabtree & Evelyn’s director for Asia Pacific Margaret Chung, regional manager Mei Leong, marketing and communications manager Winnie Wu, special patrons Norma Ferreras, Junji Olvina, Khey Olayvar, Edna Tupas, Marivic Goy and Fe Moran.

The collection is available in eau de parfum, eau de toilette, bath and shower gels, body lotions, perfumed bath soaps, dusting powders, room sprays and decorative candles.

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(E-mail me at [email protected])