Romance in Barcelona!

A chance meeting that seemed to have been written in the heavens bode well for successful young professionals Juan Claudio "Jamesy" Laya and Kate Elizabeth Ansbro, who were recently married at Santuario de San Antonio. The romantic city of Barcelona, Spain was an appropriate setting for this love story, which started when Jamesy and Kate met at the IESE Business School. Both were enrolling in the MBA program – Jamesy after completing Management Engineering at Ateneo and Kate after law school at Cambridge University in England (she topped the UK examination in property law). Graduate schools are not always study and once, while on a date to popular bar-restaurant La Villa, Jamesy and Kate had their first kiss. Jamesy returned as excited as a little boy, reported a friend. In 2004, a year after IESE, the two were engaged.

Their wedding day was truly special. Close to 50 guests of 20 nationalities flew in from abroad. Jaime Laya, the groom’s father, welcomed Kate’s family who hails from England. Kate glided up the aisle in a beautiful Jojie Lloren creation, as nine-foot palaspas woven at Villa Escudero under the personal supervision of Don Ado Escudero, danced in the breeze to the booming organ music. The Swiss chef of the Manila Hotel prepared the dinner at the hotel’s Maynilad Ballroom and the Spirit of ’67 kept the guests rocking and swinging till midnight.

Have a blessed married life, Jamesy and Kate!

Family time amongst the pines

Baguio’s prime forest resort destination, Camp John Hay, was the center for family activities during the Holy Week. Stations of the Cross were set up amidst the two-kilometer Eco-Trail, where the serene and verdant surroundings allowed families to pray in peace and commune with nature at the same time. A unique Easter fun activity was also tried out for the first time – the Easter Dog Hike and Egg Hunt. This event required tandems of children and their dogs to search the Eco-Trail for the hidden Easter Eggs.

The young ones were treated to an afternoon of artistic activities at the Camp John Hay Art Park, while their families were serenaded in the Acoustic Afternoon mini-concerts, as soothing music for the soul was rendered by Baguio’s home-grown talents. An Open House was organized by the marketing sales and public relations group of CJH Development Corp. for guests looking to build their dream house inside the mountain resort.

See you in Camp John Hay!

(For more information about Camp John Hay, you may call 637-6966 or visit www.campjohnhay.com.)

Cool Kitty

Four of the country’s top designers – JC Buendia, Kate Torralba, Dita Sandico-Ong and Frederick Peralta –recently gathered to accomplish one important mission – that is, to style and dress up Animaland’s adorable and cuddly Sassy Kitty in preparation for their Mother’s Day promo, Designer Kitties for Moms which runs until May 14 and gives away four kitty stuffed toys. The designers did their own take on Kitty and flashed their fashionista prowess!

Animaland has branches in Eastwood City in Libis, Shangri-La Mall, Powerplant Mall-Rockwell, Alabang Town Center and soon to open Mall of Asia in Pasay and Toys R Us in Robinsons Galleria.

Dining and disco

A happy celebration filled with dancing and dining took place as the Quezon Tayabas Association, Inc. commemorated their 82nd anniversary. The organization’s affable president Faustino Silang and lady president Lourdes Cataquiz led the festivities, which was highlighted by a mass, the coronation of Miss QTA, awarding of plaques to past presidents and presentation of the incoming presidents. Revelers in gowns and barongs participated in the Rigodon de Honor while young professionals expertly rendered a retro dance number. It’s wonderful to see Gov. Baby Ortiz active once again. What a night!