A taste of Spain

Pearl Farm Beach Resort, managed by Fuego Hotels and Properties Management Corp. and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade, had a sumptuous feast for the Flavors of Spain 2007 festival. The Pearl Farm Davao Marina had a special menu of paella, jamon jabugo, chorizo and other authentic Spanish delicacies, prepared by club executive chef Mikel Arriet.

The event was graced by Spanish Ambassador Luis Arias. Dinner was served as ceremonial toasts were done by Pearl Farm’s charming GM Mikel Villaverde, Fuego Hotels’ hardworking managing director Alfredo Roca and the amiable Spanish Economic Councilor Javier Alvarez.

Guests were entertained by a flamenco dance by Clara Ramona and serenaded by the Suave Quartet performing a Spanish repertoire. There was also a raffle draw where guests won weekend getaways at Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Club Punta Fuego in Batangas and Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay. Others brought home Nautica watches, gift packs from Smart Infinity and gift certificates from The Travel Club. The Flavors of Spain is a yearly event by Fuego Hotels and this year’s was made possible by Smart Infinity, Nautica Watches, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Clara Ramona de Danza Flamenca.

(For more information on Fuego Hotels, check www.fuegohotels.com or call (02) 750-1999 or e-mail [email protected])

For your eyes only

Oakley teamed up with two of the most innovative artists of this generation with the introduction of its limited edition eyewear exclusively designed by Art Chantry and Todd Francis.

Art Chantry is an artist in Seattle whose works has been exhibited by the Louvre, Smithsonian, Library of Congress and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Todd Francis has helped define several distinct companies in the Americas through his artworks. His distinctive and comical artworks have helped redefine contemporary designs and have thus transitioned into illustrious posters, album covers, numerous galleries, clothing companies and magazines.

Meera Enterprises, the exclusive distributor of Oakley in the country, presents these eyepieces in a meaningful way by mounting a photo exhibit for charity. The Oakley’s Art Chantry-Art Charity photo exhibit featured Raymund Isaac’s photographs of Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Tim Yap, Fred Uytengsu, Diether Ocampo and Oakley endorsers JP Tuason, Ernie and Jeena Lopez, Tricia Chiongbian, Martha and Arthur King and JJ Ortega. These photos were auctioned in Nuvo bar in Greenbelt and raised P187,000 for nine charity institutions such as Bantay Bata, Boystown Foundation, Children’s Hour, Mabuhay Deseret, White Cross and K.I.D.S. (Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan) Foundation. These institutions all look after the welfare of underprivileged Filipino children.

Oakley Philippines has long been driven to ignite the imagination through the fusion of art and science. The Oakley Art Chantry and Todd Francis line is available at authorized Oakley retailers.

(For more info, e-mail [email protected] or call Meera Enterprises at 890-0228.)

Belly, belly good

Guests flocked to the opening of the latest deli in town, Gaster. “Gaster” is Greek for belly or stomach. It is a modern European deli and restaurant situated at the corner of 6750 in Ayala Avenue.

Chit and Alexandra Cacho welcomed guests with a variety of canapés and wines for the entire night. Other guests spotted were Juan and Joan Roca, Pacqui and Lillibeth Campos, Mikel Arriet and Javier Alvarez.

Gaster specializes in gourmet merchandise imported from France, Spain, Italy and Greece.

Borders turns pink

Borders, a favorite store for furniture, art, décor and lifestyle accessories, turned pink for its loyal patrons. The whole store was a sparkling showroom of vivid cherry-pink hues paired with glowing gold, fitting background for its treasure trove of gift items awaiting the insatiable shopper.

There were lamps galore, throw pillows, vases, baskets, ashtrays and other pink or pink-accented items to spice up rooms for any family gathering. A decorative feather boa, usually flung across bare shoulders, was ingeniously put up to take the place of the usual flowers or leaves twined around candlesticks and vases on a coffee table. Other choices were a wide range of festive, bright-colored items like decorative boxes, frames and glassware.

(Borders’ main showroom is located at the ground floor of GE Philippines Bldg., 2291 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. For more information, please call 893-2905 or 893-2908. A second outlet is now open at Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center.)

(Happy New Year to all of you! E-mail me at [email protected])