A Belo beautiful season

There is nothing better than the gift of giving. This was recently shown by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo at her clinic’s year-end event, Belo Beautiful Christmas, a rare treat to both VIP and prospective clients. Rustan’s Heaven on the 5th was festooned by interior designer Cynthia Almario.

Guests had a unique Yuletide experience as they were treated to the latest trends on beauty services and treatments exclusively from the Belo Medical Clinic. Vicki also gave a lecture on “Live Your Life by Being the Best Version of Yourself.” Shu Uemura makeup experts conducted a comprehensive workshop on makeup enhancing tips.

Music filled the air as world champion vocalist Jon Joven and child singer Aria Clemente serenaded the guests with Christmas carols and other tunes. Vicki’s boyfriend, Belo Medical Group’s Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. of GMA 7’s Celebrity Duets fame, likewise obliged to the clamor of the crowd to render a song dedicated to her.

Vicki’s daughter, Cristalle Henares, who was behind the highly successful breakthrough skin care whitening product Belo Essentials, entertained the guests, too. The giveaways that day were Belo Essentials products inside Belo cans with the trademark butterfly artwork.

The atmosphere was made even merrier with the sumptuous puto, bibingka, kuchinta, palitaw, puto bumbong  and other delectable snacks catered by Via Mare which the guests feasted on. The event was held in cooperation with Rustan’s Makati, Shu Uemura, American Express Platinum and Fully Booked. Proceeds from the ticket sales of Belo Beautiful Christmas were given to Pink for Life Foundation, an institution that gives chemotherapy to breast cancer patients.

An icy cool party

Chill Zone, Philip Morris Menthol King Size’s anticipated island-hopping event series, had a party at A. Venue Events hall in Makati.  Doors opened into a hangar-sized techno-lounge that pulsated with Chill Zone’s characteristic blue lighting with low tables around and white couches for lounging. Flat screen TVs were set above the crowd, offering alternate views of the DJ spinning. Several bars around the enormous venue guaranteed that no one waited too long for his drinks while waiters roamed the party serving up platters of tasty hors d’oeuvres the whole night.

First to spin was DJ Elian Habayeb, veteran of past Chill Zones in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. Then came Shane Johnson from celebrated DJ-duo Fish Go Deep followed by Dublin-based singer Tracey K. which thrilled the audience with live performances of worldwide hits such as The Cure and The Cause as well as two previously unreleased collaborations from their upcoming album. Barcelona-based DJ Fudge took over the party after.

Philip Morris Menthol King Size’s Chill Zone is one party that clubbers don’t want to miss. As in every Chill Zone party, the vibe was cooler than ever.

All about gratitude

Since setting up its corporate and engineering support office here in Manila, Versar International Assistance Projects (VIAP) has been at the forefront of utilizing Filipino know-how in construction and engineering to service its projects abroad.  Rather than sending these specialists abroad, the company exports the knowledge and planning with great efficiency.  To celebrate its success, VIAP president and CEO Bill Johnson opened the doors of his residence for a grand thank you party with a fare prepared by Mezzaluna.

Johnson was also in the news recently by playing “godfather” to the Diit-Mercyville Community School outside Tacloban where some students were deprived of textbooks. On his own, Johnson alleviated the situation and continues to help the financially challenged school.

A fusion of style and technology

LG Electronics unveiled the revolutionary LG Viewty (model: LG-KU990), its first professional-level camera phone that boasts of a number of breakthrough features never seen before on a mobile handset.

LG Electronics Philippines CEO and president Jeff Hong said: “LG Electronics has always aimed to provide customers with better mobile phone experiences through advanced mobile technology and premium handset designs. With LG Viewty, we’ve expanded our product line from stylishly designed phones to high-technology handsets with innovative, groundbreaking features.”

The new five-megapixel LG Viewty is the first camera certified by Schneider-Kreuznach with manual focus feature, a high-speed video recording capability and gives bright and clear pictures even in poor light or unsteady moments.

LG Electronics raffled off LG Viewtys as well as other phone models KU380 and KU250 to lucky guests.

(For more info, please log on to viewty.lgmobile.com)

A uniquely Singaporean Christmas

The Singapore Tourism Board-Philippines (STB-P) under the leadership of its area director Rocson Chang again showcased the wonders of Singapore via its annual road show. Now on its third year, STB-P never fails to come up with a bigger, better and more exciting launch to showcase Singapore as the choice Asian destination.

STB-P kicked off its road show at The Podium which featured the extravaganza, wonders and excitement of the great Lion City for this holiday season. During the event, guests were serenaded with Christmas songs and Broadway melodies by maestro Purification Cavan and soprano singer Same Flores. VIP honorees of the night were STB area director for the Philippines and Brunei Rocson Chang, deputy chief of mission Desmond Ng, VP of finance and administration of Keppel Properties Philippines Lee Foo Tuck and Podium mall manager Christian Mathay. 

From the Greenhills Promenade and Theatre Mall to making its last and final stop at the Festival Supermall, the annual event gave out amazing prizes. Raffled off were 10 roundtrip tickets to Singapore (four of which included accommodation) and additional prizes of Uniquely Singapore shopping bags and other giveaways at each mall.

(Please call STB-P at 813-0946 or e-mail to [email protected])

(E-mail me at [email protected])