Mane attraction

Being an artist with a businessman’s eye made Philippe Tordjman the successful hairdresser he is today. Born in Paris, he enrolled in Les Beaux Arts and studied Geometry in Space — the art of incorporating figure into space using the lines of a face. One night, he began to draw his girlfriend’s hair on a napkin and she was so besotted with his creation she asked him to cut her hair. Philippe did and decided to acquire his cosmetology license as a liberal candidate in the United States, Italy, Spain and France. He moved to San Francisco and became a stylist at the David Starr Salon. In March 1997, his salon Au Top Coiffure premiered as one of San Francisco’s top 10 full-serviced salons. He also started a hair care line called Philou and has had many Hollywood celebrity clients such as Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Meg Ryan, Matt Dillon and Rachel Leigh Cook. He came to Manila two years ago to play golf and decided to stay and work with Bench as its creative consultant. He, however, realized that running his own salon is what he wanted.

Philippe’s is Manila’s newest luxury salon that offers the latest hair technique and technology. The salon specializes in hair treatment, precision haircut, color, digital perm and rebonding and other services. Manila had a sampling of what Philippe’s was all about at its grand opening. Philippe’s Salon is located at 2295 Jannov Building 3, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. 

(Call 830-3030, 864-0658 or 0918-8303030 for inquiries.)

Falling in love with Hed Kandi

Manila’s partygoers packed Hed Kandi’s Back to Love party at A-Venue on Makati Avenue. Bigfish brought in Hed Kandi, the massive clubbing brand that has made a name for itself for its extensive club compilations ranging from chillout to deep house and from garage to lounge. DJ Andy Norman, the longest running member of Team Kandi, got the vibe going at the Back to Love party. So did Samantha James, the voice behind the club anthem Rise. Johnboy Lee of Team Bigfish completed the triple bill of clubbing.

Event sponsors included Nokia Express Music, Myx, Richmonde Hotel, Chupa Chups, Bigfish Radio, Magic 89.9, Hit FM 99.5, Max 103.5, NU 107, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Clickthecity.com, Yehey.com, Pinoyexchange.com, Inquirer.net, Chikka, Metro magazine, Summit Digital Burn magazine, Sugar Sugar, Fudge magazine, MNL magazine, Bounce magazine, Circuit magazine, Folded & Hung, Gold’s Gym, Goodtimes Condoms, Nulatex, Activ8 Records and Music One.

Watch out for the two events for the Bigfish Easter Weekender 2008 at Hey Jude in Boracay: Slinky TransAtlantik with DJs John “00” Fleming, Dennis Christopher and Johnboy Lee on March 22; and Fierce Angel with DJ Craig McGivern, Johnboy Lee and Lady V. live on sax on March 29.

Check out their newly revamped home at www.bigfishmanila.com. Bigfish continues with Bigfish Radio airing every Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Magic 89.9. Also, watch out for the much awaited Bigfish TV.

New beginnings

It was a magical evening at the Makati Shangri-La where some 600 of HSBC’s Premier and corporate clients gathered to celebrate the Year of the Rat.

Themed New Beginnings, the HSBC gala festivity showcased characteristics associated with those born in the Year of the Rat by highlighting Chinese cinema history. Movies such as Drunken Master, Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon and The Banquet also continued to run on plasma TVs scattered throughout the hallway.

The doors of the grand ballroom opened to reveal a magnificent dancing dragon against the backdrop of a stunning light show. Guests enjoyed an aerial stunt dance and martial arts exhibitions while enjoying a sumptuous ten-course Chinese lauriat and toasting to a New Year and new beginnings with HSBC.

Scentsations

Ann Gottlieb created Calvin Klein’s fifteen 15 starting from Obsession and CKone. After two decades of successfully developing scents for top luxury brands such as Elizabeth Arden, Carolina Herrera, Britney Spears and even the latest Marc Jacobs, she sprays the men in Martinis Bar event with her latest fragrance collection for Axe.

Unilever commissioned Gottlieb to create the new fragrance collection for Axe. Edward Arandia, marketing manager for Axe, relates that the Axe brand team was ecstatic to work with a fragrance connoisseur such as Ann Gottlieb. “It is a privilege, an honor, to work with Ms. Gottlieb. She is a true master of her art, and her work with Axe will surely energize the brand. It’s an exciting time for Axe,” he said.

Five new fragrances were unveiled by Gottlieb, known in the fragrance world as the “Nose of Calvin Klein.”  The collection was designed for different male and female interactions.  Check them out now.

Easter Wonderland at Mandarin Oriental

A spectacular Easter celebration awaits children at Mandarin Oriental, Manila starting at 9 a.m. on Easter Sunday, March 23, with a magical eggs-travaganza in the ballroom dubbed Easter Wonderland.  An overnight stay in Mandarin is the special prize for finders of the golden, silver and bronze eggs. Prizes also await those best in costume and egg-painting. Event partners like Globe, Party Station, Enchanted Kingdom, Rustan’s, Wyeth, Star Paper Corp., Oishi, Holy Kettle Corn and Nestle Ice Cream ensure a fun-filled morning that include two egg hunts (one for children six to 12 years old; the other for five years old and below), glitter tattooing, a kiddie salon and a kiddie buffet at P750 net for kids. Accompanying adults pay an entrance fee of P350 net.

A complimentary child ticket to Easter Wonderland is offered to those who partake of the Easter specials offered in Paseo Uno’s buffet lunch or Tin Hau’s Easter set menus. For gift giving and to delight the children even more, the Mandarin Deli is a haven of Easter chocolate bunnies and eggs and a host of other exquisite sweets.

An “Easter Escape Package” is offered for Philippine residents. Up to two children 12 years old and under are free of charge when sharing room with parents.  This package is inclusive of buffet breakfast for two, complimentary local calls, two complimentary tickets to Easter Wonderland, 10 percent discount in the hotel’s restaurants and bars, and 15 percent discount on hair services at Ménage Salon, the luxury of a pampering treatment at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Manila which offers a complimentary 30-minute foot massage when availing of a regular 80-minute body massage, a 10 percent discount on retail products and 10 percent discount on Spa gift certificates.

(For ticket reservations, call 750-8888.)