Frequent flyers enjoy a (golf) swinging time

Louis Bartolome Borja, chief executive of International Marketing Group, had edged Nico Monsalve by a stroke to finish with a 75 and emerge as low-gross champion to highlight one of the most exciting Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational golf tournaments in years. Monsalve settled for the overall net title with a net score of 68 out of a gross 76.

Borja fired an eagle along with three birdies in a bristling run through the tough Andy Dye course at the Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club. Monsalve matched him stroke-for-stroke, collecting four birdies. In the end, Borja’s towering eagle at the par-5 fourth hole made the difference as both finished bogey-free. The two bested a field of over 300 players — all Elite, Premier Elite and Million Miler members of Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles program — who competed in the event sponsored by Airbus, Allied Bank, Boeing, GE Pacific, Hilton Cebu, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, MasterCard, Manny O Wines, Petron, Mizuno and Sabre Airlines Solutions.

Hanson So won the Class A crown in a dead heat with Anthony Ingall. Winding up with a net 70 but So had seven pars to Ingalla’s six, to give him the division title. Raden Sakularan was third. Over at the Faldo course, San Miguel Mills executive Roberto Labrador won Class B by a stroke with a net 70 over Raymundo del Rosario and Oscar Reboja. Class C played at the Norman course was won by Javier Quintos, COO of Luggage Trading & Services, whose net 69 was enough to edge Gerry Sy and Ombre Hamsirani by a stroke. Class D produced a triple tie at the top, with the same net score of 73 but Petron executive Carlos Christopher Manalo had more pars to nose out Ricardo Yang and Alfonso Tanya. The ladies division was topped by Loralie Roberto who scored a net 71 from a gross 79. John Galang won the guest division. 

The day was even more momentous because it celebrated the 30th year of PAL’s partnership with Airbus, one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer. To signify the strong bond between PAL and Airbus,   Airbus executives presented to PAL executives model aircrafts of Airbus. To date, PAL has 34 Airbus aircraft in its fleet. 

The tournament had as corporate sponsors KID-Systeme, Panasonic Avionics, Samsung Electronics, Star Cruises and Yahoo! Philippines. Century Quality Gourmet Bangus Fillet, Citibank, Pacific Paints (Boysen), Philippine National Bank, Union Bank and World Traveller/Victorinox/Kangol headwear were the event’s minor sponsors. Toyota Motor Philippines was the hole-in-one sponsor; Century Park Hotel, the official hotel; and AIU Insurance Philippines, the official insurer of the tournament. 

Lucky Mabuhay Miles Elite golfers won raffle prizes such as hotel accommodations and tickets to various Philippine Airlines domestic and international destinations. Prize donors included Asia Brewery, Boracay Regency Beach Resort, British India/Clark Shoes, California Pizza Kitchen, Edsa Shangri-La, Fuego Hotels & Properties, G3 Worldwide Mail, Ideal Vision, Lufthansa Technik, Microtel Inns and Suites, Pan Pacific Manila, Security Bank, Tanduay and Traders Hotel.

A scoop of delight

At the center of the tourism and business district of Manila, Häagen-Dazs opens another branch. Located at the ground floor of the Midtown Wing of Robinsons Place, the third company-owned shop promises a concept similar to what is typically seen in other countries such as Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. Following the global design philosophy developed in the United Kingdom, the new outlet boasts of furniture, freezers and dipping cabinets designed in Italy.

On opening day, a unique three-act show awaited guests at Robinsons Place. The play, headlined by three different women living in the same building, gave the audience a glimpse at how three ladies at different stages of their lives, are absorbed with their “Me Time.” Searching for what is real and what tugs at their heartstrings, they savor and relish it all with a tub of slow-melting Häagen-Dazs for company. 

The short performance was also witnessed by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Robinsons Land Corp. business unit GM Cornelio Mapa, who did the ribbon cutting and ceremonial ice cream scooping with Häagen-Dazs-Philippines GM Tess Panganiban.

Guests did not leave the premises without giving in to the temptation and getting a taste of the dense and creamy treat, made from 100 percent pure dairy cream and milk blended with just a minimum amount of air, Häagen-Dazs is truly one of life’s greatest affordable luxuries.   

And since Christmas is just around the corner, everyone enjoyed the privilege of being among the first to try some of the ice cream creations lined up for the special season. Part of the limited engagement only Christmas menu is the rich Chocolate Temptation, with pretzel sticks on top of two butter cookies, layered with scoops of Dark Chocolate Orange, Midnight Cookies and Cream, Belgian Chocolate, Cappuccino Truffle and Tiramisu, garnished with almond bits and cherries. Another creation which embodies the ultimate chocolate experience is the Chocolate Christmas Spire, which consists of a scoop of Belgian Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Orange ice cream, served on top of a layer of Cookies and Cream ice cream and warm Brownie cake. Those who wish to immerse themselves in the Italian Christmas spirit can order the Italian Christmas Sparkle made up of Creamy Tiramisu and rich Cappuccino Caramel Truffle on a drizzle of pure chocolate fudge sauce with a special bruffin, whipped cream and crushed amoretti biscuit. 

Häagen-Dazs Robinsons Place (Midtown Wing) is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Blighted

Blighted, a novel by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, was launched at the Filipinas Heritage Library where the reading room only had a capacity of about 120. That night though, the reading room was packed as guests spilled over to the hallway. All 700 copies brought to the launch were taken that night and as of this writing, over 1,000 copies have been sold on direct orders. Copies are now available nationwide at outlets of National Bookstore, Powerbooks, Fully Booked and Chavez Miranda Aseoche Law Offices.

Other than enjoying the book, buyers will be happy with the thought that proceeds will go to UP-PGH and the Bantay Bata and Gawad-Kalinga projects of the Rotary Club of Makati, of which Frank is a director.

Cats facts

Here are a few facts about Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical based on T. S. Eliot’s book of poems Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. It debuted in London in 1981 and in New York in 1982. It won two Olivier Awards and seven Tony Awards. It has been presented in 10 languages in 300 cities in over 26 countries. It has been seen by 65 million people.

Cats will be presented in Manila next year with Olivier and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga in the cast. It starts July 24, 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. Each ticket purchased before Dec. 31 of this year will have P250 donated to the Red Cross. 

(Call 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph for tickets. Also check www.lunchbox-productions.com)

(More on “Cats” in this column next year!)