A love meant to last

With fond memories of summers and holidays spent in Balayan, Batangas, sweethearts Trina Muñoz and Paolo Yupangco decided to add another unforgettable memory — start their journey to a new life together. Recently, the lovely couple celebrated their most sacred union of love with a solemn wedding ceremony at the 16th-century old Immaculate Conception Church officiated by parish priest Monsignor Rafael Oriondo and healing priest Fr. Gerardo Devesa. Proud parents of the bride, Cesar and Trinidad Muñoz, as well as parents of the groom, Rafael and Jovita Yupangco, happily witnessed a picture of true love as the couple romantically sealed their vows amidst the radiant sparkle of elegant, white flowers and the harmonious music of The Stringed Minstrels playing in the background. Afterwards, a lavish reception with the theme “Modern Hacienda Fiesta” immediately followed in the sprawling, tree-shaded garden of Guillerma Farms. The bridal and entourage table was beautifully adorned with sinamay-inspired decor interspersed between large arrangements of fresh flowers flown in from Thailand and Ecuador, and lined with fresh fruits of the season, thanks to the talented design vision of Rachy Cuna. After the sumptuous dinner prepared by La Tasca, Paolo led Trina to cut the beautiful wedding cake baked by Juda Liu. It was a blissful affair of love made merrier as the couple’s good friend Vina Morales together with the Powerhouse Band hyped up the energy with dancing entertainment and an excellent repertoire that included the sensational song Mamma Mia.

All my best wishes to the newlyweds. Cheers!

A cherished wine dinner

A fabulous degustation dinner hosted by the statuesque Salome Uy had friends and true connoisseurs of excellent wines and food mingled together at the intimate and voguish Titania Wine Bar Café of Tita Trillo. A fantastic selection of Kendall-Jackson wines to go with the meals was presented. Dinner started with asparagus soup with black and red caviar, downed with Chardonnay Vintners Reserve 2007. Next was poached salmon custard, sipped with Chardonnay Grand Reserve 2006, which was the chosen wine during the 2009 US presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. Then came the delicious lamb shoulder confit served with the splendid Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006. Tasmanian goat’s cheese was served next with Merlot Grand Reserve 2006. The dinner ended with Sauternes Jelly paired with Seduction de la Beaugraviere 2006. Everyone went home with smiles on their faces.

Cheers!

A barrel of fun and more

The recent Oktoberfest celebrations organized jointly by Mandarin Oriental, Manila and the German Club of Manila led by German Ambassador Christian Ludwig Weber-Lortsch along with Mandarin Oriental, Manila GM Mark Bradford and German Club president Michael Scheile had become bigger and better. Held over two nights of non-stop beer drinking and feasting on German specialties at the NBC tent, with the dance-inducing music of the Gunther Friedmann band that flew in from Munich, the event was filled to the rafters with local and expat executives, party people and members of the diplomatic corps. Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga, Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque and German Embassy commercial attaché Sabine Honer did the honors at the barrel-tapping ceremony on the first night. Roundtrip business class tickets to Munich on Lufthansa and Swiss airlines topped the list of raffle prizes that lucky winners took home.

A barrelful of cheers to all!