Fairy tales do come true

It is every bride’s dream to have a fairy-tale wedding.

It was a royal-themed wedding that Ivy Leoncio got as she walked down the aisle to meet her prince charming, Paul Michael Robles. The couple’s parents, Ma. Lourdes and engineer Potenciano Leoncio Jr. and Matilde “Diding” and Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, Inc. president Exequiel Robles, proudly watched as their children, Ivy and Paul Michael, began their journey as husband and wife.

Inspired by the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel was transformed to look like Buckingham Palace’s banquet hall for the couple’s grand reception. Notable guests were welcomed like royalty as they were treated to a magnificent dinner buffet and an evening of merriment.

Congratulations, Paul Michael and Ivy!

(Seated, from left) Former Quezon City Rep. Annie Susano, Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, your columnist and Inner Wheel Club of Manila (IWCM) director Nini Layug; (standing, from left) IWCM immediate past president Minerva Tanseco, Palmy Layug, Joe Rebano, Wally Sombrero and Jayelles’ Roselle Rebano.

Having a ball in Vigan!

First, they enjoyed each other’s company over lunch hosted by Inner Wheel Club of Manila’s immediate past president Minerva Tanseco at Makati Shangri-La Hotel’s Inagiku restaurant. The next thing they knew, they were already with Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson who brought the whole group to his own wildlife sanctuary, the Baluarte Zoological Park in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Chavit’s animal collection was truly impressive and everyone had a ball during the stay at Vigan Plaza Hotel, sampling the famous bagnet, empanada and other delicacies.

Thank you, Chavit and Minerva! Delighted to be in your company!

A different view of Europe

An innovative travel agent who has created tours to exotic places like India and the Himalayas and the stylish Cote d’Azure and Paris, CV Travel and Tours Corp. VP and GM Claudette Vitug recently outdid herself with another fabulous tour for a group led by 2010 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee Salome Uy.

All smiles in front of the Grand Hotel Gallia and Londres in Lourdes, France are CV Travel and Tours Corp. VP and GM Claudette Vitug and 2010 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee Salome Uy.

Major stops for the jet-set troop included famed destinations in Croatia like Dubrovnik, which is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites; Split, which is often called by its citizens as “the most beautiful city in the world;” and the capital city of Zagreb, which is resplendent with the charm of a medieval “old city.”

They also went to Barcelona in Spain. They had a field day visiting the luxurious seaside city of Biarritz in France. For spiritual upliftment, they went to Lourdes, France. (Of course, knowing Salome, she just had to make a side trip to Paris to see the latest from the fashion capital!)

The group definitely had a different view of Europe!