Belo stars in Bacolod

Dr. Vicki Belo’s Belo Medical Clinic endorsers Derek Ramsay, Matteo Guidicelli and Bianca Manalo, together with Cristalle Belo Henares, conquered the hearts of many Negrenses during their recent visit to Bacolod.

The Belo stars joined the “Run and Save a Life 3,” a charity event organized by the St. Scholastica’s Bacolod Alumnae Foundation Inc. (SSBAFI) in cooperation with the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

For the third consecutive year, Christine Velez-Vargas and Chole Cuenca-Chua co-chaired the event to raise funds for the Foundation’s “Save A Life Project,” which helps hundreds of indigent pediatric patients in government hospitals; and “Give A Life Project,” which gives free immunizations to thousands of children in Bacolod.

It is the second time for Derek and Matteo to participate in the charity run courtesy of my good friend Jojie Dingcong, who has made it his mission to help the alumnae group year after year together with Dr. Vicki Belo.

A welcome dinner for the Belo celebrity endorsers was hosted by Jean Velez-Trebol at her modern Asian home.

Early the next day, more than a thousand race participants assembled in front of Bacolod’s famous landmark, the Provincial Capitol Building, overlooking its scenic lagoon. The crowd was delighted with the Belo endorsers taking part in the event’s activities. The Belo Medical Group sponsored a special race category titled the “Belo 5K Group Walk Challenge.” The Capitolville Walkers of Bacolod’s plush Capitolville Subdivision bagged the championship and prize money.

Chole Cuenca-Chua of Bacolod’s famed Quan chain of restaurants hosted a farewell lunch for the Belo stars. Chole’s guests were treated to a sumptuous spread prepared by New York-schooled chef Mia Lizares-Gonzaga. Guests also viewed Chole’s and her husband William’s art collection by Ilonggo artists like Raymond Legaspi, who was one of her guests that afternoon.

The members of SSBAFI are forever grateful to Dr. Vicki Belo and her celebrity endorsers for their generous contribution to their cause.

A groundbreaking collaboration

British designer Tom Dixon, who was conferred with the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen, has always been fascinated with the displays of crystals at the Geological Museum in London. He said, “Great design should be about progressing within an experience. The layers of that experience should come together in one seamless object.”

His design of the Hennessy X.O Exclusive Collection VII was recently unveiled by The House of Hennessy during a two-day event at the Isla Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La. Dixon, a recipient of the London Design Museum’s “Designer of the Year” award, said the collection honors the celebrated cognac’s history while moving its aesthetic into new territory. The new collection was unveiled over an exclusive dinner, which was attended by Hennessy Global ambassador Maurice Hennessy.  (Johnny Litton, my co-columnist in The STAR, covered the first night of the event. I’m writing about the second night.) 

The Exclusive Collection VII is inspired by the display of precious objects. The collection’s tessellation motif adds to its striking new look while keeping Hennessy X.O’s iconic silhouette. The carafe, which reflects Dixon’s inspirations, creates endless reflections of light, referencing the elegance of precious gems.

Guests during the two-day event, hosted by Johnny Litton on the first day and Bianca Valerio on the second day, were treated to an exclusive cognac tasting after the presentation of the special edition Hennessy X.O Exclusive Collection VII.

The Isla Ballroom was transformed into a Hennessy Hall for the formal exclusive event attended by about 100 guests, trade partners and noble patrons of the 144-year-old creation of Emile Fillioux for Maurice Hennessy. As an eighth-generation family member, Maurice Hennessy himself conducted the tasting.

The food that night was prepared by Maison Hennessy Chef David. The earthy tones of Hennessy X.O went well with soup of cèpes with foie gras and bacon intricately cut into a diamond shape. The roundness of the cognac’s flavor complemented the delicate taste of the fillet of sea bass with parmentier scales on a bed of leeks.  The peppery notes of Hennessy X.O was the perfect partner for the rich flavors of the seared fillet of spiced beef in its rich pepper jus with pan fried shiitake. The boldness of the drink went exquisitely well with the melted dark chocolate arranged in a similar tessellation of the fruits in season.

Dixon added, “To me, an innovator needs to think beyond ‘now’ and look for connections between different worlds…I see a clear distinction between fashionable objects and long-lasting ones. Timeless pieces tend to build on the past in a way that hasn’t been seen before.”

The Exclusive Collection X.O carafe by Dixon is an ode to Hennessy’s tradition while showcasing state-of-the-art technique. The designer has created a striking visual tribute to the more than 100 eaux de vie composing the Hennessy X.O blend.

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)