Businessman and vintage car collector Luis “Louie” I. Ablaza Jr. was treated by his family to a grand birthday party as he entered the diamond year of 75.
Friends received a dazzling huge diamond as a totally unique invitation to the fabulous bash, dahlings. Although it was really made of crystal glass, it delighted everyone. Moi felt honored to be part of 800 other members of the A-list social register invited to the NBC Tent at The Fort in Taguig.
Designed and produced by talented son JunJun Ablaza, the happening adopted the James Bond theme “Diamonds are Forever,” with Louie making a grand entrance after the trademark Bond film countdown starter as “Secret Agent 0075,” complete with a bevy of Bond gals escorting him to the celebrant’s table, where Mellie Romero Ablaza welcomed him, palanggas.
Also welcoming the celebrator were Ombudsman Justice Conchita Carpio Morales; Gretchen del Rosario; Ambassador Menashe Bar-On and his wife; Ambassador Jorge Manuel Domecq and his wife; Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario and Dr. Raul del Rosario.
Johnny Litton and other invitees enjoyed the superb cocktails and, later, the dinner, catered by Cibo.
The Manila Symphony Orchestra played the “James Bond” musical repertoire while the soundtrack was interpreted by the Philippine Ballet Theater.
Cocoy Laurel, fresh from his “Miss Saigon” in Manila rehearsals, belted out romantic songs.
Highlights of the evening’s entertainment were the special numbers from the Ablaza grandchildren, including a violin solo and a song number by 4-year-old Azia, who received a
standing ovation.
The 88.8 Band later took over and ballroom dancing ensued till the wee hours of the morning.
“I expressed my sincere thanks for all the years of fond memories that my wife Mellie, children and grandchildren have given me,” said king for a night Louie.
Cheers, Louie!
SM Men’s collections
SM Store did a first when SM Men’s Fashion jetted in dashing British model David Gandy to headline its Holiday 2013 and Spring-Summer 2014 collections during the Philippine Fashion Week, natch!
Standing at 6’2”, Gandy’s dashing and chiseled looks have graced several ad campaigns and 47 different magazine covers, including Vogue, GQ and Forbes. He was voted one of the “World’s Top-Earning Male Models Of 2013.”
Now that the mega-model is the new image model of SM Men’s Fashion, Gandy is joined by the brand’s other foreign but Manille-based style ambassadors, such as Hideo Muraoka, Daniel Matsunaga, Rafael Do Prado and Fabio Ide.
This year’s Holiday 2013 and Spring-Summer 2014 collections’ top eye-catchers were the Billy jeans, smart denims, plaid and checks, and sweaters—colored, 3D and tie-dyed.
One of the gals going bananas over Gandy asked one of the handsome male models after the show, “Do you think David will expect to find the perfect girl?”
He answered: “Well, you can never tell with lots of girls going after him, but it sure is a lot of fun hunting for them.”
Welcoming Gandy were SM Men’s Fashion VP Jeffrey Lo and VP for marketing Ayen Florendo.
Designers in the audience included Pepito Albert, Efren Ocampo, Jojie Lloren, Rhett Eala, Georgie Ichikawa and Michael Cinco. Makeup artist Patrick Rosas was likewise present.
Alterations Plus
Alterations Plus opened its 21st branch on Basement 1 of Glorietta 2 mall recently.
Doing the obligatory ribbon-snipping were Ma. Lucia J. Carlos, CEO-president of Alterations Group of Companies; AC Legarda, general manager of Ayala Land Inc., Glorietta/Greenbelt; Bettina Osmeña; and my palangga, Dr. Elenita Binay.
Alterations Plus, dahlings, offers high-quality work on restyling, altering and repairing clothes. I myself go there when my weight—and waistline—change.
Check out its seven branches in Makati at Builders Center Building (head office), Glorietta 2, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 1, Rustan’s Supermarket, Powerplant (Rockwell) and San Antonio Plaza Arcade.
More info? visit www.alterations-plus.ph; Facebook Page: alterations plus ph; Twitter: alt_plus_ph.
