Without Batting An Eyelash
A mind-blowing Philippine Fashion Ball
By Maurice ArcachePhilippine Daily Inquirer
JOHN Lloyd Cruz and lady love Angelica Panganiban
Glamour was totally overflowing at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila for the annual Philippine Fashion Ball, dahlings.
Temperatures were rising as the hottest fashion talents smoldered in their sexy outfits, and cooled off with their Belvedere’s chilled cocktail glasses for our town’s fashion elite, palanggas.
BEAUTY queens Shamcey Supsup and Venus Raj
Flying kisses exchanged, chic elbows rubbed together, ladies’ feet shuffled in their Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choos while partying almost nonstop, with their spirits and adrenaline shooting up while sipping Belvedere Grand, Lychee Martinis and Belvedere Cosmo. These drinks were mixed, shaken, stirred and enjoyed when the schmoozing got too boring, dahlings, but there surely was no shortage of eye candy.
In a room where one stiletto seemed to be higher than the next, it was a bit confusing trying to pick out the “standouts” from the invitees; actually everyone looked like a perfect 10.
No fashion event is complete without saying “bravo” to some of the geniuses behind the Philippine fashion industry. So many names to remember, and après a couple of cocktails, it’s kinda hard to have a flashback, n’est-ce pas? Auggie Cordero, Raymund Isaac, Ronnie Salvacion, Xander Angeles and Mark Nicdao (recognized for Excellence in Fashion Photography), Alex Carbonell and Celeste Tuviera (Excellence in Hair Design).
CELINE Lopez, Joey Mead King
Belvedere’s darlings of the night, Pauline Camille in a gown by Cherry Samuya Veric and Oliver Abrenica, were awarded Best Dressed. Not far behind was that super head-turner miss with the four B’s, Celine Lopez, who was a wow! A-lister fashion plate, palanggas.
Almost everyone, dahlings, is still trying to recover from that mind-blowing night. I know I am, but by the next Philippine Fashion Ball in 2013, moi will be ready to rock and roll nonstop, as always, palanggas.
Bring Bugatti into your homes
Finally, the prestigious Casa Bugatti finds its Philippine home exclusively in Rustan’s, our upscale department store, dahlings, from their native Lumezzane, Brescia, in Italy.
TESSA Prieto-Valdes, Mich Dulce
For those not in the know, here’s a bit of info about the Bugatti family company known for its unchanging values of excellence in aesthetic research and design with a strong Italian flair. Bugatti Italy has always been synonymous with adapting beautifully to any contemporary home, dahlings, and is found in international, prestigious department stores.
Jetting in for the opening night was Bugatti’s managing director Clemente Bugatti, who is part of the fourth generation of the Bugatti famille, and who was joined for the celebratory ribbon snipping and toast by Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr.; Rustan Commercial Corp. dynamic president Zenaida Tantoco, no less, with former Sen. Jamby Madrigal; and First Secretary-Deputy Head of Mission of the Italian Embassy Dr. Alfonso Tagliaferri.
Señor Bugatti treated the invitees to a demonstration of Casa Bugatti’s awesome products, like the ergonomically designed juicers and the impeccable espresso machine, and Casa Bugatti’s contemporary cutlery, styled by talented chef Stephanie Zubiri, naturellement.
SAM Milby, Enchong Dee
Casa Bugatti also presented their incredible unmatched collections. The Diva line has an espresso machine that produces flawlessly extracted coffee with the perfect control of temperature. Vela has an array of ergonomically efficient blenders; and the Volo, which is the fully accessorized toaster with an electronic selector that goes from defrosting, reheating and browning, including a bagel function, producing perfectly browned bagels, palanggas.
Check Casa Bugatti, palanggas, as faster than I could bat an eyelash, moi was completely sold on the idea of having this Italian brand belonging to the big league in my home. It’s also available at Rustan’s Shangri-La.
NINI Licaros, Ambassador Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr, Maritess Tantoco Garcia, Mariou Alejandro
That renowned upscale bubbly Moët & Chandon champagne has been recognized internationally for its quality and prestige, dahlings. Known as the “Champagne of Cinema,” Moët-filled flutes have been held by glamorous movie stars the world over in mega glamorous celebrations, no less.
The country’s best and brightest stars had their fill of champagne and fizzy glamour, as ABS-CBN’s stars breezed through the grand Rizal Ballroom of Shangri-La Makati for the annual Star Magic Ball. It was a happening of star power, and E! News Asia covering the chic event for the international entertainment channel, no less.
MOËT & Chandon repesentative Olga Azarcon (center) with Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz
Gather them all together in one place, and the night spontaneously combusts, dahlings.
The theme was black-and-white, and the dazzling stars got a chance to join in Moët’s Toast for a Cause. “Worldwide, Moët donates money to a celebrity’s charity of choice in exchange for their participation.
“Here, Moët & Chandon gave a lump sum amount of P100,000 to the Star Magic Foundation,” said this champagne first lady in the country, dedicated Olga Azarcon, palanggas, which triathlete Piolo Pascual gamely raised his flute to, in appreciation of this wonderful project.
RANDY Uson, Maricar Reyes, Richard Poon
Standouts were definitely gorgeous Bea Alonzo in a “Black Swan”-inspired creation by Rajo Laurel and handsome Gerald Anderson, who was dashing in his Gucci suit.
Naturellement, the champagne of cinema had to give due recognition to those who outshone the other stars that evening, Richard Poon and Maricar Reyes, who were named “Moët’s Most Fabulous Couple.”
The evening was a true testament to Moët’s legacy of dazzling glamour and substance, palanggas.
ED JAVIER, Secil and husband Arif Esenc, Tosca manager Edwin Macapagal
There is nothing like enjoying a night with fab Italian dishes, dahlings, which is why moi rushed to be at Dusit Thani Hotel’s fine dining Tosca and Italian Grill for their excellent “Night of Fine Italian Food and Wine,” dahlings.
We couldn’t wait to dig into the divine, Italian appetizers, two main courses, and jaw-dropping and sinful desserts drowned with Zonin Prosecco, Valpolicella, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay from Casa Vinicula Zonin, which signifies Dusit’s five excellent collaborations between Tosca and Bestworld Beverage Brands.
After all, palanggas, Tosca Italian Grill has, for six consecutive years, been recognized by Wine Spectators Magazine “for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world,” no less. Not bad, huh!
Ahh! Nothing like indulging in the awesome flavors of la bella Italiana, dahlings.
(More info? Call Dusit Thani Manila at 2388888; e-mail dtmn@dusit.com.)
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Tags: Casa Bugatti , fashion , Moët & Chandon champagne , Philippine Fashion Ball
