Without Batting An Eyelash
Of Christmas trees, Brazilian birthday bashes and European movies
By Maurice ArcachePhilippine Daily Inquirer
MAKATI Councilor Tosca Camille Puno, Kyra Yulo, Dusit Thani Manila general manager Prateek Kumar with daughter Jia, Rep. Abigail Binay-Campos with daughter Martina, and Rep. Monique Lagdameo
DUSIT Thani’s Danelle Palang, JB Salvador, Bea Acosta
Dusit Thani Manila again organized a showcase of Christmas trees, dahlings. The trees played around with the theme of children and yuletide.
The trees were unveiled before an awesome number of invitees that included 180 grade school students who composed the Hundred Voices of Christmas.
Lighting up the trees were Dusit Thani Manila general manager Prateek Kumar, Makati City Representatives Monique Lagdameo and Abigail Binay-Campos, and Makati Councilor Tosca Camille Puno.
EVEREST Academy Manila principal Fr. Michael Shannon, Angelica Fernandez de Castro
Performing “Deck the Halls” and other Christmas carols, dahlings, were children from Singapore School Manila, Mahatma Gandhi International School, Miriam College, New Life Christian Academy, De La Salle Zobel and Everest Academy Manila.
ESQUIRE Financing CEO and president Rajan Uttamchandani,Mahatma Gandhi International School headmaster Lawrence Buck, Prateek Kumar
Guests would vote for the top three Christmas trees, whose designers would receive cash prizes from Esquire Financing Inc. and Dusit. The money would be donated to the winners’ chosen charities.
New Baguio hotel
C Boutique Hotel is the newest addition to Baguio hotels.
It also held a tree-lighting event to usher in the Christmas season.
ARCHITECT Armie Catalan, former Benguet Governor Rocky Molintas, C Boutique Hotel GM Andy Mariscotes
Invitees were serenaded by the Children’s Joy Foundation and St. Joseph’s Parish Youth Choir, natch!
The lighting ceremony was led by Cecilia Leviste, matriarch of the clan, assisted by daughter and CEO Charley Leviste Antonio.
Guests included interior designer Babes Calma-Crespo, husband Robert Crespo, florist Ramoun Pastor, architect Ed Sarangaya, New Zealander Darren Wilson and wife Janette , and Tourism Director Purificasion Molintas.
In the spirit of giving back to the community, Antonio turned over a check donation to Children’s Joy Foundation and St. Joseph’s Parish Church.
Congo Grille gig
BRAZILIAN model Fernanda Cordeiro de Sousa
Restaurateur Raymond Illusorio Yap hosted a birthday celebration for his pals, Brazilian models Fernanda Cordeiro de Sousa and Ciane Xavier, at Congo Grille restaurant on Jupiter Street, Makati City, dahlings.
The costume bash was a huge success.
Fernanda and Ciane have been living in Manille for a year. “We find Filipinos to be like Brazilians, affectionate, friendly, fun-loving and happy people,” Fernanda told us.
Also present was Vanessa Tarriela, wife of Raymond’s close pal, Ted.
Dressed in custom-made leather armor with an exact replica of the Braveheart sword on his side, Raymond Yap was the perfect host.
BENJO Ramos, Ted Tarriela, Raymond Yap
This happening brought out loads of our town’s beautiful faces partying like there was no tomorrow, dahlings. They were treated to the endless flow of booze, including the cool Caipirinha, Brazil’s famous national drink.
Dinner menu included Congo Grille’s bestsellers Baked Scallops, Calamares and Chicken Pandan; the wow Jalapeño Congo Bombs and sizzling Spicy Salmon Belly.
Curious to know the difference between the two kinds of music played that night, I asked Raymond to enlighten me. His reply was amusing:
JAIME Garcia; Lucia Carlos Locsin, president of Alterations-Plus; Avelaine Nepomuceno
“Brazilian house music is the same as American except that it’s in Portuguese, go figure…”
Well, palanggas, I’m still trying to figure that out.
Clothes alteration shop
Lucia “Lucille” Carlos Locsin is the woman behind the in-demand Alterations-Plus, which specializes in repair and alterations of clothes and other garments.
She told moi that the Alterations-Plus branches at Rustan’s Supermarket Makati and Marquee Mall would continue to provide services since Jaime Garcia and Avelaine Nepomuceno had renewed their franchise contracts with the company for another three years.
JAYFREE Salazar, Jeffrey Flores, Lizel Ventoza, Marvin Estigoy, Cecil Cabiles
Now après the holidays, when our waistlines have expanded because we forgot to count our calorie intake, we can go to Alterations-Plus to have our wardrobe fixed, di bala, palanggas?
More info? Visit www.alterations-plus.ph.
Cine Europa
Cine Europa had another grand opening night at the premier lifestyle destination Shangri-La Plaza, natch!
ITALIAN Ambassador Luca Fornari, Shangri-La Plaza executive vice president and GM Lala Fojas,Goethe Institut-Philippines director Richard Kuenzel, Ricarda Kuenzel, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Belgian Ambassador Christian Meerschman
The opening was led by Lubomir Frebort, chargé d’affaires of the Delegation of the European Union, European ambassadors and consuls, and Lala Fojas, GM of Shangri-La Plaza.
The exciting festival opening night got on a roll with a performance by the Manila String Quartet, a painting exhibition by Mari Gonz, and finally the screening of the opening movie “Upperdog,” which marked the first-ever inclusion of a Norwegian film in the festival.
JOONA Selin,Outi Annala, British Head of Strategic Communications Colin Glen, Stephen McCracken
This year’s Cine Europa was in collaboration with the embassies of Norway and Switzerland, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Independent Film Cooperative, Arts Council of Cebu and Liceo de Cagayan de Oro.
Merry Christmas to all of you, palanggas, and have a great time. Don’t forget to thank God for sending us His beloved Son.
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