My whirlwind Sunday starts with a Bikram yoga competition. I hope to impress the judges with my ornate and colorful outfit

MOST LAZY SUNDAYS START WITH A late lunch, with the kids just getting out of their pajamas. But today, I am attending five events and if I am lucky, I might even squeeze in a sixth.

My whirlwind Sunday starts with a Bikram yoga competition. Now in its second year, the competition is organized by Bikram Yoga Manila and the winners get to represent the country at the World Yoga Asana Championship in the United States.

The trick to performing is to concentrate on the poses that require balance and focus. If that’s too hard, then the other strategy is to impress the judges with a more ornate and colorful outfit.

Needless to say, I can hardly wait to perform my three-minute routine, clad in a bejeweled suit by swimwear designer Ketty Estrella. I hope that judge Ren Soriano gives me a better score this year.

Bikram instructor and BYM owner Tristan Choa notes that this year’s competition is at a bigger venue, the Carlos Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza in Makati (visit www.bikramyogamanila.com or call 8891011), thanks to more support from sponsors like Pru Life UK.

Nursery Rooms

Tristan was also nice enough to schedule me as one of the first competitors after the 2 p.m. start, just so that I could leave immediately after and make it to The Podium by 3 p.m, where I am hosting Nursery Rooms by Celebrity Moms, an event by Baby Company.

Supported by moms like Tintin Babao, Nancy Castiglione and Audrey Zubiri, Nursery Rooms features different showcases available at Our Home. Interior designer Sophia Llige will also share tips on designing and setting up a baby’s room. The exhibit travels to The Atrium, SM Megamall on Nov. 7-8.

Bench show

My super-filled Sunday continues with the Bench/Human/ Kashieca Fashion Show at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia.

Part of Philippine Fashion Week Spring Summer 2010, this fashion show is just one of many that organizing brothers Joey and Audie Espino produce to support the growing fashion industry.

At 8 p.m. is the beautiful collection of young, talented designer Sassa Jimenez at the SMX Convention Center. I also will be sure to swing by Sassa’s shindig.

At the Bench Show, I will get to sashay down the runway instead of being just a spectator. Fashion king Ben Chan is so cool to be granting one of my childhood dreams!

Ben has always been very supportive of many projects. At the Lustico Fashion Presentation last week, co-producer Kaye Tinga and I were so happy with his donation. And just a week beforehand, Ben also gave a hefty P1 million at Magic for a Cause, a musical fashion show for the benefit of the victims of the recent typhoons.

Incredible PR giant Keren Pascual spearheaded the one-week project together with Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s premier talent center headed by Johnny Manahan and Mariole Alberto. The stars, designers, stylists, brands and corporations all banded together to raise funds for ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya.

Renowned show director Ariel Lozada and stylist Noel Manapat, the same team that did “Lustico,” conceptualized the stunning line-up in an unforgettable runway extravaganza.

The joint effort raised nearly P4 million, with Coca-Cola bringing a million as well. Other generous donors included Globe Asiatique and Ultra Mega Supermarket.

Pasig River run

At Magic for a Cause, ABS-CBN Foundation’s Gina Lopez thanked the generous sponsors and pitched her latest project to save the Pasig River.

The Philippine International Marathon 2009: A Run for the Pasig River, as organized by the Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, will be held on Nov. 8. The race starts at the Quirino Grandstand, meanders along the Pasig River and finally finishes at the Luneta. Check out the Facebook event page for the Pasig River Marathon.

As the stars modeled, Ben pointed out his Bench endorsers and the latest Brazilian hunks. At the food tasting of The Establishment, I got up close and personal with some of these gorgeous hotties, in between interviewing the guests about the new, exciting Asian fusion dishes of executive chef Godfrey Laforteza.

My favorites were Broiled Gindara Miso and Sake Poached Chilean Sea Bass. Chef Godfrey is quite creative with his signature dishes, a blend of Asian tones with international flavors.

Chefs’ gig

Food and fashion were combined once more at Chefs for Education, featuring gustatory delights of five top chefs and the fashion of Bench.

Chefs par excellence Margarita Fores of Pepato, Colin MacKay of Sala, Jessie Sincioco of Le Soufflé, Vicky Rose Pacheco of The Chateau Group and Myrna Segismundo of 9501 combined their skills to put together a seven-course dinner with the finest wines from Brett Tollhurt’s Wine Depot.

The denim ball helped fund Philippine Business for Education’s (Pbed) “1,000 Teachers” program, the brainchild of Pbed head Chito Salazar to help educate teacher graduates. Organizer Bart Guingona, with the help of Tatler’s Anton San Diego, put together a feast at The White Space for the benefit of education reform.

Funds were also raised from an auction during the dinner. Co-host JM Rodriguez and I got cosmetic darling Dr. Aivee Teo to bid on one of two Joey Samson-detailed dresses for Bench.

Going back to my busy Sunday, I will also be passing by the Hawaii 5-0 birthday party of CATS head Felix Ang at the Hotel Sofitel. I’m already thinking about the logistics problems of my costumes, going from yoga to a hosting to a fashion show and now to a Hawaiian party.

Libera boys’ choir concert

How will I ever get my hula skirt on? Felix had better provide me a big Mercedes-Benz van to change in!

Worse, how will I get it off and back into a gown for the Libera boys concert at the Philippine International Convention Center tonight? Energy permitting, this will be a great way to end the day, what with the angelic voices of the choirboys to relax my nerves.

The Libera boys are truly goodwill ambassadors, helping with British community programs and Children’s Hour.

Libera will also perform at the Waterfront Lahug in Cebu on Oct. 28 (tel. 0917-328-7917, 8919999; visit www.ticketworld.com.ph).

This will truly be one hectic Sunday and I am excited to see whether I make it to all six events today.

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph