CHRISTMAS IS JUST A SKIP AND A hop away when I got my invitation to a big glitzy event?the UST Christmas Concert Gala, dahlings. The organizers were led by the publisher of the trendy Rouge Magazine, woman of substance and stature Maricris Zobel, and so-likeable Fr. Isidro Abaño, OP. The event kicked off the Christmas season in Cosmo Manille.

And before you could even bat an eyelash, all roads led to the University of Santo Tomas, which is the Philippines and Asia?s oldest university at nearly 400 years old. The hard-working and dedicated co-chairs and executive committee members, which included interesting, in-demand interior designer Jonathan Matti and renowned brilliant banker Andrew Gan, welcomed the chic invitees of the alta sociedad, heavyweight businessmen and loads of CEOs of different conglomerates, palanggas.

Things got on a roll with the lighting of the UST Christmas tree and campus led by mega sponsors Vicki Belo and Cristalle Henares of Belo Medical Group, and Andrew Budiman, the handsome, boyish, cyber-smart GM of Singapore Airlines, along with Mayor Alfredo Lim and Fr. Didoy Abaño, no less. It was an awesome magical sight.

Next was at the UST Chapel (Santissimo Rosario Parish Church) for the grand Christmas concert. Tons of our town?s namedroppables braved the horrendous traffic to make it in time for this magnificent concert, headed by sponsor, business magnate and international polo player Iñigo Zobel, dahlings.

The nice thing about this concert is that all the performers are students, faculty and alumni of UST. Wow! Superb performances include Abdul Candao and Andrew Fernando, UST alumni who have become stars in the opera scene overseas, and the incredibly divine diva Rachelle Gerodias. And all the other soloists, UST Singers, UST Orchestra and the angelic voices of the Tiples de Santo Domingo (the boys? choir of Santo Domingo Church) were just a knockout. At the end of the mind-boggling event, everyone applauded and shouted ?Bravo! Bravo!? Then the invitees were asked to sing along to ?Silent Night? and ?Ang Pasko ay Sumapit??songs personally chosen by UST?s Rector Magnificus, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, along with Dean Raul Sunico and Father Didoy. The wonderful part is the proceeds go to scholarships of the Conservatory of Music. Such fantastic talents that all of us Filipinos should be proud of.

(Tonight, during UST?s traditional Paskuhan at the magnificent UST Plaza Mayor, Father De la Rosa will officially start the countdown to the UST Quadricentennial in 2011. UST alumni Miriam Quiambao and Kim Atienza will emcee the concert, which will be capped off by a grand fireworks display. Be there!)

Cocktails

After the concert, we were ushered to the UST Museum for the cocktail reception, since 2/3 of the funds raised by the gala go to the heritage-conservation efforts of the university. Maricris Zobel and Father Didoy felt it was important that guests see where their money is going. The university does not normally open its doors to public functions so thank goodness they were able to persuade Father De la Rosa to agree. A rare treat indeed for us, palanggas.

The museum and main building were gorgeously eye-catching, and lit by committee member Jonathan Matti together with Robert Blancaflor who really outdid themselves. The food was from the popular La Tasca with champagne flowing endlessly.

It was such a thrill that the committee put up some of the paintings which have been restored since the last gala due to the committee?s efforts. In particular, I thought the ?Portrait of a Balinese Girl? by Locatelli was truly a masterpiece. The organizers told me ?guests were even more generous this year so they hope they can do even more next year,? dahlings. Major corporate sponsors like San Miguel Corp., Belo Essentials, E. Zobel Inc., Singapore Airlines, Security Bank, Ayala Corp., Kenny Rogers, Seattle?s Best, Jag Jeans, Globe Asiatique, LGT Bank in Liechtenstein, Goldilocks, Afficionado, Century Pacific Group, Kenneth and Mock, Globe Telecommunications, Asia Brewery, Metrobank, Emphasis, Oishi, Divina & Uy Law Offices, Larry?s Curtains and the many, many individual sponsors really deserve to take a bow for supporting this super-worthy enterprise.

Dancing followed at the lobby of the main building with music provided by MOBB. A totally awesome evening and congratulations should go to the Christmas Concert Gala 2009 board and the hardworking Christmas Gala and Quadricentennial team of UST: vivacious Giovanna Fontanilla, Greg Jarencio, Michaela Lagniton and Jonathan Gamalinda. Well, as we all know, UST is a Pontifical and Royal University and a little birdie whispered to me that next year, the organizers have already invited the king and queen of Spain, no less.