I?ve so many people to thank for making ?Lustico? a success
FATE HAS A FINE WAY OF bringing people and spectacular events together. ?Lustico: A Fashion Presentation,? the successful first solo show of talented fashion designer Dennis Lustico, didn?t just happen overnight. It capped months of laborious meetings and countless solicitations.

It all started early this year, when my sister-in-law Ria Prieto asked if I could help produce a gala show for Dennis, who has been in the fashion industry for years. I didn?t want to work alone, so Dennis linked me up with Taguig?s dynamic First Lady Kaye Tinga.

The core team expanded as we were joined by director Ariel Lozada and event coordinator Maggie Gineta. Together, we all chose a date for ?Lustico.? The ?ber? months of the year are always event-filled, so we felt lucky to have gotten a place for October 1.

Very supportive

Fate has a funny way of bringing plans and unforeseen events together. Who knew that Ondoy would wreak havoc on our poor countrymen just four days before our night? Kaye and I decided to move the event.

Luckily, the Tatler family had also decided to move their ball, and so their original evening date at Makati Shangri-La?s Rizal Ballroom became available. Shangri-La boss Andy Bautista and his Shang family were very supportive. Hands-on GM Reto Klauser presented a delicious Filipino-inspired menu. He made sure the service was equally exceptional.

Rustan?s The Beauty Source was our main presentor, through the intervention of fashion king Inno Sotto and Rustan?s young and lovely matriarch Nedy Tantoco. In cooperation with Santa Maria Novella, Murad and Manuel Canovas Parfums, our guests enjoyed various delightful products. The department store?s ongoing tie-up with HSBC and Thai Airways was also presented.

As always, HSBC was our co-presentor, and bank CEO Mark Watkinson graced our affair. Thai Airways? GM Navit Chantarachoti auctioned a round-trip business class ticket to Europe that Bench?s kind-hearted leader Ben Chan won.

Even before the storms, Kaye and I had already planned to give the funds raised from ?Lustico? to the Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter and Makati branch. Our other beneficiaries were Assumption High School Class 1981 Foundation and Tanging Yaman Foundation.

Additional funds

Kaye and I decided we needed to raise even more funds for the relief operations for typhoon victims, so we added a silent and live auction to the event, with the help of my partner-in-costume Tim Yap. Several top luxury resorts donated vacation packages that we tied up with free airfare courtesy of PAL and Seair.

El Nido Resorts, one of our supporters, is the country?s greenest resort, having bagged the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award last month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bravo to Lagen and Miniloc for their waste management and solar power efforts!

Among the items in the auction were vacation packages in Boracay, Bohol, Bicol, Palawan, Cebu and Europe; an HSBC Red Package composed of a Red MasterCard, Rustan?s Beauty Box, and Lustico gown; Jul Dizon brooch; Sony Ericsson Satio Phone; high-end items from Rustan?s and B&B Italia; PLDT SME Package; Ivan Acuña Painting; and Daniel Dela Cruz metal sculpture.

Audi was also a co-presentor of ?Lustico.? This German marque is making heads turn with its latest models, but even more admirable is the fact that the company tirelessly supports CSR efforts. Audi Philippines director Prudencio Coyiuto and Rosie Coyiuto were present at ?Lustico,? and while Audi maestro Robert Coyiuto was unavailable, his presence was certainly felt, from the beautiful car displayed in the Shang?s main lobby to the tasteful displays in the ballroom foyer.

Before the main fashion show, the sophisticated audience that included generous table sponsors like Philippine Tatler?s Irene Francisco, Belo Group?s Vicki Belo, Flawless? Ruby Coyiuto, Misibis Bay Raintree Resort?s Mylene Co, Furnitalia?s Florence Ko, Ben Chan, Keren Pascual, Dr. Aivee Teo, David Lim, Reena Hechanova-Angeles, Marixi Prieto and Dennis Valdes to name a few, were all serenaded by the melodious voices of La Diva, composed of power belters Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos.

Beautiful event

Fate has a fantastic way of bringing people and beautiful events together. I met La Diva through my ?Celebrity Duets? co-judge Danny Tan. I asked him if it was possible for the amazing trio to sing and, voilà! There they were.

These three talented ladies are having their first major concert, ?Only La Diva,? at the Music Museum in Greenhills on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5. For more info, call Sunny Side Up Productions at 0917-8119865.

My ?Celebrity Duets? Season 1 friends were also so supportive. Dr. Manny Calayan shared a table with Lord of Scents Joel Cruz. With his wife Pie, Manny has established the Calayan Surgicentre Foundation, formalizing their charitable work to address those in dire need of reconstructive surgery. Aside from two busy branches, the Calayans have gone international by opening in, where else, Beverly Hills. If you?re one of my web readers, check them out by calling 1-818-217-5239.

Another special guest from ?Celebrity Duets? days was Dr. Hayden Kho. His partner, Dra. Vicki, was tied up with her son and so could not come, but Hayden was so brave to venture out and support ?Lustico.? His healing process has begun, and I hope he is on the way to brighter and happier days ahead.

?Lustico: A Fashion Presentation? was directed by Ariel Lozada, with fashion styling by Noel Manapat, and hair and make-up by Patrick Rosas. It was also sponsored by DMCI Homes, Megaworld, PLDT, Ethan Allen, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Sony Ericsson, El Nido, Janylin Shoes, Jul Dizon Jewellery, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Philippine Tatler, S&R and Thai Airways.

Fate has a fabulous way of bringing people together in a spectacular event. I?ve so many people to thank for making ?Lustico? a success, and it all starts with my beautiful and stately co-producer Kaye Tinga. Maraming salamat to all!

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