My dearest best buddy Jojie Dingcong turned another chapter in his exciting life by celebrating his birthday with an awesome bash at the spanking new Congo Grille on Jupiter Street in Makati.
The fabulous, jungle-themed party was hosted by the tall, well-mannered heir to the Yap business empire, Raymond Yap himself, no less. Arriving in his flashy, fire-engine red Ferrari, Raymond cut a dashing figure in a gray suit, dahlings.
He welcomed guests—who were wearing animal-print outfits—to his thriving property, showing us the best that Congo Grille had to offer.
Beating drums enhanced the affair’s rugged ambience. The buffet table was set with some of Congo Grille’s signature dishes like prawns thermidore, sisig, seafood pasta, dynamite chili and yummy desserts which moi didn’t dig on, but proved too tempting to pass up for the others, palanggas.
Champagne overflowed till the last guest had left.
Each corner of the restaurant was teeming with the who’s who in show biz, fashion, media and social scenes. Sultry Pops Fernandez had the eligible bachelor Raymond constantly at her side—as whispers came my way that they are now the latest twosome. I must say so!
Other notable figures at the party were Baby Girl Fricke, gorgeous exotic beauty Tanya Pricke Lichauco, architect Conrad Onglao, Marivic Vasquez, Andrew Gan, Glenn Carandang, Pepper Teehankee, Eric Quizon, Gerard Sison, John James Uy, Alexander Diaz and head-turner Bianca Manalo who is among Jojie’s roster of talents.
“Kidlat” superhero Derek Ramsay also arrived in a red Ferarri with the Ramsay famille in full force.
Fashion icons Inno Sotto, Pepito Albert, and makeup whiz Patrick Rosas mingled with lifestyle editor Yvette Fernandez.
Also spotted were Larry Leviste, Louie Cruz, Anton Mendoza, Anton San Diego, Vicki Zubiri, Carl Lopez, Glenn Guidicelli, Grace Palaganas and the glamorous couple Tessa and Dennis Valdes, plus others too many to mention.
The event’s highlight was a parade of hot, eye-popping Brazilian models, stunning in their hand-painted body art and flowing gowns created specially for the jungle theme, palanggas. Cameras clicked endlessly with the social set and celebrities all rubbing elbows under one roof.
Leave it to the wonder-man of all seasons and our host with the most, “Tarzan” Jojie Dingcong to come up with an extremely amazing fun bash, palanggas!
Ready for a ‘Smart Move’
Leave it to the now more popular than ever Smart Communications, Inc. when it comes to launching promos—like the fun “Smart Move” bash held at the Opus Restaurant and Lounge in Resorts World Manila, dahlings.
The event was an exclusive gathering for loyal clients and loads of new subscribers who have moved away from their former, almost useless mobile service providers and “have embraced Smart’s mantra of “Living More,” palanggas.
Welcoming the guests was Smart’s EVP and head of wireless consumer division Noel Lorenzana, no less, who explained the idea behind the company’s award-winning “Live More” campaign.
“When you’re struggling with your wireless services—a missed call, a late message, slow Internet—you’re losing time that you can’t get back. You’re literally losing a part of your life,” Lorenzana said. “Now you get the service you deserve, service that is both timely and dependable, giving you more time to enjoy life. You actually get to ‘Live More.’” Amen, sir.
He received wild, loud applause après his speech.
The three special guests who made the “Smart Move”—fashion blogger Ingrid Go of the Bag Hag Diaries, lawyer Rod Nepomuceno of PR firm Big Big Big, and entrepreneur Cristalle Belo-Henares of the Belo Medical Group—all agreed that, “with Smart, subscribers do, indeed, Live More.”
There was a chilled-champagne parade for the guests to feel cool and bubbly. Giving a toast to “Living More” was PLDT’s brilliant chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, with Smart’s chief wireless advisor Doy Vea and PLDT technology group head Olan Peña.
The entire happening was a testament to how subscribing to Smart’s fantastic service is a Smart Move, ’di bala, dahlings?
New cocktail menu
It all started in Boracay where its reputation for superb Italian dishes spread by word of mouth. It then mushroomed into full bloom, dahlings, so much so that Aria Cucina Italiana has launched new potent cocktail menu at Bonifacio High Street Central in Global City.
The Aria’s Special House Cocktails by Barmansmix were concocted by expert mixologist Tim Walters, no less. He has made a name for himself in Los Angeles and Manille with his uniquely tantalizing drink creations, dahlings.
Gorgeous Bianca Araneta Elizalde welcomed the beautiful faces and lovers of Italian food and introduced Walters.
The seasoned bartender talked about the cocktails being sampled for the evening, demonstrating how each one is made and shared a little about the drinks’ conceptions.
Bianca then opened the floor to the night’s grand tasting of the cocktails paired with some of Aria’s top dishes, palanggas.
Okay, roll call for all you cocktails sippers. First, the Strawbasiltini. Next was the Tropical Sangria. Then there was Aria Margarita. And finally, the Key Lime Pietini. Check it all out and you’ll be totally in orbit with delight till you get home.
Tim Walters’ wife, adorable Giselle Toengi, surprised everyone with a rendition of “La Vie en Rose,” a special treat inspired by her first theater role in a recent production of the fab musical “Piaf.”
Aria is still the “in” place for great eats and, now, booze, dahlings.