Tantoco and Rustan Group of Companies chair emeritus Ambassador Bienvenbido Tantoco Sr. hand theOutstanding Achievement Award to Criselda Lontok.
Cosmopolitan Manille came in full fashionable force, dahlings, to support that lady of ladies, designer Criselda Lontok, who presented her 30th anniversary show recently at Fairmont Makati.
At the event, Lontok humbly received the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award from well-loved Rustan’s Group of Companies chair Bienvenido Tantoco and Rustan’s Commercial Corp. president Zenaida “Nedy” R. Tantoco.
“This award is given to honor Criselda’s 30 years of constantly delivering beautiful and quality pieces to the customers of Rustan’s and amassing a following of loyal fans to the Criselda Lontok brand and to Rustan’s high-end stores,” Nedy said.
Guests tried to sit in the front row by the ramp. Many deserved to be seated there, but I saw more who should have been in the last row, oops. Although strictly an invitational affair, some people managed to get in courtesy of friends who were on the guest list.
Criselda’s Holiday 2013 Collection, dubbed “La Vie en Rose,” played on gorgeous print combinations, colors, varied lines and a showcase of different silhouettes worn by Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales, Marina Benipayo, Patty Betita, Issa Agana-Gonzales, Bea Agnir, Suyen Chi and, surprise, Melanie Marquez, who dazzled the audience with her flair for drama on the ramp.
The evening wear collection was accentuated by the exquisite beauty of Yvel pearls—the newest addition to the roster of retailers at Rustan’s; while the casual wear segment had select pieces from Beatriz—a line of accessories designed by Carissa Cruz Evangelista.
The event, presented by Rustan’s in partnership with the Raffles-Fairmont Makati, was for the benefit of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Bata 163.
Criselda Lontok is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang and Cebu.
Vicki Belo in Bacolod, Iloilo
Fresh from attending seminars in Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Dr. Vicki Belo flew to Bacolod recently to talk about her latest beauty products and treatments, dahlings.
No sooner could you bat an eyelash, she was in Iloilo for the same purpose, which was attended by the city’s women A-listers, no less, palangga.
A day before the event, cosmo Iloilo’s woman of style and distinction Norma Padilla-Rosales and her daughters Pane and Beverly “Pangging” Rosales lovingly orchestrated an intimate welcome dinner at their elegant Strawberry Mansion for Belo’s medical team.
Jetting in from Manille to join her was debonair hunk Hayden Kho, a Belo Clinic consultant who totally knows what his talk on beauty care was all about.
The gathering—whose guests included star maker and Belo’s PR consultant Jojie Dingcong as well as the Rosales famille’s friends—featured an excellent buffet spread, palangga, by chef Ding Montelibano.
Blooming white roses added romance and elegance to the party scene, dahlings.
Exquisite wines and beverages spiced up everyone’s spirits at the intimate and fun tête-á-tête.
But what was Hayden and the rest of his entourage really doing there, anyway? Well, you will read about it soon, palangga.
Toast to ‘King of Cognacs’
The Presidential Salon of historic Manila Hotel was the setting of an exclusive dinner for connoisseurs to sample Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac—a rare luxury
spirit considered as the “King of Cognacs.”
Moi had the privilege of learning how the House of Remy Martin makes this drink.
Before dinner, an elegant cocktail reception was held at the poolside of the 18th floor of Manila Hotel. A special tour of the Presidential Suite was conducted for cognac lovers, palangga.
The event’s highlight was the superbly prepared dinner that replicated the original inaugural menu in 1912—when Manila Hotel first opened its doors—prepared this time by executive chef Konrad Walter.
The menu featured Sauteed Foie Gras, Apple-Walnut Chutney and Arugula, perfectly balanced by the delightful Remy Martin VSOP.
“I can’t wait to have a sip of the Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac,” said one tycoon.
Christophe Bourrie, regional director for Louis XIII, masterfully showed guests some special pointers on how to best appreciate the rare luxury cognac.
The ceremonial opening of the bottle was led by Manila Hotel president and director Jose “Joey” Lina, no less.
Gentleman of all seasons Joey Pineda, commercial manager of Remy Cointreau Brands Philippines, explained that Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac is meticulously blended by three generations of cellar masters, taking as much as a century to perfect.
Literally 100 years of patient work went into every bottle of the Louis XIII, and there we were toasting this exquisite drink at Manila Hotel’s 101st anniversary. Talk about serendipity, ’di bala, palangga?
