Defying gravity is impossible but defying aging may be within the bounds of the possible. With healthy living, a good amount of happiness and a little bit of luck, age may truly be just a number.

I figure that enjoyment is the key to welcoming a new year of life, so this year, for my natal day, I mentally focused on turning a sweet 16 again, in fact, three times around all told.

Sunny yellow and spring flowers were the chosen elements for my birthday party at the Midas Café in Midas Hotel and Casino on Roxas Boulevard (tel. 9020102).

Over Sunday brunch, my party planner, Bangs Zaldivar (tel. 0916-498-4157), and I planned the day. I wanted to start with a Healing Mass with Fr. Gerard Deveza, followed by lunch with my lady guests and fun gay friends.

My stylish florist Patricia Pastelero (www.sprucefloraldesigns.com) coordinated with my favorite graphics designer, Mye Cruz of Adworks Graphics (www.adworksgrfx.com), to create a beautiful, indoor garden set-up with lots of décor for guests to grab from the tables.

A special feature was the “loot-all-you-can” dessert buffet, featuring the sweetest candies and cupcakes that all the guests could stuff into their pretty loot bags, which Mye especially designed for the party. This dessert bar can be ordered from Claudine Sycip of Do Me A Favor’s Sugar Overload (tel. 0917-5274645) to match any party theme.

Included in the dessert bar were mini cakes from Cupcakes by Sonja and a multi-layer, yellow, floral cake from Goldilocks. There was definitely no shortage of sugar that afternoon, and my girlfriends were so happy to indulge.

I feel my parties are never complete without games and prizes. This year’s sponsors included Purefoods Premium Franks and Cold Cuts, ZenZest Diffuser Scents and Ambi Pur. All my guests were able to bring home loads of goodies from the three, and have a fantastic time to boot.

Purefoods

Purefoods has been doing an excellent job on their premium lines. These delicious, all-meat, delicatessen favorites, now available in supermarkets nationwide, were a hit among the guests.

Purefoods recently launched its Premium Franks and Cold Cuts at Chef Jessie Restaurant in Rockwell. Keeping the launch lively were hosts JM Rodriguez and China Cojuangco, who introduced the different celebrities who teamed up with chef Jessie Sincioco to create a full, seven-course meal using the different Purefoods meat varieties.

Renowned chef and restaurateur Sincioco whipped up a delicious soup with bits of ham with model mom Christine Jacob-Sandejas.

I also got to team up with chef Jessie to produce a pasta dish called Salami Linguini al Pesto, and I have to say, it was very tasty, thanks to chef Jessie who did all the work.

Other personalities who teamed up with chef Jessie on various kitchen wonders were model Kelly Misa, sports host Rovilson Fernandez and two of the Azkals superstars, Aly Borromeo and Anton del Rosario.

Purefoods marketing manager Jogee Cruz is really excited about their products because of premium quality and taste. The seven delicious and appetizing products can be served as a simple meal on its own or with a bit of flair for parties or gatherings. Now that Christmas carols are already on the airwaves, Purefoods Premium Franks and Cold Cuts will surely be part of our gift lists.

Blindfolded with Vice

Also on our gift lists will be Ambi Pur Air Effects, the newest and most effective odor-killing, fresh-smelling agent. If you have been watching TV lately, you may have seen me promoting this product along with show-biz queen Gretchen Barretto.

We were both taken blindfolded by Vice Ganda to a very filthy public toilet. We were then made to describe what we smelled and then remove our blindfolds. Believe me, Ambi Pur is, indeed, so effective!

Johnny Litton bash

Growing older and wiser is not bad at all. Take witty, irreverent host and society columnist Johnny Litton. He recently celebrated a big birthday bash with all of his close friends and family, and he continues to look great.

An Italian-inspired cocktail party at Dusit Thani Hotel Manila, hosted by GM Prateek Kumar, was filled with entertainment, flowing food and premium wines from Tita Trillo’s Titania Wine Cellar. Internationally acclaimed baritenor Jack Salud and charming chanteuse Bea Tantoco captivated the audience.

Adding panache to the affair was a fashion couture show – a collaboration of creative genius JunJun Ablaza and designer Michele Sison. After the program, guests went home with gifts from Rustan’s, Beabi, Laneige, Aficionado Germany Perfume and Joel Cruz Signatures.

Star Magic Ball

Age is just a number. If you hang around young friends, your energy will match theirs. And if your friends happen to be young show biz stars of Star Magic, your energy level becomes even more youthful.

At the 5th Star Magic Ball held at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila, the brightest stars of ABS-CBN and the new talents of Star Magic, the network’s premier talent development and management center, looked all so dazzling in black and white.

Star Magic heads Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan and Mariole Alberto welcomed all the stars into the elegant ballroom, styled by expert florist Robert Blancaflor. Powerful singer Martin Nievera set a celestial mood and other singers followed.

Ernie Lopez of ABS-CBN Publishing took the chance to hold a special preview of the new Star Magic Catalog, the bible of the country’s pop icons. Among the awardees for the night was box-office king John Lloyd Cruz. He is also the cover of the latest issue of Metro Magazine.

Moet et Chandon, the ball’s sparkling partner for the past five years, gave its Fab Pair Award to Bea Alonzo and Zanjoe Marudo. Favorite Couple Award went to Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales. Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion were awarded the Choice Fashionista Award.

Let me end with birthday greetings to a person who has truly defied the bounds of everything, my mom, Marixi Prieto. She continues to show me that truly, age is just a number. Happy Birthday Mom!

Follow the author at Twitter @tessavaldes, e-mail her at [email protected].