The 2014 edition of the Fila Polo Cup recently took place in extravagant fashion with “The Great Gatsby” as theme.
Fila Philippines CEO and president Cris Albert led the champagne-flavored celebration that harked back to the fabulous 1920s Charleston era.
Fashion and events director Robby Carmona ran the show while events stylist Robert Blancaflor did the production design.
Fila endorsers Tim Yap and Fabio Ide were joined by new brand endorsers, Filipino-Swiss interior designer Jess Kienle and Wesley Machado.
Being a keen polo player, Butch Albert fiercely went for the win in Sunday’s Game 1 along with nephew and youngest polo player Tommy Bitong. Other team members were Santi Elizalde and Jay de Jesus.
Game 2 had the team of Iñigo Zobel, Juan Jauretche, Alfie Araneta and Cole Aguirre going for the gold with Zobel scoring the winning goal.
The Gatsby theme continued with onstage entertainment led by multifaceted performer Myra David, aka Skarlet, doing a jazz number, followed by R&B/hip-hop/reggae artist Artstrong.
“Fila’s direction for 2014 is definitely retro,” said Fila VP for advertising Ana Abad Santos. “The new designs are going back to Fila’s roots. Vintage and retro are the order of the day.”
The collection included the Flapper look for the ladies and top hats for the gents, dahlings.
Fila shops are located at SM Mall of Asia, Megamall and Cebu; Ayala Malls’ Glorietta, TriNoma, Pavilion, Market! Market!, Cebu and Marquee Pampanga; Robinsons Galleria, Ermita, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Lipa, Metro East, Dumaguete, Tacloban, General Santos and Ilocos Norte; Limketkai Cagayan de Oro; Island City Mall Bohol; Festival Mall Alabang; Ever’s Commonwealth and Cainta; D’Mall Boracay; Gaisano’s Capital Tacloban, Capital Ormoc and Capital Kalibo; NCC Mall’s Davao and NCC Mall Tagum; and LCC Legazpi.
Log on to fila.ph.
‘Wicked’ treat
The fabulous Broadway musical “Wicked” is on its last weekend run in Manila after several extensions. It has been much acclaimed, called “the best musical of the decade” by Entertainment Weekly and “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety, palangga.
Citi Philippines hosted an appreciation night for its corporate clients and partners, treating them to watch an exclusive showing of “Wicked.”
In the past, dahlings, Citi has sponsored the showing of other touring Broadway and West End productions of “Cats,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Mamma Mia!”
At the “Wicked” show, Citi executives and clients like Ayala Land’s Tony Aquino, BDO’s Nestor Tan, Jollibee’s Ato Tanmantiong, Megaworld’s Andrew Tan, Pasar’s David Halley, Philam Life’s Rex Mendoza and RCBC’s Lorenzo Tan enjoyed cocktails and free-flowing wine served by Diamond Hotel.
The guests were warmly welcomed by Citi’s corporate and investment banking head Usman Ahmed, Asean markets head and country treasurer Arcus Fernando, consumer business manager Bea Tan, securities and funds services head Tet Reyes, and corporate affairs director Aneth Lim.
Book launch
Lifestyle Asia threw a bash at the sleek Buddha Bar for the publication’s launch of the second edition of its “Home and Away” coffee-table book, which features private residences here and abroad.
The first edition made it to the Top 10 Best-selling Philippine Publications of both National Book Store and Powerbooks in 2013, and received the prestigious Philippine Quill Awards.
Formally unveiling the book were editor in chief Anna Sobrepeña, associate publisher and deputy editor Cheryl Tiu, One Mega Group chair Jerry Tiu, Mega founder and CEO Sari Yap, and guest of honor architect Lor Calma, whose home was featured on the cover.
Marian Arrieta-Roxas, Picar Development Inc.’s VP for sales and marketing, congratulated Lifestyle Asia and One Mega Group and talked about Picar’s latest development, the Stratford Residences.
The guests swooned while being serenaded by saxophonist Vince Lahorra and fab jazz singer Cara Manglapus and her band.
Everyone partook of the yummy hors d’oeuvre, especially the signature Buddha Bar sushi rolls, natch, washed down with Moët et Chandon Brut Imperial, Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay 2010, Domaine Chandon Shiraz 2008, and specialty Lifestyle Asia Majestic and Royale cocktails made from Belvedere Pure Vodka and Hennessy VS.
The second “Home and Away” showcases more gorgeous residences, hotels and lodgings, covering a vast range of styles and looks.
Included are a South African Tuscany house and Bacani-Phan’s London residence. It also features premium hotels and resorts such as Fullerton Singapore, Bulgari Bali, Tanzania Resort, El Nido and Sofitel Metropole Hanoi.
Lifestyle Asia’s “Home and Away” is available in bookstores and newsstands nationwide. Log on to lifestyleasia.ph.
