This Christmas is all about family and blessings. With my brother Andrew Prieto and his family back home from the States after more than two decades, the holidays are extra special because our entire clan is complete.
Like the rest of the family, Andrew et famille are realizing that the easiest way to shop for gifts is to head over to Rustan’s. Its Christmas Wonders campaign highlights the store’s talent for making Christmas extra special—by offering special gifts for all.
All under one roof
My sister-in-law Myda, for example, can find trusted brands like Tadashi Shoji or Josie Natori in Rustan’s. There are covetable shoes from Christian Louboutin, Sergio Rossi or Rene Caovilla, and adorable bags from Rafe or Loewe, Fendi and Longchamp.
Andrew’s daughters will head over to Rustan’s Fine Jewelry, which offers an exquisite array of international brands. For women who prefer their watches decked, Bedat & Co. and Piaget have pieces that’ll be the talk of the town. These are only some of Rustan’s tempting offerings for ladies who enjoy luxury.
In the beauty section, Rustan’s beauty loot for the holidays is simply irresistible. Exclusive centers like Clarins, Murad and Dermalogica are joining in on the Christmas fever with special treatment packages for the holidays.
For Andrew and other discerning men, Rustan’s has several options to choose from, with brands such as Pedro del Hierro, Hackett, Ascot Chang and F. by Faconnable.
For the home, Rustan’s Home for the Holidays presents several showcases styled by different personalities. The beautiful displays in Rustan’s Makati give a wonderful spread of Christmas cheer for the home.
Christmas is really for the kids, and Rustan’s has an entire floor all for them. See Santa today in Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La branches. His elves help customers fill up the wish lists of the kids.
Citi’s success
With many festivities going on, many businesses are also whooping it up.
Citi, the country’s largest foreign bank, recently treated captains of industry, private sector leaders and key media personalities to an intimate dinner affair at Blackbird Restaurant in Makati City.
Citi CEO Batara Sianturi welcomed guests to the thanksgiving reception, the perfect occasion to celebrate Citi’s successful year and to renew the bank’s commitment to enabling its clients’ continued progress.
Batara spoke about how Citi started the year on a high note, with its partnership with the Philippine government and President Noynoy Aquino for the Cashless Purchase Card program.
The bank also announced the renewal of its mandate as sole dollar settlement bank for the banking industry. A few weeks back, Citi broke ground on a new office building in Bonifacio Global City.
The festivities started with a moving performance of the Loboc Children’s Choir, flown in just for the affair. Founded in 1980 by a team of teachers and led by its musical director Alma Fernando Taldo, the choir has won numerous awards and has performed worldwide.
The legendary Basil Valdez was the evening’s highlight, singing his well-loved OPM classics.
The six-course dinner was deliciously
divine with highlight dishes like prawn scotch eggs, grilled Wagyu striploin and chocolate with salted caramel popcorn. Chef Colin McKay joined the dinner just after stepping off his flight from Europe.
The event later showcased a series of documentaries featuring clients from different parts of the world, handpicked and honored by Citi as today’s “Progress Makers.”
Citi, in more than 160 markets and countries, has the unique privilege of working with clients who bring socioeconomic, scientific and cultural benefits to cities and communities, thus shaping and reshaping the future.
Looking ahead to the coming year with much anticipation, Batara led the toast to the future with new successes, new milestones and new Progress Makers.
Tatler’s three-day cover shoot
The magazine business is also ending the year with a bang. Philippine Tatler’s December yearend issue is always fantastic. This year, the editors outdid themselves once more, gathering an elite group of 85 personalities from high society and the entertainment sphere for a party-cum-photo shoot—the first of its kind in the country.
In efforts to create an even bigger and better feature, the 85 personalities they shot had the time of their lives, perhaps thanks to the free-flowing supply of champagne, courtesy of Moet et Chandon.
Editor in chief Anton San Diego has graciously included me again as a December cover girl, along with the mother-daughter tandem of Bea and Paloma Zobel, debonair Derek Ramsey, fashion stars Tina and Betina Ocampo, dynamic couple Marilu and David Batchelor, gorgeous bride-to-be Heart Evangelista, life of the party Tim Yap, and uber creative Kenneth Cobonpue.
Some of the other stellar personalities featured are Ben Chan, Rep. Lucy Gomez, Mons Romulo, Bonnae Gokson, Gert Voorjans, Kaye Tiñga, Juan Dominguez, Cris Albert, Vicky Zubiri and many more. This issue also has Asia Tatler’s first Readers’ Choice Awards.
The three-day shoot held at Fairmont Makati was truly fun, festive and spectacular with the sharp photographer Frank Hoefsmit taking the wonderful photos.
Anton’s friends were all reunited at his birthday party held at Raffles Residences, where flowing Moet et Chandon champagne welcomed his well-wishers.
The Tatler holiday issue also has a very stylish gift guide that dynamic duo Ricky Toledo and Chito Vijandre creatively curated with a decadent selection of gift ideas for the merriest time of the year. So, between Rustan’s and Tatler, there is no shortage of gift ideas for your loved ones this holiday season. Merry Christmas to all!
Follow @tessavaldes on Twitter or visit www.tessaprietovaldes.com.
