Globalport held a welcome dinner party at the Conservatory of the Peninsula Manila for the local and international teams taking part in the Philippine Polo Open 2015.
Naturellement businessman and polo player Mikee Romero and wife Sheila Bermudez Romero hosted the event to welcome the six participating teams: Globalport, Tang Polo, Kingpower, Polo Escape, Los Tamaraos and Ayala/San Miguel.
“This year’s tournament is the first time the Philippines has hosted a multinational open with players from Argentina, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Australia and China,” Mikee explained to moi.
Aside from polo players and personalities, a varied mix of guests graced the reception, including VIPs such as German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski and polo royalty Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Meanwhile, the hotel’s in-house quartet played classical music.
Guests were welcomed by a swathe of purple and gold lights illuminating the tables that were adorned with lush greens, white blooms and aromatic candles.
Hosted by Shawn Yao of TV5, the program started with a welcome speech by Sheila, who emphasizedGlobalport’s commitment to promoting the equestrian sport. “My husband and I have invited you all tonight to bring light to the polo scene in the country,” she told the foreign players and guests. “We hope to share with you the talents and skills of polo players from around the globe and the excitement of the sport through our Philippine Polo Open tournament.”
Apart from her husband’s team, she acknowledged the other squads and their patrons: Shilai Liu of Tang Polo; Vichai of Kingpower; Robin Lourvanij of Polo Escape; Bobby Aguirre of Los Tamaraos; and Iñigo Zobel of Team Ayala/San Miguel.
Among the personalities spotted were Sen. Sonny Angara and my palangga, Tootsy Angara; TV’s chic Korina Sanchez; Thai jeweler Tippy Choungrangsee; editor Joanne Rae Ramirez; Bum Tenorio; Inquirer Lifestyle editor Thelma Sioson San Juan; One Mega Group CEO and my cousin Sari Yap; Lifestyle Asia editor Anna Sobrepeña; Tatler editor Anton San Diego, who came with renowned band Blake; Metrobank Foundation president Chito Sobrepeña; Metro Home editor Anton Baretto; Travel Now editor Marbee Shing Go; TV5 president Noel Lorenzana; Unilever personal care head Gina Lorenzana; Folded and Hung CEO Ronald Pineda; Pepper Teehankee; Philip Cu-Unjieng and cousin Christine Dayrit; Vince and Patricia Hizon; and Dr. Aivee Teo.
Other VIPs: UBS country head Lauro Baja and wife Grace; SM VP Kenner Chua; and Arnold Vegafria.
For the excellently prepared five-course dinner, guests had the choice between two delectable main courses: a duo of US beef tenderloin and braised short rib served with saffron mash, market vegetables and port wine jus; or pan-fried black cod with saffron mash, green asparagus, roasted almonds and sun-dried tomato pesto.
The dinner was capped with dessert, exquisitely plated vanilla crème brûlée with fresh macerated berries and caramel Chantilly.
As we enjoyed the last course, Erik Santos took the stage to serenade the audience. He performed “Just the Way You Are,” a Stevie Wonder medley and “This is the Moment.”
Sheila’s sister, Bubbles Bermudez, had a blast while daughter Milka Romero helped her entertain the guests.
Mikee led the toast, keeping it short and simple. “They said that pulling off this kind of tournament was impossible, but to us, nothing is impossible,” he said.
Highlight was the fabulous performance of singer Lani Misalucha. Her vocal mastery and musical artistry left the audience in awe so that many cried for more!
Lani happily obliged, singing a powerful encore, dahlings.
The evening wound up with singer Lougee Basabas and the Sauce band.
I noticed loads of married women without their husbands and a handful of gorgeous young women like Milka swooning over the handsome Argentine polo players. “Who is the better-looking one among the Argentinian players?” they asked one another.
With the right invitees, a sumptuous menu and fantastic musical numbers, all of them showing the hallmark Mikee and Sheila Romero entertaining style, it was a great night, n’est-ce pas?