Celebrated Filipino fashion designer Josie Natori, who is based in New York, came to Cebu to present a fashion show of her latest collection, held at Rustan’s department store in Ayala Center Cebu.
About 100 prominent ladies attended, not just to see but to snap up the products, offered at very attractive prices.
On this occasion Josie was accompanied by her mother Angelita Alameda Cruz and sister Aida Cruz Chinloy.
From Rustan’s end were Marilen Tantoco, VP for home and merchandising; Dina Tantoco, marketing communications head; and Pepet Macachor, Rustan’s Cebu general manager.
Congratulated for the success of the event were Jaja Chiongbian Rama and her cousin, Claudine Chiongbian of BigSeed.
Grand debut ball
Jason and Mira Co asked their daughter Julieanne to choose between a trip to Europe and a debut for her 18th birthday. She opted for the grand ball, which was attended by about 300 well-wishers at the Pavilion of Oakridge.
Julieanne’s reason was that she wanted to celebrate the occasion with as many family members and friends. Attendees included her brothers Christian Johanne, 21, Jan Adrian, 16; plus their grandparents Felipe and Belen Co.
The party was eight months in the planning, hence the smooth flow throughout the evening. Ryan Uybengkee was the program host. Danny Villarante devised the choreography for the cotillion.
Julieanne is a sophomore at De La Salle where she is taking up Industrial Management Engineering. Next school year she will be in the varsity fencing team. She has an artistic streak as she did the artwork of the invitations to her debut.
New hotel GM
Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu held a party at its lobby lounge in honor of its new general manager Laurent Boisdron and new hotel manager Fabien Martinez. Both are French.
The party was rather intimate, thus Laurent and Fabien were able to speak to practically everyone present. They talked about innovative ideas which would be implemented in the coming months.
Present was Ulla Virkulla, director of commercial operations for Southeast Asia of the Carlson-Rezidor, to which Radisson belongs.
Also present were Ann Olalo, Radisson Cebu director of sales and marketing; Princes Anderle, director of marketing communications; Arabella Barz, director of sales; Rochelle Tabino, promotions manager; Roberto Kunitz, executive chef; Ruby Nepomuceno, director of events; Jeff Fronda, area director for revenue management; and Rabby Nuevo, sales manager.
Amigos de España
Laurent Boisdron heard Amparito Lhuillier talking in Spanish and told her, “I also speak Spanish, having been once assigned in Barcelona.”
Amparito also found out that Laurent is a member of La Chaine des Rotisseurs for which she has activated his membership in Cebu.
“We are having a fellowship on May 20,” she told him, “at the Crimson Resort in Mactan. Also, we will invite you to be our guest of honor at the next Amigos de España meeting.”
Both Laurent Boisdron and Fabien Martinez attended the Amigos de España meeting held over lunch at Salon Barcelona of the Casino Español de Cebu. They sat with Amparito, Myra Gonzalez, Amelia La O and Chinggay Utzurrum.
Present were Susan Sala, Julina Muertegui, Paqui Aboitiz, Quina Melendez, Carmen Martinez, Chi-Chi Martinez, Marichu Garcia and Pilar Cusi.
More: Teresin Mendezona, Carmen Campbell, Rosebud Sala and her daughter Marvi, Tessie Javier, Angie Mathieu, Anna Marie Dizon, Maria Pilar Escaño, Margot Larrañaga, Marilou Ordoñez, Tina Ebrada, José Mari Miranda and Kingsley Medalla who brought his large camera.
Cigar boutique
Maitina del Gallego Borromeo and her cousin Roman Ripoll have been co-owners of Los Primos Tabacos for some years now, producing quality Philippine cigars to varied clients and tobacco outlets.
They decided to open a cigar boutique at the foyer of the artsy The Henry Hotel in Banilad, and threw a party to mark the occasion. It is quite sophisticated, and it exudes a particular aroma that can be pleasantly heady.
On opening night there was the presence of Maitina’s father Miguel del Gallego and her most supportive husband, Andre Borromeo.
To sample the cigars and send those puffs into the air, one had to go to the garden adjacent to the hotel’s foyer, where the famous French cognac with the Camus label was being poured into snifters and duly appreciated.
The mood was further enhanced by Mario Blanco, excellent vocalist/guitarist who usually plays at the bar of the Casino Español. He sang his full repertoire of favorites spanning several decades.
Glimpsed about: Dondi Joseph, Rose and Mike Hennessy, Alfonso and Meryl Martinez, Paco and Mona Lisa Jarque, Mary Ann Arculli, Lana Osmeña, Jurgen and Sandra Pesch, Carlo Cordaro, Gretchen Choa-Uy, Tasha Dixon, Carlitos Alvarez, Frances Siao, Tamsin Booth, Jovy and Crystal Neri, Simon and Krisine Go.
More: Dexter Narvios, Angelique Narvios, Laurice Chiongbian, Ritchie Go, Anders Hallden, Michelle Cantini, Lani Pasquet, Jay Chiongbian, Wesley Chiongbian and more.
There was a cigar rolling demonstration by Tabaqueria de Filipinas craftsmen. The cigar boutique not only offers Filipino cigars but also imported ones, plus ashtrays, lighters, humidors and shisha pipes.