It will surely be an October to remember as we mount the eighth edition of the Red Charity Gala on Oct. 8 in our new home, the Shangri-La Hotel at the Fort. With my gracious cochair Kaye Tiñga, we are honored and excited to present the fashion collection of prolific designer Chito Vijandre. Directed by Ariel Lozada, this annual charity event highlights the creativity and craftsmanship of Filipino fashion designers.
Although Chito may have crossed over to interior design in recent years, we are quite thrilled to see his core DNA as a fashion designer. Chito is an alumnus of Slim’s, the renowned fashion school, and clothing design is truly his first love.
From fashion, Chito started channeling his creative energies to interior design. As expected, he won trophies, one of which was a platinum award for the production design and styling of the Bench commercial L’Amoureux. So it is just fitting that our major sponsor is Bench, and we are grateful to Bench boss Ben Chan for always supporting the Gala.
Chito rekindled his fashion fire when Slim’s called upon him to create clothes again. His capsule collection for the fashion school’s anniversary show earned raves from the fashion press and the public who wanted to see more from this designer. As a result, Kaye and I were excited to make Chito the featured designer for this year’s Gala.
As always, the dramatic invitation was conceptualized by the Adworks Graphics team of Norman and Mye Cruz. (Check out @adworks_manila on Instagram to see more of their creative invitations and personalized gift ideas.)
The press con for the Gala was held at the Salvatore Cuomo & Bar at Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City. Joel Acebedo, our project manager, got all sponsors and auction donors to come as we introduced Chito to mainstream media and bloggers. Our PR guru for the past eight years has been Edd Fuentes, and we are always indebted to him for his pro bono services.
The press con was hosted by Luigi Vera and Richie Yang of Am-Phil Group, who graciously sponsored the affair. Laine de Jesus-Vallar of Salvatore Cuomo made sure we sampled the different Neapolitan dishes and desserts as well as specially imported Paul Bassett coffee.
Salvatore Cuomo & Bar is on the ground floor of Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City. Call 9463072 or 9463073.
Up for bids
As always, the beneficiaries of the Gala will be the Philippine Red Cross and Assumption HS 81 Foundation. My co-auctioneer Tim Yap, and I are already planning the auction that kicks off the evening.
One auction highlight is a beautiful strand of South Sea pearls donated by the Jewelmer group. For the men, an Omega James Bond 007 Limited Edition watch has been donated by generous Emerson Yao of Lucerne Group.
For the kitchen wizards and food aficionados, a 36” Dual Fuel Range of Viking Range is up for bids. Viking Range is known as the Mercedes-Benz of kitchen ranges. Tedrick Yau, PR of Viking Range, is also arranging a cooking demo for me at the Viking Range Showroom in Westgate Commercial Center in Alabang next month.
The biggest auction item this year is a full 4-day, 3-night Cell Therapy program in Villa Medica, Germany. The package includes full board, airport transfers, nine organ Cell Therapy injections, two Vitamin infusions, two Ozone therapies, and a month’s supply of supplements. Once back in Manila, the local Villa Medica team will provide post-treatment care.
Bobby Kittichaiwong, CEO of Villa Medica, flew in from Thailand for the press con and will be at the Gala for the auction. He is also throwing in raffle items like vouchers for Full Facial Skin Therapy in Villa Medica Germany, and another Full Cell Therapy program at a 50 percent discount.
Limited-edition bag
One of the Gala’s new partners is online retail shop Zalora. Past Gala designers designed special bags for Zalora and these will be up for auction. Chito has also designed a limited-edition bag for online shoppers. Zalora PH is the top online site, offering fabulous fashion finds to Filipinos, all at the click of a button.
Zalora created a pop-up store at C3 lower ground floor in Boni High Street Central, BGC, to display the special Zalora bags. Check out the creations of Rajo Laurel, Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren and Lesley Mobo at the pop up store or online at www.zalora.com.ph. The bags are up for silent auction at the Gala.
Gala partners
Paolo Campos, the young CEO of Zalora, told me how excited he is for them to digitally partner with Red Charity Gala. We, too, are excited to expand the number of viewers for our featured designers by getting them online.
Another Gala donor is W/17, one of Manila’s favorite lifestyle stores. They recently held a Pre-Holiday Collection launch to usher in the Christmas season. The new collection of burnt wood coffee tables and slabs, as well as petrified wood furnishings are now at the store located at Warehouse 17B, 2241 Don Chino Roces Ave., La Fuerza Compound, Makati.
Andy Vazquez-Prada and Kaye Tiñga, the partners behind W/17, invited a few friends and clients to the launch. They all marveled at the carefully selected shagreen, parchment and shell decor and boxes that were beautifully displayed in the impressive showroom. New titles from coffee table book publisher Assouline were also on display.
It’s been a hectic six months prepping for the Red Charity Gala. Thanks so much to our presentor, Bench and other sponsors, Mercedes-Benz, Sun Life, Globe and Megaworld. Special thanks to Adworks Graphics for the invites, Robert Blancaflor for the flowers, Robert Mondavi wines, Gardenia bread, P&G, Goldilocks, Remy Martin and many more. Thanks too to media partners Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Lifestyle Asia and Inquirer Red.
Let me end with a short plug for The Gourmand Market by nawwTy’s kitchen at C1 Park, Bonifacio High Street Central from Oct. 7-9. Aside from sampling all the great food, check out the Globe Platinum Lounge to just hang loose.
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