Major sponsors were the Philippine Tatler, Calata Corp., led by CEO Joseph Calata, and the IPM Group of Companies, led by Eisa Mendoza.
The benefit sought to raise funds for the medical and psychosocial treatment of abused children.
Since 2004, CPN has been funded through the unfailing generosity of its chairman, the dashing David Bradley, the American businessman-philanthropist who has developed close ties with the Philippines since he was a Fulbright scholar here many years ago. The owner of the Atlantic Media Co. and a highly respected personality in Washington, D.C., Bradley jetted into town for the très special event.
For the past six years, CPN has provided treatment for more than, would you believe, 34,536 abused children. In 2009, Bradley formed a local CPN board of trustees that included Philippine Tatler publisher Irene Martel Francisco as president, Justice Ameurfina Herrera, British Ambassador Stephen Lillie, Bill Go, Jun Sy, Karina Constantino-David, Johnny Velasquez, Mons Romulo, Mia Borromeo and Beth Melchor.
Après the cocktails and Hardys wines, Bradley thanked the event’s generous benefactors. The sit-down dinner was followed by a sensational show featuring Motown hits, with Ryan 
A fun auction followed, emceed by witty lawyer Katrina Legarda, businessman Johnny Velasquez, Johnny Litton and the one of a kind Tessa Prieto-Valdes, who “ambushed” several guests so they could bid and win, with the proceeds going, of course, to CPN.
First to go was a collection of Hardys wines together with a ticket to participate at the First Hardys Golf Cup at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club.
Then there was a stunning hand-sculpted evening bag plated in 22-carat gold with a faux red coral clasp by the acclaimed jewelry designer Wynn Wynn Ong, no less.
The prive bid was a week-long stay at Valfond, Bradley’s 19th-century six-bedroom estate in Provence, France, that went for a giveaway price of…ooops, my lips are sealed, dahlings.
Then everyone took to the dance floor and rocked to the sounds of the Highway 54 band.
The strictly invitational affair witnessed an A-list crowd of incredible namedropables and low profile but great personalities, showing once again, dahlings, how socially concerned individuals would always rally behind a worthy cause.
Wynn Wynn’s 10th year
To mark her 10th year as a mega-successful jewelry designer. Wynn Wynn Ong held the exhibition, “Within,” launched in a cocktail hosted by her pals, Ricky Toledo and Chito Vijandre, at AC+632 in Greenbelt 5.
Toledo and Vijandre were the first to introduce her pieces at their other store, Firma.
In the exhibit, she includes furniture, bag, home and fashion accessories, and objets d’art. “It’s the most technically challenging and intellectual one yet, taking me on a visual journey of the jeweled form, from the surface to within,” Wynn Wynn explained excitedly.
Her piece de resistance is the Advent Tree, “a copse of trees containing bejeweled denizens and hidden windows with secrets within.” “It took me more than 11 weeks to produce,” she said.
Her decade-long volunteer work with Hands On Manila ended this year, and she’s working now closely with Brother Francis of Pangarap Foundation to train its young men and women in design. They’re now part of her team.
“I hope more entrepreneurs will tap into community-based resources for their business needs,” she said. She added this would also help stimulate “micoeconomies” so that changes would really come from “within,” that is, from the communities themselves.
Spanish food and wine fest
Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq, together with the Spanish Embassy’s economic and commercial counselor Enrique Feas and Fuego Hotels managing director Alfredo Roca, launched with a warm toast “Flavors of Spain,” a rich celebration of to-die-for Spanish cuisine, dahlings.
Invitees overflowed to the sprawling garden where they partook of wine and tapas from chef J Gamboa of El Cirkulo, chef Alexandra Cacho of Tapella and Gaudi, chef Jaume Vinyallonga Viaplana of Barcino Gourmet, chef Juan Carlo of Terry’s Selection and chef Marco Legasto of Wine Depot.
The organizers said diners could win Boracay and Davao vacation packages.
Ana Rocha and Jun Santos from the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain welcomed guests and diners. Among those who couldn’t get enough of the tapas and wine offerings were Jose Miguel and Esther Cortes, Tony Brias, Ana Zubiri, Mandi Taboada, Nena Ortoll and Santi Elizalde.
Other guests were Goody Ilagan, Ike Guanio, Edna Diaz, Toti Okrino and Lindsay Scheski.
Chef Mikel Arriet of Club Punta Fuego should take that well-deserved bow for the gastronomic goodness and fabulous tapas and wine pairings of the Flavors of Spain festival.
Now on its ninth edition, Flavors of Spain is always much anticipated every year.