Every time I celebrate my birthday, I always suffer “socializing fatigue.”
Just imagine the tremendous treats I receive year after year. From lunch to dinner bashes, different groups would honor my special day. Certainly, I would reserve time for carousing for each set of my best pals.
Just recently, moi celebrated another milestone in my dizzy life, with a typical merienda cena held at the stylish and manicured garden of my pal for years, Nini Licaros, at North Forbes Park.
The get-together was also initiated by another illustrious party hostess, the remarkable Nene Leonor, and supported by her long line of namedroppables from high society such as Mellie Ablaza, Chit Salud, Linda Ley, Agnes Huibonhoa, Josie Uy, Yoli Ayson, Tina Cuevas, Mimi Valerio and Baby Ortiz. Guests included Elenita Binay and Joel Cruz, represented by Roy Redondo, who distributed Aficionado perfumes.
Emily Lopez, looking divine, breezed in and stayed long enough for her next appointment. World traveler Tetta and husband Christian Agustin chatted about her going back to her home in Cannes, in the south of France, après a long stay in town.
Guests enjoyed the scrumptious food served by Millie Reyes of The Plaza: turkey, lengua estofado, barbecue, fried lumpia, pan de sal with kesong puti and cassava cake.
“Happy birthday and cheers, our palangga!” said Nini Licaros.
What else can I say? Thank you for your yearly bash that honors me while reminding me of another year of my on-the-go life.
Flavors of Peru at Samba
Now you can experience the flavors of Peruvian cuisine here in the country through Samba, located on Level 8 of Shangri-la at the Fort, Manila.
The incredible Peruvian cuisine is said to be the “original fusion cuisine” with influences of South African, Chinese, Japanese and its own native culture, naturellement.
Chef Carlo Huerta Echegaray, the restaurant’s chef de cuisine, said that it was his dream to share his culture with others.
Hailing from Cusco, Peru, Huerta shows his love for the country and culture through the dishes he creates.
The menu includes some of Peru’s iconic dishes, such as the divine Ceviche Limeno (fresh shrimp, octopus, scallops, calamari, lapu-lapu drizzled in fresh lime, red onions, aji peppers, coriander sprouts, tobiko and leche de tigre); Anticucho de Pulpo (chargrilled octopus, panca pepper, roasted potatoes, ocopa sauce, rocotocarretillero); Arroz con Mariscos (Peruvian seafood rice with calamari, octopus, shrimps, scallops, white wine, paprika creole seasoning, parmesan cheese, coral butter); and Tres Leches (soft genoise sponge soaked in three types of milk, torched meringue and blueberry ice cream). Wow!
The superb cocktail culture heavily influenced by South American classics completes the dining experience.
Head mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud’s concoctions are mostly fruit-based drinks mixed with tequila and rum. Highly recommended is the Pisco Sour, a frothy combination of piscos, lime juice, egg white, simple syrup and bitters.
For the lunch crowd, the restaurant also offers a set lunch menu for P680 net per person.
Guests have the option of indoor and outdoor seating, with gorgeous green plants at alfresco area overlooking the hotel’s cool pool and Bonifacio Global City.
Auditing firm’s transition
A transition to new leadership, dahlings, marked the start of the 10th anniversary celebration of KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co., a member firm of KPMG International, held recently at Tower Club in Makati City.
During the happening, attended by leading lights of business and finance, a presentation traced the beginnings of the KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. in 2007, when chair and chief executive officer Roberto G. Manabat and chief operating officer Emmanuel Bonoan “embarked on building what is now one of the strongest professional services firms in the country.”
“Guided by the KPMG values of excellence, trust and commitment, we assembled a dynamic team of young leaders to continually motivate the rest of the organization,” said Bonoan.
From 250 people, KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. now boasts of an amazing 1,000 dedicated employees housed in its own building, the KPMG Center, “as it continues to affirm its commitment to be relevant to its clients and the Philippine business community.”
The firm also announced that this year is a transition year as Sharon Dayoan will assume chairmanship starting Jan. 1, 2018, with the support of Manabat, Bonoan, as well as the company’s vice chair and head of advisory committee, Henry Antonio.
Even as it stands as one of the top tax firms in the Philippines, KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. refuses to rest on its laurels, palanggas, forging ahead through constant innovation to better serve its clients.
