The friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) had a grandioso ball for its 32nd anniversary at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, dahlings.
Naturellement, the ball was superbly organized by FCCP president Nene Leonor with the group’s directors—Grace Palma Tiongco, Thelma Gana, Karen Macasaet, Rosita Lesaca, Nene Pe Lim, Gilda Salonga and Rose Basa.
The Rizal Ballroom was transformed into a “Royal Court” by brilliant decorator Junjun Ablaza, no less, palanggas.
The très elegant and magnificent celebration of music and dance had our town’s well-heeled guests in their best ball gowns and bling-blings that added dazzle to the happening.
For extras, there were Michael Williams and Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, who sang divine excerpts from top Broadway hits.
They were later joined by FCCP members and their grandchildren and some invitees in performing the “Ascot Gavotte,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Camelot” and “Shall We Dance?”
“Thanks to our benevolent sponsors Imelda Cojuangco, Cebuana Lhuillier, Goodwill Organics, Equity Homes and President Joseph Estrada, among others, we at FCCP can continue its scholarship projects, as well as other activities related to the arts and culture,” said Nene Santos Leonor.
Best-dressed
For the benefit of the Philippine Cancer Society, high Manila society members convened for the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines Ball at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La.
The stylish fund-raiser was led by the lovely Cris Albert, president and owner of Fila, Everest, Tiva for Fila and Outdoors, as well as her new baby, Fila Skele-toes.
She was followed by style icon Letty Santos and other awardees such as Connie Haw, Sheila Bermudez Romero and several others.
Albert, who is constantly in love with the four “F’s of her life”—family, friends, fashion and Fila—is a clothes horse in her own elegant right. She walked down the ramp in not one, not two, but three fabulous Auggie Cordero creations.
Meanwhile, the bill of fantastic fare put together by the Makati Shangri-La was excellent all throughout—from appetizer to dessert.
Joining Cris Albert were dear kin and friends who strongly support the fight against the big “C.”
Vicki Belo, David Foster
Dr. Vicki Belo of the Belo Medical Group hosted a splendid dinner for American songwriter-performer David Foster and his gorgeous Dutch wife Yolanda Hadid Foster.
Together with daughter Cristalle Henares, Doc Vicki entertained the Fosters and their guests in their well-appointed home which was filled with flowers for the evening.
Vicki, in a fire-engine red outfit, welcomed us with her close pal and confidant, Belo imaging and marketing consultant and our palangga, Jojie Dingcong.
Enjoying the cocktails were television executive Annette Gozon-Abrogar, banker Andrew Gan, master architect/interior designer Jonathan Matti, glamorous Maricris Zobel and beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez.
Chilled champagne at the bar overflowed, a trademark of any Belo-hosted party or event.
Vicki favored popular Kai Resto to prepare a sumptuous elegant buffet as the Fosters are known for their preference for Japanese food.
When Vicki, Cristalle, Jojie, Matteo Guidicelli and, yes, my fave, actor Derek Ramsay visited the Fosters’ literally “palace in the sky” in Malibu, who hosted an equally fab dinner at the iconic Japanese gastronomic temple Nobu.
Kai presented a sumptuous medley of vegetable crisps, edamame and nasu with foie gras. There was a fresh salmon carving station, as well as fresh tuna pizza, shitake/arugula pizza, wasabi oyster tempura, modern ebi 
tempura, inaniwa sichimi pasta, black cod, buta kakuni…and for grand desert, the green tea crème brûlée.
Kai truly outdid itself for the cake was super yummy!
Après all that drinking and divine dining, David F. sprung a surprise by playing the piano and holding a mini concert right in Vicki’s expansive living room, turning it into a concert hall to everybody’s loud applause.
A grand time and a fun evening—truly the Belo way, dahlings.
Anonimo
The renowned craftsmanship of Italian watchmaking was the focus at the Power Plant Mall when the high-end brand Anonimo was launched in the Philippine market.
The Florence-based brand was brought to the Philippines by ’Bout Time Inc., which operates under pioneering group Frigate Holdings, famous for its luxury cars Jaguar and Maserati. The launch was led by Frigate chair Wellington Soong and his son Jason, It’s ’Bout Time managing director. Television actress Lovi Poe was present.
Anonimo CEO David Cypers jetted in from Italy for the Manila inauguration, dahlings.
Founded in 1997 in Florence, Italy, by Federico Massacesi, Anonimo has an eye-catching Italian military watch design, plus extensive range of timepiece options through its various collections: the high-performance Sports Line, the elegant Militare Line, the technologically advanced Professionale Line, and the rich and classic Dino Zei Line.
Check it out, palanggas. You’ll at least want to have one of them on your wrist permanently.
Anonimo is available at Washington, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center. Call +632-8982288 or +632-8369937 or visit www.anonimo.com.
Merry Christmas to all, palanggas.
Erratum
So sorry, but the photo with Chalong Lalaurri should have been with Meg Paris Tapales, sister of the groom’s mother, Marian Paris Warns. So sorry, palanggas.
