In a country of thousands of islands, it is quite strange to imagine that there is a water shortage in the capital.
So we all have to do our share to conserve water, and I will follow the French mode by just spraying perfume on my costumes. I have been spraying Febreze fabric refresher on my outfits after my events instead of having them washed.
Like, for instance, I wore a stylized pop art terno to a recent event at the Swatch+Swatch Building hosted by Swatch Philippines’ grand dame Virgie Ramos. There were a few stains on the bottom of the train, but that’s fine—amid the water crisis. The whimsical terno was created by fashion designer Vanessa Pinlac of Slim’s Fashion and Arts School, and was part of the school’s exhibit last year.
The “Unveiling of the St. Cecilia Grand Piano” was the amazing event where the husband-and-wife tandem, Elmer Borlongan and Plet Bolipata, collaborated to transform a grand piano into a stunning art masterpiece. Plet said that they worked to the creative hum of their marriage—different styles, different heartbeats, different strengths and different visions—in perfect harmony.
I’m especially fond of the piano seat’s artsy legs, with red shoes by Plet.
Elmer drew his brother-in-law Jed Bolipata while he was rehearsing. The recipient of numerous awards and prizes, Jed is a graduate of The Juilliard School. He is also a writer, composer, filmmaker, photographer and one of Manhattan’s top real estate brokers. Jed’s next photography show runs March 23-April 3 at the Boston Gallery in Cubao.
From classical to Broadway
Jed played Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on the St. Cecilia, and then there was singing by Matteo Guidicelli, Joanna Ampil, Mark Bautista and Jugs Jugueta. Former basketball player Chris Tiu also played a piece and had Christian Bautista and Joanna sing several Broadway tunes.
The youngest music lover that evening was birthday girl Scarlet Snow Belo. Swatch Flik Flak hosted a fun birthday party for this smart 4-year-old. The party theme was based on the Flik Flak Magical Dream watch, in pink, lavender and mint green.
Since Scarlet loves unicorns, many of the party treats were connected to the theme which included a pouf cotton candy cart, candy buffet, ice cream cake cart, and a balloon master blowing and twisting designs. Another highlight was the telling time activity, with Flik Flak watches as prizes.
Scarlet’s prayer book
Scarlet remembers what my hair color was when we last got together. Celebrity doctor parents Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo are devoted to her and have taught her how to pray. In fact, with her parents’ help, Scarlet recently authored a book, “My First Prayer Book,” a read-aloud collection of stories and prayers for kids of all ages.
Vicki gave me a copy at the Belo Kinetic facelift party at Flames in Discovery Primea. International fashion bloggers Bryanboy and Tina Leung flew in as special guests of the Belo Medical Group.
The intimate dinner was jointly hosted with Enerjet System. Daniel Cassuto, Enerjet’s medical director, was present to talk about the wonders of this kinetic facelift system. Cassuto is also a plastic surgeon and a professor of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. He runs a private practice in Milan.
Enerjet is a needle-free, kinetic lifting technology, a product of PerfAction and exclusively distributed in the country by SpectruMed. Cassuto demonstrated the process to erase wrinkles and smoothen skin without any injections. Enerjet also tightens skin and treats acne scars and stretch marks instantly. It can be used to improve the jawline contour, lift cheeks, jowls and brow area.
Construction expo
Next, I rushed to Sofitel for the welcome dinner for Worldbex (World Building and Construction Expo), where I met Joseph Ang and Levi Ang, the founders. We chatted about the 24th edition of the expo and the booths I could visit at the World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center.
At Worldbex, there are several interior design showcases. I collaborated with Mejore Furniture to display its latest products, like an elegant sofa that converts into a bed. Other pieces included a dining set with solihiya accent chairs and glass table.
For my booth, I got Matimco Flooring to display its Ashwood flooring in a brush finish. Matimco, the leading architectural and structural wood company in the Philippines, recently opened a new House of Wood Showroom in Sucat, Parañaque.
The Cebu-based company takes pride in its enduring efforts to improve the value of every Filipino home.
It is committed to fostering the culture and advocating the appreciation and preference for sustainable and legitimately sourced wood.
Also at Worldbex is a Wilcon Showroom and hundreds of others spread over the two convention centers. “Worldbex 2019: A World Built Bolder” is on until today.
In the midst of Worldbex visits, I dropped by “Gold in Our Veins: Mark Lewis Lim Higgins,” the solo exhibit of artist Mark Higgins at Ayala Museum. The meticulously curated exhibition tells the story of a re-imagined antiquity through a series of portraits inspired by the ancient histories of Indochina, the East Indies, and our own archipelago.
Together with these works of art are objects from the Ayala Museum’s collection handpicked by Mark to expand the exhibition’s narrative.
Mark personally toured me, and I was captivated by his paintings of aristocratic men and women surrounded by tropical flora, ancient sea routes, gold ornaments, animist symbols and sacred idols, all with the complex heritage and shared cultures of Southeast Asia thrown in. “Gold in Our Veins” is on until May 26.
Happy birthday, Sandy
Let me end with a special birthday greeting to someone who has always inspired me with her unstinting work ethic, indisputable integrity and unquestioned love for family, my only sister, Sandy.
More pics on Instagram @seaprincess888