Hello June! And just like that, almost half of 2019 is over. Where did the time go?

Looking at my passport, I must have spent a quarter of the year abroad for either family or business trips. They were action-packed and hectic, and each trip was quite memorable and exciting. After enjoying multiple trips to Japan, I added Maldives and Fiji to my list of new, first-time, adventure dive destinations.

Between all those trips, I have attended several launches and birthday celebrations. One very exciting car expo was the recent 2019 Trans Sport Show at the SMX Convention Center at Mall of Asia.

Joining the expo for the second time, Kins Auto Design Philippines placed my van as one of the entries in the Auto Detailing Competition. Kins Auto is the sole importer, installer and customizer of automobile interior products of Kins Auto Design Thailand.

Custom interior accessories and products range from Euro class 1 wood floors to VIP seats, entertainment consoles, leather and special privacy magic glass, and are imported by Kins Auto from their main factory in Samutprakarn, Thailand. All products are custom built to each specific automobile model.

Using only genuine automotive leather, their highly trained Thai technicians customize VIP seats and fancy interiors.

Kins Auto: J and JC Autoleatherseats Corp., Wh.9 TLL Industrial Compound, Brgy. Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan, tel. 09338181578 or e-mail [email protected]

Tina Blanco, Sea Princess, Sophia Blanco and JP Blanco

Cutting-edge jewelry

That same week, Misaki Monaco was launched at the Flame Restaurant at Discovery Primea.

Misaki Monaco brings to Manila over 30 years of experience in making sophisticated and contemporary pearl jewelry designs. Marrying pure shapes and lines with precious, quality materials, Misaki Monaco has a philosophy of breaking the rules and the conventional image usually associated with pearl jewelry.

This is cutting-edge jewelry; these are not your grandma’s pearls.

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Monaco, Misaki Monaco started as a travel retail brand, initially distributed in airlines and airports.

In 2014, it became part of the portfolio of the Alteal Group, which modernized the brand’s image with a new artistic direction. Present in over 40 countries, Misaki is sold in more than 30 airlines. In Asia, the first worldwide flagship store opened in Beijing in 2017.

Here in the Philippines, Misaki Monaco has set up shop at the Shangri-La Plaza, bringing its expertise of contemporary pearl design to a sophisticated Filipino market.

Most of the pearls Misaki Monaco uses come from Japan, which has been known as the best when it comes to producing the most consistently beautiful Akoya pearls.

Misaki Monaco’s designs are far from the usual classic pearl jewelry, focusing more on creating contemporary and creative interpretations. The Spring-Summer 2019 collection draws its inspiration from a jazz classic song, “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”

Sunny Ku, Queenmelo Esguerra, Sea Princess and Shauna Popple-Williams

For art lovers

For the art lovers looking for that midyear art piece, check out Leon Gallery. In an upcoming auction, there’s an abundance of thought-provoking, fiery and fashionable pieces that will be up for bids.

BenCab’s “Sabel” is the artist’s muse; she has undergone various stages of reimagining. For the uninitiated, the inspiration for “Sabel” came when BenCab saw a scavenger around his home in Bambang.

The same could probably be said of the late Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, whose “Tres Marias” series is just as iconic. For this particular auction, the three women in the 1986 painting are shown in traditional Filipino gowns, each taking their leisurely time as if nothing else matters.

Marcel Antonio’s “Persephone” is seen wearing nothing but a sheer, see-through nightgown. The subject could have existed at any particular time, which says a lot about her careless gaze.

Keb Cerda’s “Sex Sells” is as straightforward as it can get, or is it? Part of his OOTD solo exhibition, the work could be a reflection of the artist’s views on society’s definition of sexy and how brands, armed with this knowledge, use it to their advantage.

View all the stylish lots of the upcoming Leon Gallery Spectacular Mid-Year Auction at the preview cocktails June 19, 5 p.m. Actual auction will be June 22, 2 p.m., at G/F, Eurovilla 1, Legazpi corner Herrera Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati.

Patty Chilip, Steven Tan, Mitch So and Beng Dee

Graduation season

May is graduation season. Congratulations to all the graduates from different levels of education. In our extended family, we have one from kinder, two from middle school, and one from high school.

For graduation celebrations, check out the Sunday Brunch 2.0 of Marriott Hotel Manila, the hotel’s biggest buffet, which combines exquisite selections from the Marriott Cafe, the prime dishes of Cru Steakhouse, and the international flavors of the GreatRoom, all in one grand feast.

At the hotel’s launch of the buffet, special guests enjoyed the lavish buffet spread across Cru Steakhouse, Marriott Café and GreatRoom. Barrels of rock lobsters, an overload of live crabs, prime steaks, bounty of roasted pig, first class cheeses and charcuterie, a stretch of BBQ grill, a deluge of chef-crafted soup, a variety of pasta, stacks of salmon, towers of bagels and brew, a medley of Indian delights, Japanese and Chinese savory favorites were all served to the lucky guests.

Marriott Manila’s Sunday Brunch 2.0 is offered every quarter and is also available June 16, Father’s Day, starting at 11:30 a.m.

Manila Marriott tel. 9889999 or www.manilamarriott.com