Zubiri —NASTASHA DE VILLA
Maybe it was the harana music that filled the air that balmy Tuesday night. Maybe it was the rounds of bubbly during cocktail hour. Or maybe it was just our politicos being the romanticos that they are, making us wonder at times whether we were at a ritzy runway show or a high school prom.
The kilig was palpable as political spouses and partners catwalked alongside professional models around the fountain of the Goldenberg Mansion, eyes from their other halves who lined the front row of “Isang Pilipinas” fashion show turning heart-shaped and googly. With inexorable glee, cheers erupted every time a wife came out, each resplendent in her Michael Leyva gown.
It started when Heart Evangelista, actress, muse and wife of Sen. Chiz Escudero, opened the show by peering down from the second-floor window like a dalagang Pilipina looking coyly over to her suitor mid-serenade. She made such a lovely picture in her fully beaded immaculate white terno that the crowd couldn’t help but break out in delighted applause.
Later on, Sen. Robin Padilla shot out of his seat amid hoots when wife Mariel Rodriguez came to view. He assisted her down the short steps leading to the rounded ramp, and up again on the other side after her walk.
Sen. Miguel Zubiri giddily followed suit when his wife Audrey came out next.Others who walked the ramp included the Zubiri couple’s daughter, Maria Adriana; Sen. Sonny Angara’s wife, Tootsy; partner of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Bianca Manalo; daddy-and-daughter duos San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Amanda, and Dr. Hayden Kho and Scarlet Snow Belo; Biñan Rep. Len Alonte; Maguindanao del Norte Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura; Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla; and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna.
Also in attendance were presidential spouse Liza Marcos, proponent of the “Goldenberg Fashion Series”; Sen. Nancy Binay; Sen. Joel Villanueva; Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla and wife, Angelica Alita; designers JC Buendia, Randy Ortiz and Puey Quiñones; talent manager Joji Dingcong; and Cristalle Belo-Pitt.
Tim Yap hosted the event.
