Moi will start off this article with a teaser—some quote I heard or was told about during various occasions moi have attended.
First is from international socialite and jetsetter, ex-wife of billionaire Donald Trump, the totally vivacious Ivana Trump. While discussing yachts during dinner at one of the posh restos at St. Tropez in the French Riviera, one of my friends asked her: “Ivana, why don’t you buy a yacht?” To which she answered in her adorable European accent: “Dahlings, if I want a yacht, or a private jet plane, or even a man, I RENT them, dahlings.”
Everyone roared with laughter and applause.
Here’s another one: While chatting with my close pal Minnie Osmeña, I asked her, “Don’t you plan to get married again?” She answered: “For what? I’ve been married three times, I have more than enough security to last me two lifetimes, and have several degrees in business, which I have mastered. Now, if someone can give me more knowledge and money than what I have, and I still don’t know something new, then—only then—will I consider marriages.”
Amen to that, palanggas!
Worth the wait
Moving on, when the right one and the right time comes your way, then it will always be worth the wait. Well-loved Franco Ongkingco and gorgeous Nikki Chan met at De La Salle-Manila through their common pals, dahlings. They first went out on Valentine’s Day and, after three sweet months, they officially became a couple. This went on for eight and a half years, where they both saw a lot of changes coming their way, palanggas, as if fate was telling them how to prepare well for their future.
Franco went on to earn his master’s degree at the Asian Institute of Management, while Nikki pursued her medical studies and finally became a licensed physician. She was in the top 10 of her internship batch. What made this “license” special to Franco and Nikki was not just the fact that Nikki became a full-fledged physician, but more importantly, it granted them the “license” to marry and share a lifetime of love, since her dad had made it a strict rule that she earn her doctor’s spurs first before marrying. Or, as he put it: “No medical license, no marriage license.” Awesome.
So, Franco and Nikki obediently waited, and got what they waited for. Witnessing their vows at the Sanctuario de San Antonio Church in Forbes Park were the proud parents of the groom, business magnate Benny Ongkingco and his wife Lyn Bediones O., of the famed Manila Embroidery Inc., as well as the parents of the bride, taipan Ricky Chan and his wife Susan Enriquez C., plus the well-heeled principal sponsors, among them Bea Zobel, Ana Marie Ablan, Vivian Enriquez, Zenaida dela Cruz, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Mayor Dante Bermejo, Igor Adamovitch, lawyer Paulino Casas, Sybil de Leon, Sen. Loren Legarda, Dinah Brizuela, Maritel Bermejo, Joel Yap, Melecio Cojuangco, Joel Uichico, and First Life president and Wharton University pride Peter Coyiuto, dahlings.
A question played in some guests’ minds when they saw the elegant Joel Uichico and Bea Zobel walk down the aisle as two of the principal sponsors: “Is this a rehearsal for the big day? Or just a coincidence that this former twosome are now paired as sponsors?” Well, your guess is as good as mine, palanggas.
Whatever, a grand six-course dinner reception followed at one of the institutions of our town, the Manila Peninsula. The regal evening offered the invitees classic romantic music and gorgeous fresh blossoms by Robert Blancaflor. Messages of wisdom were delivered by the couple’s parents, which warmed the hearts of the new couple and the guests, and even a few tears were shed out of joy.
The moral of this love story is, license asked, license produced and approved! To Franco and Nikki Ongkingco, cheers!
More birthday bashes
That woman of substance and stature who hosts parties of the first order, and one of my most beloved pals, Nini Licaros, once more showed her métier when she threw a memorable birthday bash for moi—the last two belated bashes in my honor, dahlings.
Well, one thing is for sure—you can trust Nini L. not to leave loose ends when she entertains. As in the past, this fun early afternoon heavy dinner was generously held at Nini’s sprawling home in North Forbes Park, dahlings—at her air-conditioned patio, to be exact, for the enthusiastic invitees to beat the summer heat and help me celebrate my fast-paced life, palanggas.
Nini entrusted the menu at the food station to one of our town’s most sought-after caterers, The Plaza of Millie Reyes, who happens to be one of my dearest friends, too. And if that was not enough, in keeping with the notion that “more pretty heads are better than one,” my host gladly joined forces with her equally fashionable amigas, all of whom are women who have one thing in common: doing charity work and forming foundations for our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
Among them are FCCP president Nene Leonor, Mellie Ablaza, Yoly Ayson, Fortune Ledesma, Mabel Abaño, Chit Salud, Karen Macasaet, Nonie Basilio, Agnes Huibonhoa, Helen Ong and Baby de Jesus, who saw to it that all the invitees were well-attended to and given the red-carpet treatment that they most deserved, consistent with the impeccable party hosting of Nini L., natch!
In the end, Nini gave this toast in my honor: “To you, Maurice, the one and only icon of Manila’s high society, may you have more of ‘la vida loca’ on the fast lane, and enjoy tons of blessings showered on you by the Lord, which you, too, have shared with others in need. Cheers, palangga!”
