“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” —Robin Sharma

For more than a decade, the Red Charity Gala has aligned with and promoted Philippine fashion for the benefit of several worthy charities, including the Philippine Red Cross and Assumption HS 1981 Foundation. Last year, at the RCG 2023 at The Pen, cochair Kaye Tiñga and I were delighted to include the Hope for Lupus Foundation that gracious Emmeline Aglipay-Villar spearheads. Through the generous donations of table sponsors and auction winners, we raised additional funds for these programs.

Every year, the winning bid of the Jewelmer South Sea pearl necklace goes to Save the Philippine Sea Foundation. As an avid diver, I am more than happy to support this program that keeps our oceans clean and aids in giving livelihood to pearl farmers. We hope to continue this funding with the highest bid for the Jewelmer necklace.

As purveyor of the coveted golden South Sea pearl, Jewelmer marks its 45th anniversary this year through an exciting collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. Until Dec. 31, Jewelmer clients can gear up for a thrilling chance to take home the newest Mercedes-Benz GLE. This offer is valid with every Jewelmer purchase worth P50,000.

As brands synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship, Jewelmer and Mercedes-Benz are guided by a pursuit of elegance and a commitment to excellence. Together, they pave the way for luxury.

The official launch of “A Golden Journey” took place at the Mercedes-Benz BGC Showroom. Hosted by Tim Yap and Yaparazzi Events + PR, the affair had guests and muses adorned in Jewelmer’s fine jewelry creations, including Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee, Christi McGarry and Gabbi Garcia. With the campaign “A Golden Journey,” you just might be the one to hit the road in style with Jewelmer.

First woman designer

Our RCG family is growing with new sponsors. We are almost sold out and are quite excited to feature the designs of Lulu Tan Gan, our first woman designer. I bumped into her at the 25th fashion presentation of Dennis Lustico at the Goldenberg Mansion. The collection was a stunning showcase of his textured design aesthetics with a romantic color palette. RCG is extra proud of Dennis, as he was our very first featured designer.

Lifestyle Asia is our official media partner for RCG. As the first luxury publication in the country, Lifestyle Asia presents stories of Philippine society’s most influential to inspire its readers for a life full of meaning. Today, the brand continues to chronicle the lives and passions of society’s most important and exciting. Lifestyle Asia goes beyond the faces, delving into heritage, culture, fashion, art, food, business and the digital ecosphere.

As the August cover girl, I talked about my philanthropic programs with my Assumption classmates and my decadelong partnership with Kaye for Red Charity Gala. Kaye was Lifestyle Asia’s September cover and now, for October, Lulu is on the cover. We are so honored to have Lifestyle Asia on board this year.

Immersive experience

For the launch of Arm & Hammer, I wore one of Dennis Lustico’s old designs. Arm & Hammer is a brand synonymous with household solutions.

Hosted by Global Strategic Partners Distribution Inc. (GSPDI), Arm & Hammer’s exclusive distributor in the Philippines, at Jones All Day restaurant, the event brought together an audience of moms, working women, lifestyle influencers and esteemed members of the social circle.

The event commenced with a warm welcome from the emcee, Patty Laurel Filart, who set an engaging tone for the day’s activities. In his opening remarks, GSPDI president Peter Tiope emphasized the brand’s commitment to providing high-quality, effective solutions tailored to the needs of modern households.

“At Arm & Hammer, we believe that every family deserves a home that’s not just clean, but also safe and healthy. Our products are designed to meet these needs, offering reliable solutions that make a difference in everyday life,” said Tiope.

Other new product on the market is Steelcase office furniture. Steelcase and UMCI Furniture Services Inc. proudly unveiled The Space by UMCI—a state-of-the-art showroom located in the heart of Makati, designed to revolutionize the way we think about office environments.

The launch event showcased Steelcase’s cutting-edge furniture solutions, offering a glimpse into the future where comfort, aesthetics and productivity converge to create workspaces that inspire innovation.

The event was graced by prominent figures, including UMCI chair Wellington C. Soong, UMCI president Milen F. Batungbacal, UMCI managing director Alvin Patrick D. Escanillas and Steelcase’s top executives—Jason Taper, vice president for sales, and Joe Chu, director of channel sales for Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

Guests were treated to an immersive experience, beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened The Space by UMCI, followed by a series of presentations highlighting the unique features and benefits of Steelcase’s premium office furniture lines.

For modern professionals

More than just a showroom, The Space by UMCI is a dynamic coworking environment designed to cater to the needs of modern professionals. With meticulously crafted furniture pieces that blend form and function, it redefines how workspaces can foster creativity and productivity.

As the evening concluded, event emcee Rico Hizon encouraged guests to explore the various displays and engage with representatives from Steelcase and UMCI over cocktails and refreshments.

To end my week on a high note, I attended the special dinner at Speakeasy, Grand Hyatt BGC for Krug X Flower. The house of Krug invited a select group to a unique gastronomic experience hosted by chef Erica Paredes. It brought together the finest bubbles of Krug Champagne and the exceptional culinary artistry of Erica from Reyna Paris.

Several months ago, I had dinner at chef Erica’s restaurant in Paris with good friend Tim Yap. It was great to reconnect with her and taste her dishes again. She shared her plans of opening another restaurant in Paris. INQ

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