Leading credit card Citibank unveiled its new plastic currency, the Citibank Rewards Card, during a divine launch at Sala Bistro in Makati.

 

Sanjiv Vohra and other Citibank hotshots welcomed the invitees. “Citibank has been a pioneer in the rewards arena since we issued our first plastic,” said Vohra, “and we are all excited to be raising the bar anew in the industry with this new card—for the benefit of the Filipino consumer.”

 

Citibank Philippines business manager Sergio Zanatti cited “the bank’s leadership in the credit card space.”

 

Meanwhile credit payment products director Bea Tan said the Citibank Rewards Card holders will enjoy a 5-percent rebate at Aldo, Aldo Accessories, Celio, Charles & Keith, Giordano, Marks & Spencer, Nike Park, Pedro, Runnr, Toby’s, Topshop, Topman, Urban Athletics and Zara.

 

They will enjoy 3-percent rebate in several department stores, such as Landmark, Metro, Rustan’s and SM, and 1-percent rebate for all other department stores; plus a free P100 movie pass for a minimum single-receipt purchase of P2,500 anywhere.

 

And check this out, dahlings: Even online and international transactions are qualified to earn movie passes. Hey, not bad huh!

 

Joining in the loud applause après the presentation of Citi’s newest baby were Citibank’s partners from SM Cinema, SM Retail, Rustan’s Department Store, Robinsons Movieworld, Waltermart Cinemas, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Pedro and Aldo and the trés pleased invitees, but of course, palanggas. After all, the card is the perfect companion for shopping till you drop.

 

It’s so Citibank, di bala, palanggas?

 

In Puerto Princesa

 

Okay, palanggas, last week Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) landed in Pangasinan. Now the conglomerate has extended its wide wings, flying all the way to, would you believe, Palawan! It has also opened there its twin, Gohotel.ph’s newest branch, with a full-service mall, no less, dahling, along the National Highway of Puerto Princesa.

 

The must-do ribbon-snipping was led by guest of honor, Puerto Princessa’s City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, with his wife Ellen, naturellement, and RLC’s endorser Solenn Heusaff.

 

With an opening like this the whole Gokongwei clan jetted into the island via Cebu Pacific, ’di bala? So there they were, okay roll call time: the grand patriarch, taipan John Gokongwei Jr., chair  emeritus of JG Summit Holdings Inc., and his wife, Elizabeth Gokongwei; Lance Y. Gokongwei; RLC’ president and COO Frederick D. Go; Robina Gokongwei-Pe;  Arlene G. Magtibay; RLC GM for commercial centers division; and Elizabeth D. Gregorio, GM of Gohotels.

 

Aside from Solenn, showbiz celebrities included Maricar Reyes and Dingdong Dantes.

 

Frederick  thanked “the Palawaneños for their warm hospitality, patronage of the mall and gohotels.ph.”

 

It’s so Robinsons to celebrate in grand style, ’di bala, palanggas?

 

Gourmet Farms

 

Who would have guessed 25 years has rolled by at Silang, Cavite, for Gourmet Farms? From a two-hectare orchid garden, dahlings, to a very colorful 11-hectare organic farm, Gourmet Farms has surely come a long way, palanggas.

 

Under a clear moonlight, Gourmet Farms opened its green fields to welcome 300 awesome habitués and other guests to its Gourmet’s Café.

 

Dedicated gentleman-farmer Ernest de Leon Escaler, no less, welcomed young and old gourmands who still can’t have enough of his legendary farm-to-table salad bar; the hard-to-beat natural dressings and freshly picked backyard pineapples, plus the international buffet superbly prepared by talented chef Enrico Molera: live-from-the pond  duck arroz caldo, beef pot roast, and free-range chicken in rosemary and organic lechon.

 

The new facelift of the Mediterranean-inspired Dining Room, replaced the old log cabin, with watercolors of flora, and fauna by celebrated Tanay artist Angelito “Jo” Florendo in the white walls of the Dining Room, dahlings.

 

A three-star concert at the Al Fresco Gardens, headlined by the irrepressible José Mari Chan and gorgeous Janet Basco, plus sensational Sheila Valderrama, held everyone on the edges of their seats.

 

Take that bow, Ernest! You definitely know how to throw a country-style bash.  Whispers came my way that the awesome next one will be, ooops! My lips are sealed for now, dahlings.

 

Alterations Plus

 

With all the rushing around town and munching in new restaurants openings, bar happenings and exercising, the waistline can expand or shrink, dahlings. So faster than you could say, “weight gain,” I’d usually rush to Alterations Plus in Makati’s Forbes Park.

 

Now, Alteration Plus has a new branch in Space 245 Serendra, Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig.

 

“With the improved layout and cozy atmosphere of our relocated Serendra branch, we will continue to provide exemplary service to your full satisfaction—be it a simple alteration, made-to-order outfit or a complete set of corporate uniforms,” said owner Lucille Carlos. “We also offer additional services such as custom-made curtains, upholstery, wedding-gown packages, dry cleaning, pressing, ironing and stain removal.”

 

But  that did not end there, palanggas.  Already Alterations Plus has grown to 16 branches all over Metro Manila, with two new branches opening soon at Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo and Abreeza Mall, Davao.

 

Hey, that’s totally spreading your wings wide and farther, palanggas.