It was totally a huge success, the recent photo-art exhibit of renowned ace photographer Alex Van Hagen and his brother Han, one of the 30 top contemporary masters of copper etching in Europe. Simply titled “Van Hagen and Van Hagen,” it was held at the superbly designed Nova Gallery, of Charlie Cojuangco, in La Fuerza Compound in Pasong Tamo, Makati, dahlings.
Charlie Cojuangco, himself an avid and known art collector and businessman, holds exhibits by different talented artists every month in his Nova Gallery, which he put up more than three years ago, palanggas.
Alex has been doing this exhibit for three years now, and in March 2013 he will do another, grander exhibit at Peninsula Manila Hotel, where part of the proceeds, as in the past years, will go to Real Life Foundation.
The exhibit at Nova Gallery had as special guests Dutch Ambassador Robert Brinks and Dutch Counselor and deputy head of mission Ruth Emmerink; Italian Ambassador Luca Fornari and wife Madame Silvana; and tons of friends of photographers in the art world, society and the corporate world.
“With nature as his inspiration, most of his photographs are green and his fascination with geometric shapes and their play with light and shadow have also produced equally stunning modernistic works,” one art critic noted while viewing the photographs.
For the past 40 years, Han Van Hagen has written books and lectured extensively around Europe, and his works are exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague, Netherlands, permanently.
Alex Van Hagen’s exhibit was sponsored by his close friends, like Vicki Belo’s Medical Group; Fila’s Butch and Cris Albert; Moët Chandon; Margarita Fores’ Cibo, and, naturellement, Nova Gallery, palanggas.
And now for some bubbly
One of the largest famille-owned champagne houses for over 200 incredible years, Laurent Perrier—“extraordinary champagne since 1812”—celebrated its bicentenary at L’Aperitivo, the new champagne bar of the always consistent L’Incontro Ristorante Italiano, dahlings.
Monsieur Ludovic de Lageard, Export Asia manager and guest speaker for Laurent Perrier, took us on a super-interesting journey of the label’s tradition and history by presenting four of their iconic and exquisite champagnes, particularly the Champagne LP Brut NV, Champagne LP Rose Brut NV, Champagne Vintage LP 2002 and the best of all, Champagne Grand Ciecle Brut NV, no less.
It was hosted by the resto’s dedicated owners and lovers, eye-catching Tina Pamintuan and the intelligent businessman with the know-how, Brady Wheeler, who invited a select few of champagne aficionados, including moi and my always perfect date, the champagne queen herself Vicky Fernandez Zubiri, as well as Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu, among other bubbly-lovers like us.
What a delectable experience of gastronomic and bubbly proportions, plus an exquisite menu of excellent and sweet pairings for each champagne variety was put together by Tina Pamintuan herself. Too delicious not to mention were the raclette foam and spiced poached pears in almond-filled tart paired with Laurent Perrier Brut NV; roasted bell pepper and garlic pâté with prosciutto and poached cherry, thyme crémeux on chocolate crust and Laurent Perrier Rose Brut NV; blini with salmon and mascarpone and Brunoise mangoes, papaya, and pineapple, crème chantilly and chiffon cake, drowned with Laurent Perrier Brut 2001; and finally, Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Brut NV, which went perfect with the toasted ravioli mille-feuille with mushroom truffle ragout and milk chocolate Bavarian on a thin almond sponge base, excellently prepared by talented pastry chef Crissie Hostanosas of L’Academie de Cuisine. Wow, dahlings!
Laurent Perrier, distributed by the Straits Wine Co., is also available at L’Aperitivo Bar, which has a select champagne menu. Open 4 p.m. till 11 p.m. daily and until 1 a.m. on weekends. For reservations, call 8990635/8 or visit www.lincontro.ph.
Belo takes ‘The Road’ to Hollywood
The Philippines has got one more thing to be totally proud of, dahlings, with the screening of the locally produced, acclaimed horror film “The Road” at Arclight Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles, California.
One of the country’s leading authority in beauty, the renowned Belo Medical Group led by the country’s leading beauty icon and expert, Dr. Vicki Belo, was so happy to support her endorsers who top-billed the film. Gorgeous Rhian Ramos and handsome Alden Richards, both faces of Belo’s topnotch services, palanggas, along with the cast and crew of the film, were ecstatic and thrilled with the support and high praises that this movie received from US-based film critics.
Under the brilliant direction of Yam Laranas, moviegoers and VIPs, including boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, had a chilling experience watching the film about three teenagers who discovered loads of horrendous things while traversing an abandoned road.
Another golden feather in the cap of our country’s movie world, thanks to the lady with the advocacy of exposing the best of what the Philippines is all about. That’s Dr. Vicki Belo, natch!