The second Child Protection Network (CPN) benefit at the main lounge of the Manila Polo Club was a smashing success.

Over 300 civic-minded invitees gathered under one roof for a great evening of superb dining and excellent wine-drinking.

The dinner was held to help raise money for the NGO.

CPN has treated 33,588 abused children since 2004. It has 62 child protection units in 35 provinces across the country, and “these units offer medical and psychological treatments, as well as legal guidance to marginalized children who experienced abuse,” explained to us by the charming David Bradley and his adorable wife Catherine. They had both jetted in from Washington DC.

In the reception line were the CPN board members headed by Bradley, Tatler publisher Irene Martel Francisco, Renna Angeles, Tatler Traveler’s editor Mia Borromeo, Karina Constantino David, William Go, UK Ambassador Stephen Lillie, vivacious Lizzy Razon, Mons Romulo, Julio Sy Jr., Johnny Velasquez, CPN executive director Bernadette Madrid and Katrina Legarda, consultant to the board.

The program opened with remarks from the board president Irene. She expressed the group’s gratitude to the Bradleys “for their continuous support of CPN from their private funds. As the largest donors to the foundation, they maintain close ties to the country where David spent two years as a scholar years ago.”

In his remarks, Bradley paid tribute to the lady who hosted him during his years in Manille, Jessie Lichauco, no less, dahlings, who was present and beamed in recollection of those days.

Appreciation plaques were presented to the CPN benefit sponsors who had generously shared their resources with the foundation. They were Alice Eduardo of Sta. Elena Construction; Isabelita Mercado of IMP Group of Companies; Joseph Calata of Calata Corp., and the Philippine Tatler, naturellement.

The Polo Club prepared a sumptuous meal that had my palangga Letty Tan and her daughter-in-law Angie Tan raving.

Also complimenting the Polo Club for the well-prepared menu were restaurateur Cecile Reynoso, Maripi Muscat and Freddie Olbes.

The menu consisted of the yummy pumpkin soup with pancetta; smoked salmon and marinated prawns on mesclun greens; tropical sorbet with mint leaves; and a duet of chicken saltimbocca and fish fillet with lemon caper sauce and grilled vegetables.

The meal ended with a symphony of desserts presented to each guest.

New world wines, Momentos Merlot and Wild Rock Sauvignon Blanc, perfectly complemented the dinner to the delight of the wine connoisseurs, dahlings.

Auction

As dessert was being served, an exciting auction was held that got everyone riveted.

On auction was a dazzling pair of 18-carat gold and citrine diamond earrings from Mentxaca. It was won by Ricky Razon.

Next was a gorgeous geranium crocodile bag from talented Joanna Preysler Francisco that went to my date (now and then), Tessie Sy Coson.

The third lot was a pair of wonderful weekend vacation at Amanpulo, the island-resort that is largely regarded as “the most beautiful in the world.” These two lots went to Irene and Jaguar’s main man Felix Ang.

The pièce de résistance of the auction was the awesome one-week stay at the six-bedroom villa of the Bradleys in Saint Didier in France.

The Provençal sojourn went to businesswoman Alice, no less.

Highway 54 then started playing dance tunes, which sent the upper-class invitees rocking the dance floor.

The band’s performance was followed by popular DJ CocoyPuyat playing his tunes.

I just kept wishing that the gorgeous Kat Razon would have DJ’d for a while, but she was there to enjoy and relax, dahlings.

It was definitely a memorable night, especially with CPN’s fundraising goals surpassed.

As we write this, we remember all the fun and excitement.

Thanks also to the superb tandem of Katrina Legarda and Johnny Velasquez for the success of that evening, making us look forward to an even bigger happening next year! Cheers!