In the ever-spinning digital world where every second is a shipload of information, connectivity is the key to keep pace with all things that matter. This new world of social media is measured by the number of “likes” or “shares” or “hashtags” for an event to trend.

 

Beyond traditional print and TV media marketing, brands are now adding other social forms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to their list of product placements. “Selfies” (or self-photos) is the new buzzword, and bloggers posting selfies with products can fetch premium fees and are quite effective.

 

Ian Galliguez, business unit head of businessonline.ph, told me all that and convinced me to launch my own personal website, www.tessaprietovaldes.com. Ian’s one-stop-shop, website-design team, with partner David Watkinson, handles the marketing, advertising and customer relations of the site, while all I have to do is send in the content via social media, without having to interrupt my social or training schedules.

 

My website was recently launched at a cocktail party held at Y2 Residence Hotel, located at Santiago St. corner Valdez St. in Makati. The cocktails also allowed guests to see the new boutique hotel, with its model units available for investors.

 

From the Y2’s roof deck, we enjoyed beautiful weather and a picture-perfect sunset to match, illuminating the Makati skyline. Spanky Monserrat, CEO of Hospitality International, which manages the hotel, opened the affair with a pitch about the possible returns from buying a model unit and turning over the management of the property to the hotel company.

 

The Y2 interiors were jointly designed by longtime friend Tessa Alindogan and my interior design company, Trezza Group. We chose a yin-yang theme, with black and white touches complementing Oriental tones. Hand-painted walls and dramatic artwork cover the rooms and hallways.

 

Check out www.Y2Hotel.com or e-mail [email protected] for information.

 

Online sponsors

 

Swatch is the very first online sponsor of my Sea Princess website. As a token of friendship to the joint launch partners, they gave Spanky and me spectacular Swatch watches. Mine perfectly complemented my Josie Natori outfit.

 

Visit the site and join the first online competition, a “How do you wear your Swatch” photo contest. Participants get the chance to win a premium, limited-edition pre-numbered Birdhead Swatch watch.

 

Virgie S. Ramos, head of Gift Gate, graced the event and showed her full support. Generous Tita Virgie has been our loyal sponsor for the Red Charity Gala as well. Co-chair Kaye Tiñga and I are already planning this year’s big gala in October. Scenes of the past galas are featured on the website.

 

Up in a couple of weeks are other online promos, like a Rudy Project sunshades contest and a Samsung Appliances game. There are going to be lots of weekly and monthly freebies as well.

 

Over at the bar side of the cocktails, guests were enjoying Don Papa Rum, a 100-percent-pure Pinoy rum co-owned by young entrepreneur Monica Llamas. They provided guests with three specially made cocktails for the night. My fave was Kapag Serious Ka, which is made with Don Papa Rum, ginger and kalamansi.

 

Tongo Catering provided cocktail chow, while beers chilled in Beer Below Zero freezers were also served. For dessert, we had the new flavors of Magnum ice cream bar that were launched last month. Photos and video were provided by Klay Tan and Marty Ilagan, respectively.

 

As with every signature Sea Princess party, everyone was showered with swag to take home. The gift bags included the all-new Breeze active detergent and other Unilever products. Other prizes were provided by Samsung, Dimensione, Olay, Watsons, Shu Uemura and Royce chocolates.

 

Ian and her businessonline.ph team also did the event management. It’s amazing what they can do. Yesterday she rang up and said they’ve already had to up the bandwidth as the site is getting too many visitors.

 

Three birthdays

 

It has been an incredible month with lots of birthday celebrations and new beginnings. Awesome friends like GR Rodis, Alice Eduardo and Joji Dingcong all celebrated their milestones with unique birthday bashes.

 

GR had an intimate lunch celebration at Pino, a new Pinoy restaurant at 38 Jupiter St. in Makati. She is the fastest real-time poster on Twitter, as her posts are uploaded directly from her WiFi-enabled Samsung digital camera.

 

Fun-loving Joji Dingcong had a jungle-fever theme night at the new Congo Grill along Jupiter Street as well. Body-painted hunks displayed their muscular physique as guests marveled at the human works of art.

 

Outside Congo Grill, guests marveled at super hunk Derek Ramsay’s brand-new “red” car.

 

Talent maven Keren Pascual celebrated his natal day at the 3rd Philippine Fashion Ball (PFB), a splendid evening featuring a sophisticated men’s fashion show at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Hotel Manila. The PFB has become a pillar on the Philippine fashion circuit.

 

Hosts Bianca Valerio and Michael Carandang announced this year’s awardees—Apples Aberin for Fashion Modeling, Robby Carmona for Fashion Direction, Tina Maristela-Ocampo for Global Design, and the dynamic tandem of Kaye Tiñga and me for Fashion Advocacy.

 

Past featured designers Rajo Laurel and Dennis Lustico were there to present our awards. A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Ben Chan for providing feasible and creative venues to widen the market of talented Filipino designers here and abroad.

 

The male fashion exhibit was directed by Ariel Lozada with expert styling by Noel Manapat, and hair and makeup by Toni & Guy. Among the designers who wowed the crowd with their creations were Albert Andrada, Jerome Ang, Ivar Aseron, Michael Cinco, Chris Jasler, Sassa Jimenez, Rajo Laurel, Jerome Lorico, Dennis Lustico, Randy Ortiz, Gian Romano, Joey Samson and Ezra Santos.

 

My outfit was designed by Rocky Gathercole. The PFB was supported by O+, a cool Android mobile phone.

 

Follow @tessavaldes on Twitter or just check out www.tessaprietovaldes.com