The Monique Lhuillier Show: A Special Saturday Dinner at Shang Palace

When Amparito Llamas-Lhuillier called us on our mobile phone to invite us for the Philippine debut of the Monique Lhuillier line in Manila, it was an invitation we could not refuse.

Her younger daughter Monique has given Cebu much prestige and the Philippines great honor through the phenomenal success she has gained as a couturier of Hollywood stars, as well as other royal celebrities.Amidst all her achievements, Monique has consistently acknowledged her Cebuano roots and Filipino ancestry... something very noteworthy vis a vis compatriots who go abroad and take on another nationality, forgetting the land of their birth.

One pleasurable activity before the grand fashion show was meeting the Bugbees (Monique with good-looking and highly intelligent husband Tom, who oversees the financial side of the Monique Lhuillier Enterprise, adorable baby son Jack Nicholas and young mother-in-law Dora) over dinner at the plush Shang Palace of the Makati Shangri-La. Beaming parents Michel and Amparito were at the door of the function room for the friends and relatives, mostly from Cebu, who attended. The hotel's dynamic Joy Wassmer was also there to check the smooth flow of the dinner.

Despite the terrific traffic that Saturday night, dinner started on schedule with the opening platter of barbequed meats, century eggs and jelly fish, which was soon followed by marvelous steaming bowls of braised shark's fin soup as only Shang Palace chefs could prepare. Five gourmet main courses ensued, before the serving of the delicious yong chow rice which we could hardly touch after all the scrumptious dishes.

Dad Michel gave a short speech before his toast to his internationally renowned daughter. Michel disclosed that he would rather say his piece among relatives and friends, than before a big crowd since he was afraid he would repeat his "embarrassing moment" in New York when he broke down and could hardly finish his prepared speech at a Monique Lhuillier gala in the Big Apple. Indeed, what he feared took place when proud dad shed tears when he gave flowers to his beloved daughter at the end of the show the next night.

Monique Lhuillier has done us all proud. Bravo!