The hugely successful "Asian Festival" marked the prestigious Catholic Women’s Club’s 80th Annual Tea, palanggas. The group is well-known for its charities and outreach projects.
The festival was held in Peninsula Manila’s ballroom during a new moon.
"We are an Asian nation so why not an Asian Festival to showcase Asian culture through costumes, dances and music?" remarked hardworking society lady Linda Pastoral, the Annual Tea’s energetic chairperson who conceptualized the Asian theme.
Co-chairpersons and old-wealth society ladies Consuelo Preysler and Mabel Abano happily relished the game response of namedroppable guests and members who were asked to join a lively costume contest called "Parade of Asian Nations."
The board of judges had to take a second look at the costumes on parade before making their choices. The judges were world-class vivacious couturier Patis Tesoro; the Dean himself Ben Farrales; philanthropist and art connoisseur Danny Dolor; internationally acclaimed designer Aureo Alonzo; world-traveler Ado Escudero; Southern gentry Boysie Villavicencio; and the gent behind the Mabolo’s success story, florist Antonio Garcia.
Annabelle Adriano won for having the "Most Outstanding Costume." Milette Ocampo, Mimi Ilich, Thelma Gana, Wang Je Bang, Salud Santos, Nellie Bengzon, Nenuca Blardony and Mely Ablaza won in other categories.
The real fun began when the CWC members performed a super applauded repertoire of Japanese, Chinese, Malay-inspired, Muslim and Middle Eastern dances. Though they were not professional dancers, the performers were a joy to watch.
The Muslim Royal Princess, dahlings, were Mabel Abano; Myrna Borromeo; Tess Castro; Fortune Ledesma; and Mila Lim.
The Chinese Monkey Tail dancers were Alice Briones; Baby de Jesus; Karen Macasaet; and Mila Magsino.
The Japanese geishas were Zeny Cabral; Vicky Cadungog; Tess Briones; and Baby Gloria.
The Malay dancers were Jean Acot and Erika Markham while the belly dancers from the Middle East were Mandy Aguilar; Puring Galano; Tereret Liboro and Cecile Limjoco.
All dances were beautifully choreographed by Jeremy Vallejo. Well, now you know why they were given a standing ovation, dahlings.
Tessie Luz and Tricia Vergel de Dios emceed the affair.
CWC president Lulu Castañeda inducted new members before the dances. Among them were Patis Tesoro; Nenuca Blardony; Mely Ablaza; Leonor Goquingco; Cecile Limjoco; Trixie Castañeda; Leonarda Camacho; Corinna Caparas; Teresita Masangkay; and Shigeko Diploma.
CWC’s latest Limited Edition Plates, "Mag-na," created by world-class artist Ben Cab, were launched that afternoon. The plates will be available at the CWC’s Casa y Jardin Bazaars on Oct. 14 at the Hotel InterContinental and on Oct. 21 at the Peninsula Manila. For more details, do call Violy at tel. no. 843-2869 at the CWC office.
This year’s Annual Tea Steering Committee was composed of Lulu Castañeda, president; Linda Pastoral, chairperson; Mabel Abano and Consuelo Preysler, co-chairpersons; plus so many other society ladies of the powerful pack, palanggas.
The list of hot names included Ambassadors Carmen Lynam of Chile and la simpatica y amable Milena Santana Ramirez of Venezuela; former Ambassador to Spain Isabel Caro-Wilson; Kessara Arnold; Alice Buckly; Valentina Khmelnitski; Mariana Hubbard; Myriam Ara; and Grace Inije; plus the wives of the Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Mexico, Japan and Nigeria respectively.
Also joining in, palanggas, were National Artist Leonor Orosa-Goquingco; Carmen Bayot-Garcia; Josie Padilla-Rufino; Sessy Garcia; Tessie Yupangco; Lenny Gutierrez; Vina Mercado, plus so many more like them too famous and wealthy to mention, dahlings.
And what better way to welcome Patron Tequila’s local debut than by hosting an excellently prepared gastronomic feast for our town’s hotshot new guard pack. They are definitely in the know when it comes to quality of this tequila. This tequila is so premium, it could only be made from 10 percent Weaber Tequilana Blue Agave.
The popular Platinum Vault, palanggas, Patron Tequila’s sole distributor in the Philippines, hosted the tres exclusive power dinner attended by Cosmo Manille’s mega shakers and the ultimate of achievers.
Clearly enjoying the Patron Tequila experience were San Miguel’s tycoon Ramon Ang; brothers two, Choy and Mikey Cojuangco; Rep. Antonio "Tonyboy" Floirendo; good-looking world-class architect, Conrad Onglao; eligible and tres elusive bachelor Ed Roxas; and the King of the Night Life himself, Louie Ysmael.
Also topping the list of the who’s who there with moi, dahlings, were Swift’s top asset Bernie Concepcion; international polo player and businessman, Iñigo Zobel; our palangga man of all seasons Babes Romualdez; mega banker Lito Tayag; construction magnate Philip Cruz; plus other new guard hotshots like them.
The world’s finest tequila, naturellement, was complemented with a dinner superbly prepared by Le Souffle at the Fort’s top-of-the-line chef of chefs Mark Aubrey, no less.
We discovered that night that Patron Tequila comes in three variants – Patron Silver, Patron Reposado and Patron Anejo.
And like all great things, palanggas, nothing was left to chance. Each Patron Tequila bottle is uniquely numbered creation. Even the bottle itself is a collector’s item!
"Patron Tequila is exclusively available in Cosmo Manille’s top restaurants and bars and Duty Free Philippines Shops," explained boy-ish looker and achiever, Sherwin Lao, general manager of The Wine Co. You may call Platinum Vault at tel. no. 810-47-56 for more info, dahlings.
But that does not end there, palanggas. Platinum Vault also distributes such high-end premium brands such as Grey Gooze Vodka and Pyrat Rum.
Yes, palanggas, it definitely was a power dinner of Cosmo Manille’s new guards toasting the newest and chic-est drink, Patron Tequila.
It was a thrill meeting many of the guests, dahlings, who have all become pals. Moi calls them the B.B.G. (as in "beauty, brains and guts!") gang.
The B.B.G. is a new breed of hotshot politicians like first termer Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain of the first district of Batangas; Charity Leviste of the first district of Oriental Mindanao; Maite Defensor of the third district of Quezon City; Occidental Mindoro’s Josephine Sato; the fourth district of Quezon City’s Nanette Castelo-Daza; Hermie Ramiro from New Manila Quezon City; Soraya Jaafar from Tawi-Tawi; Nenet San Juan from Zamboanga del Sur; and ultra-glam gal, Rep. Imee Marcos of the second district of Ilocos Norte.
They were joined by the Empress of Ballroom Dancing Becky Garcia and her constant escort, international French businessman Henri Muzzarelli.
Apres some aperitifs and loads of questions shot at the country’s new guard politicians, the superb lunch catered by Casa Nila was served. It included the excellent lengua which became the invitees’ favorite, dahlings.
Needless to say, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos became the center of attention. Her wit and brilliant views on politics had us all listening with complete interest.
Naturellement, being known as perfect hosts, the Villars raffled off prizes and made sure all their guests went home completely satisfied. We surely were, palanggas.
And music plays on and on and on.
Do smile. See you.