For aperitifs, models showed off the latest groovy watches by the internationally so in and hip Techno Marine. If you don’t know what Techno Marine is all about, palanggas, it’s time for you to find out!
The event also featured the latest slinky Mercedes Benzes at the Ayala Mall’s lower level.
It was so cute watching the duo – and "A" men themselves – of Breakfast host JC Gonzalez and popular FWD editor TJ Manotoc keeping their wits about as they hosted the event.
The must-have ribbon snipping officially opened the happening. It was done by hotshot "A" women who can hold their own against any "A" man.
They were the radiantly cucumber-cool Tingting Cojuangco; fashion icon and Museo Pambata’s newest director, Tina Maristela-Ocampo; Queen of Talk Show, vivacious Kris Aquino; and the Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla.
Assisting them were handsome multi-awarded actor Albert Martinez, hunky Piolo Pascual and moi. The snipping officially opened Raymund Isaac, Raul Teehankee and Ronnie Salvacion’s 50 Most Beautiful Filipino Men photo exhibit.
Beaming with pride on the side were Victor Te and his nice wife, Sincerely T., owners of Hanford and Hartman; Raymund Isaac; Young Actress of the Hour Judy Ann Santos; Techno Marine’s free again, super eligible Raffy Florencio; cool bachelor on the loose, popular Paolo Prieto; low-profile jeweler Robert Castañeda; Canon’s Gelo Martinez; Gadgets associate editor Rhea Hermoso and contributing editor Mia Rocha; super gals and top fashion designers, palangga Southern gent Randy Ortiz and Tonichi Nocum; the wonderfully quirky Tessa Prieto-Valdes; and Bluprint and My Home magazines’ Tina Bonoan.
Apres, the excited pack breezed to the second floor. The Men at Work exhibit, Palm Pilot, Electronic Depot, Canon and Microwarehouse were all there. PDAs (as in, personal digital assistants to all you technophobes), digital cameras, printers and all those gizmos that men seem to love tinkering with were on display. Natch, Gadgets Magazine was there. Moi received a copy of their anniversary issue, dahlings. Moi never thought technology could be so exciting!
Then TJ and JC whisked us off to the third floor for Maintenance Men featuring Lux Asia and all their fantastic perfumes for machos like the so cool, Cool Water, cK and Bvlgari, and another Techno Marine booth.
Finally, there was Men’s Room! Now, palanggas, this was an exhibit of mini-rooms designed by five of the most delightful men I know personally: multi-talented movie and TV star Albert Martinez; well-liked Rustom Padilla; heartthrob Cogie Domingo; Carlos Agassi; and Ryan Agoncillo. You’d be surprised to discover their interior decorating talents! Home Zone graciously provided the supplies to set up their rooms.
Naturellement, Bluprint and My Home magazines were there to lend their support.
Rubbing glamorous elbows were CATS Motors, Inc. president Felix Ang and his wife, both super delighted to have brought the Benzes in; Anonymous’ business whiz Ricco Ocampo; shutter bug Raul Teehankee; attractive Peachy Veneracion; Dero Pedero; PEOPLE Asia’s Philip Cu-Unjieng and his stylish, wife Trish C.; gorgeous lovebirds David and Jessica Rodriguez-Bunevacz; forever beautiful Annette Coronel-Cruz; and that fantastic, workasonic talent manager, our Ilonggo na palangga, Joji Dingcong.
And that was just for starters, dahlings! The closing of aMEN was even more spectacular, with its touch of Moulin Rouge fever. There was also a fashion show by fantastic barong maker Paul Cabral.
The highlight of the event was the awarding of the 10 Men of the Moment. They included popular ramp, print and TV model Christian Vasquez; teenage heartthrob and Hanford Sports endorser Carlos Agassi; champion racer Angelo Baretto; talented young actor Cogie Domingo; basketball star Mark "The Spark" Caguioa; versatile actor Piolo Pascual; Breakfast host JC Gonzalez; Oxygen endorser Derek Ramsey; basketball hotshot and Hartman endorser, good-looking bachelor Alex Compton; and FWD Magazine editor TJ Manotoc.
Yes, palanggas, it was definitely a glamorous "It’s Raining Men" week, thanks to the creative team behind aMEN!
The swinging ’80s (the bash’s theme) sounds was the unforgettable, just the way they were in the disco era. The music became the focus of the unforgettable happening.
And what a party, dahlings! Legendary King of the Night Life Louie Ysmael brought in his collection of disco classics in vinyl, no less, and enlisted the help – and record collection – of the Maestro of DJs and a legend himself, Wopsy Zamora, who together with Louie Y. started the best discotheques in the metro with Stargazer at the Silahis and Louie Y.’s at the Hyatt.
To this day, palanggas, the tres hard-core party people are talking about the beautiful people and the high energy at Venezia.
According to Louie Y., who was ecstatic about the turn-out and response, there will be a series of such happenings in the coming months. "No one can spin ’80s music like Wopsy Z.," says Louie, "and we have them all!" That’s for sure, dahlings.
Someone was heard saying, "When those two legends get together, you can bet that no one can come close as far as music is concerned!"
Louie Y. was the first to bring in notable sounds such as "Native New Yorker," "Give Me Just a Little More Time," "La Vie En Rose," "Lanca Perfume," "My Male Curiosity" and countless more. Wopsy, meanwhile, was the man behind the booth together with his team of unbeatable DJs.
What a team, dahlings! Wopsy hasn’t lost his touch to this day. When he and Louie Y. go nuts, expect the rest to follow suit!
It also helped that the bar flowed freely from 9 to 11 p.m. courtesy of Vodka Ice, Blavod, Vodka Cruiser, Agwa, Absolut Vodka and Chivas Regal. When free booze flows, you can expect a barrage of party animals to arrive in full tidal wave force.
Completely engrossed and going bananas over the fantastic sounds, palanggas, were good-looking Joel Tantoco who was so euphoric, he zapped off his shirt as dashing Carlo Lopez,Patrick Reyno and gorgeous Wendy Puyat danced to the fast beat.
Venezia’s Aya Perez grooved and reminisced with pals Miguel Rosales; Mitzi Romillo; Tonyboy de Leon; Liezel Marquez; Lynette Sta. Maria; and handsome cousins Robin da Rosa and Illac Diaz.
Pretty, pretty Tina Pluquet rocked, rattled and rolled the night away with Gerome Villarete and Tito Herbosa.
It was crystal clear that Venezia was invaded by professional models Eazel Don, Baba Pharma, Rachel Soriano, Maricris Perez,Mikey Montes and Derrick Hibaler who grooved until way past the crowing of the roosters.
Our palangga, photo bug Pepper Teehankee was also euphoric as he danced with almost everyone he knew. Paolo Prieto, Jose Moreno, Mai Castro and Cherry del Rosario were comfortably seated by the Makeshift DJ’s booth keeping a keen interested eye on Wopsy Z. and Louie Y. who took turns at the turntable.
By the round bar at the back were beautiful couple Al and Carla Tengco and moi who had a blast while chatting with fun couple Benjie and Yvette Sevilla; adorable Cecile Ysmael; Thelina Nuval; Martin Camara; handsome Jess Sarmiento; exotic beauty Jane Yu; and sultry Rosanna Peña.
In-demand couturier Pepito Albert had a good laugh with moi cousin Lampel Luis and vivacious Jomar Munarriz who mingled while tripping down memory lane.
As one DJ from a competing club said, "The music at Venezia is a tough act to follow. They are always the first to play a hit and they always set the trend!"
Venezia is still jam-packed and you can quickly order and enjoy a drink, which Louie Y. intends to keep that way. Quite unlike a certain jam-packed Makati place where, if you’re lucky at all, you’ll get your drink an hour late!
Are you a fan of the greatest ’80s music? Well, dahlings, you can enjoy this every Monday night at Venezia. And on Nov. 6, Tuesday, Venezia is going to have another swinging day.
The occasion marked the formal tie-up between the two leading brand names. It kicked-off with the inauguration of AND 1’s "Wall of Fame" showcasing framed autographed jerseys of local basketball celebrity endorsers for all of NSG’s patrons to ogle at.
Relzbach Ventures’ Bobby Bachman, AND 1’s official distributor in the Philippines and National Sports Grill’s Alfonso Zamora, could hardly contain their excitement over the team-up. They have lined up a series of activities to last until the end of the year for dine-in guests at NSG who are into sports, especially basketball.
The AND 1 endorsers, palanggas, are any gal’s dream dudes: MBA’s handsome Vince Hizon; Purefoods’ Noy Castillo; Alaska’s lady charmer Ali Peek; and Shell’s Mark Telan; DLSU Archers’ hunk Mike Cortez. Alaska’s Rodney Santos was on sick bay, having come from a rigid team-building session. However, Alaska imports Sean Chambers, Terrance Badgett and Fil-Swede real cool hunk and ladies’ man James Walkvist dropped by to join in the fun, to the screams of the fans and invitees who had their colorful AND 1 posters autographed by the celebrities as they posed for souvenir photos.
Tres visible, palanggas, were such hot and feisty sports columnists and commentators like The Philippine STAR’s Quinito Henson who dashed in all the way from Tarlac to join in the happening. Also there was the crew of Dyan Castillejo’s TV show, Sports Unlimited, all busily interviewing the basketball celebs.
Yes, palanggas, AND 1 basketball gear and apparel are available at sports stores nationwide and at National Sports Grill.
Cosmo Manille’s endless sizzling nights are not bad, huh? Not bad at all.
See you.