Dish is it!

Dishing time

First of all, dahlings, let me congratulate world-class couturier and Prince of Alta Moda, Inno Sotto for bagging the Designer of the Year award and for tying with classy Joe Salazar in the Bridal Gown category during the fashion awards held last week at The Fort’s NBC Tent. The event was excellently organized and produced by the popular and fashionable Mega magazine.

Apres the proclamations, Inno S. was very emphatic in saying, "I think the Bridal Category award should have been given to Pepito Albert and Joe." Now, dahlings, that’s the essence of a true gentlemen who doesn’t have trace of insecurity. Inno S. is definitely one of the rare endangered human species we have the honor of knowing.

Have you heard the loud dish, palanggas, about how certain personas lashed out, thinking that they were the ones referred to in PEOPLE Asia executive editor Philip Cu-Unjieng’s interview of Inno Sotto (featured in STARWEEK last Oct. 7).

Inno had pointed – without mentioning any name – individuals he believed had deluded themselves into thinking they were credible enough to "preach" on society matters. No name was referred to. All Inno did was comment on those individuals as a whole, although he did mention the word "eventologist." Many of us have our own ideas about who the possible individuals may be, palanggas.

Moi was so impressed with Inno’s super frank let-it-all-hang out interview that I featured it in my "Dishing time" section last week where moi quoted each of Inno’s statements. Apres each of his sentence, I distinctly wrote, "Now, guess whose face comes into view?" or "Whose face flashes in your mind?"

In other words, moi allowed the readers to judge for themselves who they thought the statements referred to. After all, Inno S. was stating a fact as a whole.

If certain individuals think they fall into one, some, or all of the categories in Inno’s statements, then that’s his or her bloody problem. After all, when one feels alluded to or is insecure about a statement, it clearly proves a guilty conscience. As the cliché goes, it’s "offense for defense" which is the dumb way to retaliate. Or better yet, as my late father would say, "La ignorancia es atrivida," meaning, "Ignorance is daring." How true!

This is moi last word on this subject and hopefully, everyone’s last as well. Because you know what? This is really getting to be boring, di bala, palanggas?

Now, let’s switch to this dish – or rather, horror story – about a well-known, super high-profile Southern tycoon (or flamboyant politician or banker) who had to undergo some kind of operation pronto as he was not in the best of health.

Apres the operation, the gentleman was placed in the usual recovery room. Somehow, though, he got worse as the days went by! So much so that the doctors decided to find out what was wrong or what went wrong.

When they discovered the cause, the doctors were shocked! Like freak cases in the past, the one who operated on the gentleman – who is by the by, considered one of the best in his field – or his assistant, forgot to take out a whole bunch of gauze which was causing the gentleman’s post-operative deterioration.

Thank God, the gentleman is now recovering – albeit slowly – from this freaky mistake. Moral of the story: even the best can commit monstrous mistakes like this!

Then there’s this dish about how this popular persona (or male model or designer or social butterfly) goes around town wearing tons of makeup, and resorts to other outrageous gimmicks to catch the attention of personas he or she is trying so hard to impress? Is this just a "mask" to hide their true selves? Oh well, it takes all kinds, I guess.

* * *

The predictable mid-year shower, dahlings, signified tons of blessing and prosperity for that smashing success story called Dish.

The rains did not stop Cosmo Manille’s namedroppables and partying pack from rushing to the third level of the chic-ky Power Plant Mall for the much awaited and much talked about grand opening of the newest and most hip eating place in town.

Unfazed by the rain and traffic, the colorful invitees breezed in fashionably and "well-mannered-ly" on time for the 7 p.m. ribbon snipping ceremonies.

Heading the power pack, palanggas, were Rockwell Land Corp.’s Nestor Padilla; tycoon Oscar Lopez; socialite Maritess Lagdameo Lopez; tres amiable Wyngard Tracy; distinguished lady Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste; and everyone’s megastar and dream gal Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan who came with her elegant mom Elaine Cuneta. They were later joined by public servant extraordinaire, Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

The earlier part of the happening attracted Very Important Personas, dahlings, like moi pal, one-of-a-kind gentleman Johnny Litton; super couple Ernest and Josie Rufino; well-respected Pepsi VP Felix Yu; bright and vibrant twosome, Rep. Teddyboy Locsin and Louie L.; the popular Macau Pigeon House owners Sander and Mons Tantoco; jetsetting socialite Josephine Knox; PR "Wonder Woman" Susan Joven; elegant beauty Anna Buenaventura; renowned couturier Pepito Albert; NBC and MTV’s brilliant Francis Lumen and his fashionable wife Mary Ann Ojeda L.; remarkable legislator, former Senate President Jovito Salonga; and dazzling head turner Maripi Muscat.

The VIPersonas listened with delight to the incredible music of one-man band Moise as they helped themselves to a wide array of sumptuous specialties from Dish’s seven popular outlets – Barangay, which serves yummy Filipino fare like soups, salads, sandwiches, sweets; Tapas Tapas, which serves good Spanish food; Hoshi, perfect for Japanese gourmands; Luna, which serves Italian delights; Pho Viet, which offers superb exotic Vietnamese dishes; and Steak Factory, which offers good Old American food and steaks.

Yes, dahlings, there’s not just one but seven food stores within Dish to choose from. Their proud subtenants and partners were all smiles that night, not showing a trace of the usual opening jitters – Beng Dee; Tess Litton; Cristina de Alba; Deane Montoya; Martin Litton; Vanna Calalang; Annie Cacho; Manet Dayrit; Michael and Eric Cua; Bing and Tintin Rivera-Santiago and guess who?

The brains behind this highly successful novel dining place with a food court concept and several stylized steps up are organizer par excellence, the well-liked EJ Litton of Strumm’s and Stars fame; PEOPLE Asia’s executive editor, fine gent Philip Cu-Unjieng; and workasonic successful restaurateur Rikki Dee of Krokodile, Manggan and Kitchen (among many others) and guess who, palanggas?

The tres personable troika may be busy with their other endeavors, but Dish is their new baby. The trio made sure their rich and famous guests had a fantabulous time. And believe me, dahlings, they surely did.

Also tres visible, palanggas, were the geniuses behind Zed, Jojit Alcazar, Ben Reyes and president Antti Lahtinen. Thanks to the world’s leading mobile portal, the partying mob got funky Zedsplat key chains and cool grooving CDs. Two very lucky guests went home with a spanking 3310 each, loaded with Zed, naturellement, dahlings.

The town’s movers and shakers, all grooving and swinging in the truest sense of the word, palanggas, were all there like dynamic looker Annette Coronel Cruz; inseparable gal pals, lively Karen Romualdez and classy Tricia Cu-Unjieng; popular, eligible DTI Secretary Mar Roxas; King of the Night Life Louie Ysmael; world-class gourmand and wine connoisseur Alex Lichaytoo of Bacchus International, natch; respected food writer and gourmand Sandy Daza and his attractive wife Tess Mendoza-D.; famed designer Rhett Eala; always at his best gent Mickey Cojuangco; our palangga, beautiful couple Elbert Cuenca and Liza with an "L" Ilarde; E! Philippines’ veep Sandy Ocampo and party man Steve Mills; fashionistas Alta Tan, Tara Santos, Leah Puyat and Malu Fernandez.

The celebration was in full swing as Side A crooned and cajoled the audience to sing and dance. The gathering was in for a treat as no less than Sharon Cuneta jammed with the tres popular quintet. Bringing the energy level even higher was Rage Band’s Juan Miguel Salvador and the energetic Marissa Bunyag who seemed to perform straight from the ’80s with her incredible energy and captivating stage presence.

Having a blast, palanggas, were the royal pack and new guards of the new millennium: super fun and smart Margarita Locsin; PR whiz Leica Carpo; Dennis Valdes and colorful persona Tess Prieto-V. who by the by, palanggas, is responsible for the swanky design and interiors of Dish, no less; gregarious and talented Cheska Laurel; everyone’s faves Gino and Nikki Yabut; most eligible bachelor Richie Santos; glamorous beauty Bea Valdez; and sought-after lens man Raymund Isaac.

The showbiz set added sparkle to the bash. It included reigning Concert King Martin Nievera who came early with erstwhile bosom buddy, Louie Ocampo; beautiful lovey-dovey couple Richard and Lucy Gomez; visual delight Joyce Jimenez; sexy chanteuse Geneva Cruz; lovesome Rachel Alejandro and Lee Robin Salazar; dashing VJ, KC Montero; super sultry Hartman endorser Patricia Javier; come-backing hunk Hans Montenegro; TV host Miriam Quiambao; talented brothers Eric and Epy Quizon; spirited couple David and Jessica Bunevacz; young action star handsome, Southern gent Victor Neri; controversial John Estrada; handsome Patrick Garcia; entrepreneur and actor Robin da Roza; funny gal Wilma Doesnt; former Miss Saigon Jenine Desiderio; and TV’s high- fashion celeb, Ces Drilon.

Ultra sociable personas who partied until they dropped were "it" girls Celine Lopez; Wendy Puyat; Claudine Trillo; Anna Shier; Amanda Griffin; Lexi Schulze; and top models Eazel Don; Grace Molina; Baba Parma; Phoemela Baranda with constant companion Paolo Valdez; and working Southern young socialite, the gal with the eye, Amanda Lu Ym.

Also seen were hot new Penshoppe endorser Jonathan Kovac; our palangga, photo bug Pepper Teehankee; winning mega talent manager Joji Dingcong; likeable PR royal Keren Pascual; native New Yorker and true gent Patrick Reyno; attractive lovebirds Joel Tantoco and Cherrie del Rosario; sweet honeymooners King Reyno and Vicky Morales-R.; basketball superstar Erick Menk; lovely Dyevest vocalist Aliyah; and Young Star columnist, handsome Marco Lobregat; plus so many others like them, dahlings, too rich, famous and beautiful to mention.

In retrospect, the celebration was a mix of great dining, endless drinking from super pals San Miguel Beer, Bacchus Int’l., Future Trade, Premier Wines and Spirits and Remy Silver.

Superb music, great company, the most gracious hosts, only at the in-est one-stop entertainment place. Dish is most certainly it, palanggas!