The PBSP chair, brilliant achiever Manny Pangilinan, the MGC chair, old wealth society lady Ma. Luisa Perez-Rubio, and the festival’s steering committee (alta sociedad working ladies Jovie Bunao; Ching Caluag; Emilie Cruz; Luz Cruz; Belen King; Nene Mathay; Linda Miranda; Baby Paterno; Ging de los Reyes; Ruby Roa; Albertine Santi; Flor Tariela; Lita Ungson and Melinda Zeñarosa) decided to celebrate the seventh festival in a new venue with a new format.
Instead of gathering at the Manila Polo Club, Cosmo Manille namedroppables gathered at The Fort’s elegant NBC Tent. The tent was all aglow and filled with tables decked in white with chic red roses as centerpieces. The guests were treated to an apres dinner show by tres, tres talented mega artists Mitch Valdes and the Gary Valenciano.
There was another departure from the first six festivals, dahlings. Only one item was offered for the oral auction – the oil painting El Jardin de San Francisco donated by well-loved Anita Magsaysay-Ho, no less. The new proud owner of this fantastic work of art is United Laboratories vice chairman, popular Dr. Delfin Samson who outbid magnum tycoon Oscar Lopez by bidding a cool P3.5 million, palanggas!
(By the by, it was the third time the elegant and generous Anita donated a painting. Her paintings invariably fetching millions of pesos for a super good cause.)
In the past, there were donations for the silent auction consisted of Christmas trees, centerpieces, paintings, sculptures and bonsai trees donated by such hotshots as Leo Almeria; Linda Angeles; Angel Cacnio; Michael Cacnio; Araceli Limcaco Dans; Liza de los Reyes; Gig de Pio; Edgar Doctor; Ben Farrales; Joven Ignacio; Pauline Jacobsen; Julie Lluch; Modesto Manglicmot; Marni Ocampo; fashion plate Maritess Pineda; Randy Roa; Reggie Rodrigo; Lino Severino; the popular Rustan’s Flower Shop; well-known mother and daughter designers Malou Veloso and Letlet Veloso; Marlane Villareal; and all the way from Paris, Ofie Tequi.
Naturellement, dahlings, the MGC ladies also contributed to the silent auction. Emilie Cruz’s Garden Blooms Flower Shop donated "Earth Tree"; MGC president Ching Caluag donated the watercolor painting Alamanda; The Flower Farm’s elegant Southern lady Ging de los Reyes donated the mushroom starter kit "Mushroomania"; Sonya’s Garden owner Sonya Garcia donated "A Secret Garden Overnight," an overnight stay for two inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner; Baby Paterno donated Fresh Choice, a watercolor painting; and Ma. Luisa Perez-Rubio donated 20 Christmas tree table centerpieces.
That organizer Cosmo Manille is proud of, vivacious Josephine del Gallego-Knox (who chaired the festival from 1996 to 1999 and jetted in from Kuwait to lend her support) solicited donations from Mabolo owner Antonio Garcia ("A Mabolo Centerpiece"); Cerea co-owner Anton Barretto’s "Great Balls of Fire," a pair of table candle topiaries; Patrick Rosas’ "A Beauty Experience," a makeover consultation and Patrick’s stunning coffee table book, Images; and two paintings from Standard Chartered Bank’s CEO AnneMarie Durbin.
All the gorgeous donations were stunningly displayed.
Leading the hundreds of upper-crust eyes marveling at the silent auction pieces de resistance were Ayala’s pillar of strength, Jaime Zobel; muy simpatica Bea Miranda Zobel; dashing Jaime Augusto Zobel; tres chic Lizzie Zobel; vivacious and adorable Beatrice Zobel; Patsy Halfner; young ballerina, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde and her good-looking businessman husband Patxi Elizalde; naturellement, the grand sugar Baron and Baroness of the South, business magnate Oscar and Connie Lopez; and head turner Precy Lopez-Psinakis and her husband, continental businessman Steve Psinakis.
More social and economic pillars who were seen supporting the worthy cause were Cesar Buenaventura and attractive wife Bambina B.; O.V. Espiritu and nice Marilen E.; well-liked Charlie Rufino and his popular lady, Chinit R.; businessman Delfin Lazaro and our palangga, jet-setting woman of all seasons, CheChe Lazaro; Corazon de la Paz; Butch and Ollie Campos; former Sen. Sotero Laurel and his elegant wife, Lorna L.; la simpatica Ambassador Isabel Wilson; Anton Periquet; FEU chair Lourdes Montinola; Ric Pascua; Menardo Jimenez; former Sen. Ting Paterno; Gerry Ablaza; Citibank’s Catherine Weir; plus so many others like them too rich and famous to mention, palanggas.
Apres dinner excellently catered by one of the best, Via Mare’s grand Doyenne of Gourmets Glenda Barretto, the social pack let their hair down and kicked up their heels as they rocked and shook the NBC Tent to the fabi music of the Spirit of ’67.
Clearly enjoying the swinging nostalgic hits were Cinderella’s fashionable Cinderella Therese Coronel Santos; culinary consultant Beth Romualdez; champion bowler Bong Coo; pastry specialist Becky Villegas; interior designer Maryanne Carpio; perky businesswoman Lory-vi Valdez; veterinarian Ixi Mapua; editor-in-chief Anton San Diego; STAR columnist, Mons Romulo-Tantoco; stunningly gorgeous young guard Claudia Bermudez; free as a bird, eye-catching Luli Delgado; our beauty of beauties, Vicky Lopez Tuazon; and over 700 more like them.
Well, palanggas, this is what the true spirit of Christmas is all about – the spirit of giving! The Seventh Festival of Trees will give a whopping P5 million to continue the rehabilitation of Maqueda Bay, Olango Island, Ragay Gulf and to support the livelihood programs of their inhabitants. Not bad huh, not bad at all! The Festival of Trees is indeed a festival of love and generosity!
The event marked the official start of the hotel’s Christmas season. Dr. Elenita B.’s hardworking daughter Nancy Binay-Angeles, Dr. Elenita’s first grandson, cutie-pie Boogie, and alta sociedad personas Marietta Santos and glamorous Claudia Bermudez also graced the affair.
Claudia B. keeps a tres low-profile when it comes to her charitable work, which has been instrumental in bringing the Nazareth children all the way from Malolos, Bulacan to Shangri-La with Sister Ma. Agnes Alberastine and dedicated social-worker Raquel Ordonio.
Aside from running the tres chic, one of a kind Ascot boutique in the hotel and keeping a busy social schedule, Claudia B. still finds time to be super involved in the daily care and upkeep of the home’s 70 boys and girls. For the past three years, Claudia B. has been soliciting assistance from individuals and corporate sponsors. She has even personally shouldered the expenses for the center’s basic necessities like electric and water bills.
Accompanied by the hotel’s hotshot executives led by Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts’ area manager, well-liked gent of all seasons Richard Riley, palanggas, the special personas watched in awe as Dr. Elenita B. switched on the power source that lit up the Alpine village with festive Tivoli lights.
The children marveled at how "snow" blanketed the bakery, confectionery and deli shops, palanggas, which comprise the interactive "village" where visitors can purchase an array of gourmet gift items. The "town center" is spruced up with a tall grandfather clock and a pocket garden with bright-red poinsettias and pine trees lightly covered in snow.
The street children and Dr. Elenita B. had a grand time touring every nook and cranny of the village. They were serenaded with holiday tunes by the Makati Shangri-La Choir composed of the hotel’s super talented chefs and waiters. Apres the main activity, the kids were treated to a fantastic merienda and lute-bags nearly bursting with Christmas goodies.
Moi am sure that the so deserving children will not forget the afternoon, thanks to their Fairy God sister, Claudia Bermudez. Bravo, gal!
Corporations and individuals who may want to make donations to Nazareth Home for Street Children, do call tel. no. (044) 791-2520 or e-mail nazarethhome@yahoo.com.
Remember, palanggas, Jesus was born today to save us all from eternal flames. Happy birthday, our Lord Jesus Christ!
Maligayang pasko! Maayong paskwa sa inyong tanan mga palangga ko.
See you.