Remember the fashion stars of the ’70s & ’80s?

Did you know that tycoon Chito Madrigal-Collantes once reigned as social directress atHyatt Regency Manila, producing the best fashion shows in town? That the hotel’s debonair general manager was Peter Jentes, who won the heart of Pinay beauty queen Minnie Cagatao? And that the top fashion director in town then was Afro-haired Gary Flores?

If you do, then you’re old enough to remember that La Concha at the penthouse of Hyatt, with its breathtaking view of Manila Bay from those great glass windows, was the prime venue of the best fashion shows in town featuring creations by Manila’s then tight little group of designers. The ramp stars of this era were mostly colegialas, some of whom became beauty queens.

Three years ago, Oscar Atendido organized a mini-reunion with a few Hyatt models, with the ladies parading in choice outfits from the vintage collection of "Tita" Chito. The affair proved so successful that he, with some friends, moved heaven and earth to bring Gary, who had to make a short getaway from his Lord and Taylor chores in Virginia, back to Manila for a bigger, more star-studded reunion last week.

Nostalgia and thoughts of those happy yesteryears, plus what-is-what-with-whom, were the main servings of this flashback to the ’70s and ’80s. The organizers — the so-called "Magic 6" composed of PR man Bobby Caballero, fashion designers Boysie Villavicencio, Tony Cajucom, Oscar Atendido, former models Celine Magat Lopez, and Minnie Cagatao — decided to add more relevance to the event by presenting lifetime achievement awards. They presented the Fire Award to "Tita" Chito for having been the prime mover behind the highly popular La Concha shows, which literally spanned a fashion generation. The Steel Award naturally went to the "Man of Steel," Peter, for having steered those shows to the hearts of Manila’s social set; and the Magic Award went to Gary, for having turned each and every show into a magical wonderland of fashion.

A total of 32 former Hyatt models, all comfortably settled with their families both in the country and in different parts of the globe, wore vintage outfits — yes, with slight alterations. The outfits were fabulous, pooled from the creative genius of the country’s leading fashion designers — Ben Farrales, Aureo Alonzo, Inno Sotto, Oskar Peralta, Renee Salud, Rusty Lopez, Gerry Katigbak, Larrie Silva, Ube Abeleda, Edgar Mendoza, Greg Centeno, Jing Chua, Steve de Leon, Mike de la Rosa, Romulo Estrada, Danilo Franco, Cesar Gaupo, Marden Iglesias, Noli Hans, Justi Mendoza, Anthony Nocom, Efren Ocampo, Barge Ramos, Joe Sason and Ricky Teves.

Among the female models were Margie Moran-Floirendo, Melanie Marquez, Babot Artadi-Villavicencio, Marimi de la Fuente, Ping Fideris, Cheng Bernardez-Lucas, Yvonne del Prado-Barretto, Tonette Salcedo, Wanda Louwallien, Melba Arribas, Julie Ann Fortich, Merlita Antonio, Nerissa Meneses- Jahns, Bernice Romualdez-Ocampo, Jean Altavas, Lou Vital- Yabut, Malyn Fernandez, Susan Reyes, Lani Aquino, Azenith Briones-Reyes, Mara Spirig-Nasrabadi and Vivian Avila.

The male models present — for what turned out to be a great session of storytelling, note-comparing and hearty laughter — were Benjie Toledo, Jan Garcia, Ronnie Ricketts, Ed Roxas, Derek Carmona, Sonny Tanchanco, John Gaddi, and Don Gallardo.

This was Benjie Toledo’s first visit to Manila in 27 years. He now works as a personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. He and some New Yorker friends also produce musical revues of off-Broadway shows. He is also involved in a foundation that takes care of children with Down’s syndrome.

Although recently widowed, Bessie Badilla-del Castillo, now based in the US East Coast, was radiant and had a tinge of triumph in her smile as she recounted having successfully licked a thyroid malignancy. She proudly showed off the scar, around the base of her neck, from the very recent surgical procedure. She still finds time to model for a jewelry chain, Ramona Haar, and for Neiman Marcus.

Still glowing from a recent marriage— her second — Ces Artadi-Briggs now lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. She models part-time for a chain of ladies’ boutiques in that particular US panhandle. Perky and pretty Via Marquez- Hoffman is based in Sydney, Australia, and models part-time for Salvatore Ferragamo.

Statuesque Ana Francisco-Risinger runs a bed-and-breakfast business in Stockholm, Sweden. She loves to cook and a request came up when she and her husband moved to their present residence.

Artistically inclined Joyce Penas-Pilarsky left the La Concha shows to become a flight attendant, where she met a "debonair and very nice" passenger who eventually became her husband. She now lives with him in Baden Wurtemberg, Germany, where he is the Honorary Consul of Armenia. Joyce makes time for her passions, which are sculpture and painting. She is also president of the Philippine-German Club in their region and, together with her husband, heads a foundation helping children from poor families get education.