Our Debutante of the Month

When a girl turns 18, dahlings, it is only right that she celebrate it the best way she can. So, her famille made sure that our Debutante of the Month, attractive Miss with the four B’s (as in, beauty, brains, breeding and bucks) Rona Potenciano Vergel de Dios, experienced her 18th birthday in the best way possible at the posh-y Manila Polo Club.

The Polo Club’s lounge became a dream-setting for super talented Clive de los Santos and Robert Blancaflor of 1816 Flowers.

The memorable evening began with an invocation delivered by no less Irma Ponce-Enrile Potenciano, the debutante’s maternal grandmother. The UST Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Prof. Hermegildo Ranera provided the glorious music. A full orchestra was actually present complete with strings, percussion, and more.

Listening to the romantic Somewhere Over the Rainbow, A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes and When You Wish Upon A Star sung by the Male Vocal Ensemble Philippines, made most of the lady guests, dahlings, wish they could relive their debuts. The songs climaxed as the debutante made her grand entrance to the nostalgic tune of She.

All these, naturellement, took place thanks to the guidance and meticulous preparations done by the debutante’s mother, the incomparable and attractive Virma Potenciano-Vergel de Dios who wore a classic Paul Cabral gown.

The guest list was tres impressive, dahlings, led by the illustrious Ponce-Enrile clan who came in full Enrile force: Chito, Toti, Bobit and JR. Seen circulating apres the cotillion were Sally Tesoro; lawyer Leonardo Siguion Reyna; Opap, Monique and Cris Villonco; and beautiful young couple Mixie and Kriska Bernasconi.

Also tres visible were Caloy and Dodit Reyes; Cesar and Myra Sylianteng; Totie and Gina Geraldez; Ike and Susan Campos; Carlos and Giselle Concepcion; and Dars and Caroline Padilla. The Vergel de Dios famille were led by the debutante’s mega businessman father, debonair Bonnie V. de D., brothers Mark and VJ with their eye-catching wives; good-looking Pascal; grandparents Pepe and Elvie and the debutante’s uncles and aunts Tuttie and Ginia, Bing and Beng, Marcelino and Esperanza Vergel de Dios.

Seen marveling at the young beauties of tomorrow were the Rotary Club of Makati South members Allan and Annette Lee; Bodjie and Margie Lorenzo; Nesty and Nena Evangelista; Boy and Lydia David; Baby Golez; Marina Laroya; and Daisy Concepcion.

The elegant ladies of the prestigious Zonta Club were led by Sonya Mathay; Baby Laraya; Lyn Sunico; tall, elegant Dandy Gomez; Nonie Basilio; Alma Calleja; Donnie Salvador; Baby Perez; Chris Sumbingco; plus other civic-oriented ladies like them, palanggas.

Appreciating the great orchestra music played during the excellently prepared dinner were famille pals from the Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center (the hospital formerly known as Polymedic): Dr. Conrado Dayrit and his wife; Dr. Ludivina Garces; Dr. Norma Ona; Dr. Tony Tan and his wife; Dr. Cora Buenviaje; Dr. Victoria Sison; Dr. Lina de Joya; Dr. Beny Paguiligan; and Dr. Felipe Sese and his wife.

Tres visible too enjoying the sumptuous main course – not to mention the great cheese and dessert-buffet – were Quinito and Menchu Henson; supermodel Apples Aberin Sadhwani, who came with her equally gorgeous sisters Peaches and Oranges; Vina and Ofelia Trinidad; Nena Cuenco; Jong and Amy Cuenco; Sherry Lara; Jun and Mao Padilla; Tal and Alpha Shemteov; Boying and Leila Molina; Jun Asuncion; Conrad and Ruby Benitez; Jun and Wilma Narvacan; Inos and Edgie Eugenio; and Clarito and Elvie Realica.

As in all grand debuts, the cotillion, naturellement, was the main highlight. It was choreographed by one of the best(!), Budjing Danao, no less, together with Dalah Pia and Jerry Percado.

The debutante’s gown and those of the young ladies of the cotillion were done by renowned couturier Patis Tesoro.

Rona Vergel de Dios happily waltzed with her beautiful pals like Liza Drilon; Celine Vergel de Dios; Guita Umali; Gret Borja; Leah Salvador; Trisha Sumbingco; Katrina Encanto; Krisel Raymundo; Alex Angara; Sarabeth Salcedo; Joy Santo Domingo; and Patricia Lopez.

The good-looking escorts were Franco Ocampo; Patrick Dee; Cayo General; Jhaqs Uy; Luigi Guerrero; Carlo David; Toby Ocampo; RJ Castro; Mickey de Leon; Paolo de Castro; Winchie Tobias; and Ian Palabyab.

Apres, it was time to rock the joint with today’s hip great sounds courtesy of NBK’s Jed Dario; Jay Tengco; and popular Nikki Jurado. Quicker than you could bat an eyelash, the hip set hit the dance floor and shook their booties way past 2 a.m., dahlings.

Among the swingers were Hilary Favila; Anjo Cipriano; Carissa Buendia; Anna Manalastas; Katrina Cailao; Cesca Ayala; Marga Padilla; Ciabel Santos; Celeste Capulong; Henrika Felizar; Kara Achacoso; Marco dela Rama; JC Dee; Joan Pineda; Sasa Montinola; Paola and Cielo del Rosario.

The debutante’s father Bonnie V de. D., his brothers VJ and Mark with Rona brought the house down with a modern Footloose medley dance number. Here, Rona changed into a Paul Cabral creation. Seeing three generations boogie the night into dawn truly reaffirmed everyone’s commitment to making this possibly the best night to remember for our Princess for a Day Rona Potenciano Vergel de Dios.

Cheers, palangga!

What a great night for everyone.

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May I just make some corrections, palanggas. Conchita Simo vda. de Oda was inadvertently referred to last week as Conchita Scano vda. de Oda. Likewise, Doña Conchita Ortoll’s surname was omitted. To these great ladies, moi apologies.

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Be happy, dahlings. See you!