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Health And Family

Doing their share for others

my LIPS are SEALED… sometimes… - Maurice Arcache -
Seeing those civic-oriented ladies of the Catholic Women’s Club and 600 others belonging to our town’s perfumed set all dressed up in tons of colorful ribbons and flowers at a chi-chi tea party was definitely a fantastic, colorful sight, dahlings.

The unique gathering was held at the sprawling, well-manicured lawn of that lady who really cares for the less fortunate, Bea Zobel de Ayala. It aimed to raise much-needed funds for various institutions and underprivileged beneficiaries.

That remarkable lady of a thousand talents, Mitch Valdes, did a splendid job entertaining the usually prim and proper rich, powerful and influential ladies. She had them in the palm of her hands laughing over her antics and jokes, palanggas. She also sang songs that made the invitees enjoy the cool and breezy afternoon.

The ladies munched on excellently prepared native dishes by no less than Via Mare’s Glenda Barretto who is Bea Z.’s favorite caterer. Glenda B. personally supervised the sumptuous merienda.

Welcoming Cosmo Manille’s café society was, naturellement, CWC president Lulu Tesoro Castaneda with past president Chloe Periquet. Standouts were definitely the beautiful Zobel gals Patsy, Sofia and Bea Jr., and Kit Silverio Zobel; Mia Borromeo; sisters two, Karen and Camille Santos; head turner Lilibeth Virata; absolutely stunning Vickie Hagedorn-Soriano; gorgeous Doody Menchaca-Tuason and her sister Menchu Menchaca-Soriano; Lifestyle editors and stylish Millet Mananquil and Chelo Formoso; and super pals and fashion plates Beng Dee and Tina Ocampo.

More beautiful faces included Lupe Romulo-Puyat and Mons Romulo-Tantoco; Rosanna Fores; Baby Araneta; Carol Masibay; Mayenne Carmona; Bettina Lopez-Osmeña; Frannie Aguinaldo-Jacinto; Mellie Ablaza; Yaying Dragon; Tereret Liboro; Linda Pastoral; and always a breath of fresh air Madeleine Lim.

Completing the smashingly successful event, palanggas, was the awarding by that gentleman of taste, world-class photographer Don Jaime Zobel, ultra glamorous lady of style Imelda Cojuangco, and yours truly, for the following awards: Most Outrageous Attire, given to everyone’s favorite, Mercy Tuason; Most Elegant Award, went (without any doubt) to Baby Serrano-Araneta; and Most Original to another fashionable lady, Seegalit Jemal.

A silent auction took place in two tents. Some of the favorites were photographs by Jaime Zobel; Jaime Laya’s Letras y Figuras; a Carol Magno painting; cakes; and Silk Rose brooches. It was one of those afternoons where you wished the sun would never set. Moi was touched as moi watched how those who donated P1,000 or more enjoyed the company and were game enough to dress according to the party’s theme, all for a worthy cause, while doing their share for others.

Keep up the good work, ladies!
Wild wines and art
It was a fabi night, dahlings, when great wine and art came together. Proofs of their perfect union were the rows of canvases awash with vibrant colors. The super artworks were part of the gallery exhibit presented by that popular wine preferred by hip movers and shakers, Wild Vines, naturellement. The works were exhibited at the Wild Vines Flair, as the event was dubbed, with the help of respected figures in our art scene. Showcased were the inspired pieces of young and hopeful artists for the appreciations of passersby and art critics alike at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Ortigas.

For those still not in the know, palanggas, Wild Vines is bottled by the renowned E & J Gallo Wines of California.

Wild Vines unveiled 30 artworks by art students from schools all over our town. Participants were asked to interpret their response to the question: "What is a Wild Vines moment of celebrating Life?" The works displayed were the semi-finalists of the art competition launched early this year. The launch drew in 60 entries from FEATI University; FEU; UST; UE; and PWU.

Clearly visible in the mob were high-profile figures, art connoisseurs, and the event judges, all pleased to honor the Filipino youth’s artistic endeavors. Some of the hotshot VIPs present were young Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. of Mandaluyong City; CCP president Nestor Jardin; Victorino Manalo, director at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila; international portrait photographer Rupert Jacinto and his wife Tessa; artist Fernando Sena of the Vargas Museum in UP Diliman; Andres Barrioquinto, curator of the Big & Small gallery; and Chris Yusi, director of Gallery Y.

The closing ceremonies, palanggas, were held three days later. The 10 finalists were Andrei Colinares of FEU; Albert Lavega of PWU; Mark Dawn Arcamo of FEU; Rafael Aliscad of FEU; Charlie Villagracia of FEU; Kirby Roxas of FEU; Gerdie Cruz of UST; and Gavino Andreo Duenas of FEU. The grand prize of P20,000 went to John de la Rosa of UE whose art work was entitled An Outer Body Experience.

Wild Vines has taken every opportunity to highlight the talents and potentials of the Filipino youth. Like them, Wild Vines embodies freedom, empowerment, independence and the sense of adventure of those who dare to pursue their dreams.

Needless to say, dahlings, all the invitees had a great time while sipping Wild Vines’ range of flavors from the California Valleys like Strawberry White Zinfandel, Peach Chardonnay, Black Cherry Merlot, Raspberry Carnet Sauvignon and Blackberry Merlot. Mmmmmm, so good! Black Cherry Merlot is moi favorite, palanggas.
Super finds at Alabang
At the Franck Provost Alabang opening, dahlings, many of the invitees who noticed society lady-turned-business entrepreneur Linda Floirendo Lagdameo’s "Je suis Gourmand" (as in, "I am a lover of fine foods and wines") excellent Gourmet Shop in the same arcade (which is still in the final stages of completion) decided to look around. Designed by mega architect Conrad Onglao and superbly constructed by top-of-the-line Rene Banzon, the shop will be ready within the next two weeks. Moi had the chance to peek into the shop and moi saw a few of the fine selection of foods and wines that will be available there.

The exciting part is that Linda will hold cooking classes and demonstrations by well-known culinary masters, palanggas.

While Alabang may seem fun to some of us, palanggas, Linda assures me that they can also look forward to servicing the Makati area whenever there is a need to do so. Which moi am sure will be sooner than soon.

Gourmands will definitely love the store’s section of cheese; cold cuts; wine; fruits; excellently canned Les Confits De Conard (a gastronomic Duck dish) from Paris; plus so many other finds, palanggas.

Well, that’s our rocking town for this week, palanggas. See you.

ALBERT LAVEGA

AN OUTER BODY EXPERIENCE

ANDREI COLINARES

ART

BLACK CHERRY MERLOT

JAIME ZOBEL

PALANGGAS

VINES

WILD

WILD VINES

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