We landed in Shanghai at mid-afternoon. By the time we hit the city and got settled in our respective hotels, we had to get ready to attend a dinner that our friend Yue Sai Kan, China’s cosmetic queen and TV personality, was hosting for Max Soliven. We rushed to the dinner venue, which was an Asian fusion restaurant, Banana Leaf. Halfway through our dinner, we were serenaded by the singing waiters and waitresses who turned out to be Filipinos. They sang our favorite Freddie Aguilar song, Anak, and other favorites that we requested. The foreign guests of Yue Sai were impressed with the singing Filipino waiters and waitresses. Jojo Zabarte and I even danced with them in between bites of spring rolls and crunchy noodles. Patrick Kelly, who is the one in charge of western casting for the movie White Countess, unabashedly danced with one of the waitresses.
Somehow we lose our inhibitions when we are in foreign countries. There is no fear of shocking onlookers who may recognize us and criticize our actions. Back home, we care so much about what other people say, which dampens our enjoyment.
After dinner, the group decided to go to the top of the Four Seasons Hotel, where there was a nice bar with a disco. A band was playing Latin songs and before long we found ourselves dancing the night away.
The next day, we had to wake up early to go out of the city, to an old town called Zhangzhou. It was a whole day of touring this old town built around canals, which is called the Venice of Shanghai. On our way back, we visited a cashmere factory where all of us had to buy sweaters as the temperature was dipping down to six degrees centigrade. We had to rush to get back to the city to get dressed for the big night. I was freezing at the thought of wearing a bare-back gown in that temperature. The solution was to borrow a fur coat from dear friend Yue Sai. Jojo and I had a field day choosing from her fashionable fur coats. It was the night of the Lycra Awards, where Yue Sai Kan was receiving the most important award of all: Achievement award, for her contribution to China as entrepreneur, educator and philanthropist. A cocktail party kicked off the series of events. All the guests walked on the red carpet and their names were announced as they did so.
The event was star-studded. The most beautiful people of Shanghai were present. Models and movie stars were dressed by international top designers. Our very own Richard Gomez and lovely wife Lucy were there as presenters to some awardees. Lucy was dressed in a red gown by Randy Ortiz. Ben Chan, Keren Pascual, Mons Romulo, Miguel Pastor, Jojo Zabarte and I rubbed elbows with the stars. Sir Max, as I fondly call him, had a dinner but followed early enough to watch Yue Sai Kan accept her life achievement award from movie star Ralph Fiennes, and the rest of the White Countess cast, director James Ivory, producer Mishael Merchant, actress Madeleine Cooper and Ian Pace.
After the awards, there was dinner and a big cast party across the street from the Ritz Carlton Hotel where the event was held. Champagne and all the goodies were overflowing. We could hardly keep our eyes open when we called it a night.
The next day, we did not know where to start shopping. As usual, Sir Max had to look for his precious stamps and toy soldiers to complete his collection. We had to go our separate ways as everyone had their own agenda. Jojo and I had to go for brunch with Sylvio Thabet and Ijaz Malik, friends from the USA. After, we went treasure hunting with friend Nora Sun, granddaughter of modern China’s leader, Sun Yat Sen. Nora took us to the hidden secrets of Shanghai, great boutiques at reasonable prices. The group decided to meet again in the evening, this time at the Hilton hotel, where the Hilton manager Mr. Reubens and his charming Filipina wife Imelda were hosting cocktails and dinner for us and the cast of White Countess headed by actor Ralph Fiennes. It was a sumptuous dinner and it was a pleasure to meet Imelda who has not been to the Philippines for 20 years as her husband has been assigned to many other countries other than ours.
"All my immediate family, parents, brothers and sisters, are all in the USA. There is nobody to visit anymore in the Philippines," she reasoned out. Years of living in foreign countries has not erased the graciousness of her Filipino upbringing.
At about 11 p.m. , we left the Hilton to go to the opening of 8 on the Bund, a fabulous bar-restaurant, so dramatic in its black, white and red interiors. The familiar faces in the party of the Lycra awards were there all over. Same stars, same foreign models, actors and socialites of Shanghai poured in endlessly. Much as we wanted to stay longer, exhaustion was creeping in on us. Besides, we had to catch our early morning flight to Manila, which meant we barely had three hours of precious sleep. Deprived of rest and sleep, I was dreaming of catching a few winks on board. But alas, sleep had to wait till Manila. Seated next to Keren Pascual, who insisted on watching a tearjerker after takeoff, I cried a river with him as we watched The Notebook, a poignant story of unconditional love. The romantic in me prevailed. A love story will always take precedence over sleep.