Time and tide, for better or worse

Hectic is an understatement to describe the current situation.

After the devastation that Ondoy and Pepeng caused, people are now in a mad scramble to be able to move on. Events and launches that have cancelled left and right are now in a mad rush to be able to get through, amid efforts for the relief and rebuild of the communities affected. A regular person who leads a double life now has to squeeze in a third — as a volunteer. Compassion is the new passion for this generation — great!

I delayed my Boracay trip to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Tides Hotel in Boracay to welcome Matthew Waldman, the genius behind Nooka watches. Raffy Florencio hosted a welcome-to-Manila party for him at the Establishment where he was very warmly received. On his first night, Matthew was wearing a T-shirt that said “Bring back the sleaze in NYC.” Hmm, I’ll get along with this guy, I thought to myself. And Pinoy hospitality didn’t disappoint. That night at the Establishment, the town opened their arms (and wrists) to the man behind Nooka.  “Nokia has watches already?!” asked Maurice Arcache. ”It’s Nooka, Momo,” said Tatler ed-in-chief Anton San Diego, and then Matthew proceeded to show us his multi-colored timepieces with the iconic dots that tell the time in a much different way.

The watches come in all colors of the rainbow and I like it because their slogan is “the redefinition of time,” and somehow in my life, people have told me that I have done the same. God bless them. I like the fact that here in the Philippines, everybody has a title — I was introducing people to Matthew as “ballroom dancing queen,” “wellness queen,” “beauty queen,” et al. Nope, no drag queens were spotted at the party. Well, not that I know of.

In between the Establishment-Nooka party, I took the time to hop over to Hierarchy for GMA lady boss Annette Gozon-Abrogar’s fund raiser for Ondoy. Hers was a Rockeoke-themed one, with the GMA Artist Center stars and friends in full force. What a fun way to raise funds — here’s to more creative ways to help our kababayans!

One night and beyond

The morning after, I was on a SeaAir plane to Boracay to catch the main event to toast to the 2nd year of my home away from home, The Tides Boracay. Smack in the center of the action, it was a good breather from all the Manila action to just head out to Bora shores, to see more Manila people (ha!) and then some, as some friends flew from all over the region to raise a glass for our second. They say that in the hospitality industry that the second year is a most crucial and difficult one, and so we are truly grateful that we have surpassed this, the same way we are confident that the Philippines will surely survive this most difficult time. Stephen Ku introduced two drinks that night — Ondoy and Pepeng; a P500 donation gets you a pitcher of these drinks that will go to the flood survivors rebuild efforts.

One night in Boracay and the next flight out, I’m there. Taped three shows, including Events Incorporated (Saturdays at 6 p.m. on QTV — shameless plug), and then went straight to the Red Cross fund raiser and Dennis Lustico fashion gala organized by two ladies I love — Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Taguig First Lady Kaye Tinga. I participated in co-hosting the auction for the Thai Airways ticket, which eventually went to Ben Chan, among other items set up for auction, silent and non-silent. That one raised good money for charity and Dennis Lustico catapulted himself in the fashion marquee as one class act.

That same Saturday night was Korina Sanchez’ bachelorette party! Of course, we were NOT invited. But all her best lady friends were. We got some photos from her bridesmaid Divine Lee’s camera. The whole nation is, of course, excited to witness the union of Korina with her knight in shining armor Mar Roxas. That wedding of the decade happens next Tuesday, sans the reception, as we all know by now.  

This past week had all the events cramped in a few days. Mango just celebrated its 10th year via a black and white ball at the NBC Tent, attended by all the lovely ladies who made this brand their favorite fruit. They all came decked out in black, feathers, fur, and everything flirtatious and delicious. They hopped to nearby Establishment right after for the Chivas Regal party which honored “Men of Honor,” a list that includes Carlo Trillo, Erik Cua, Romi Garduce, among other men of achievement. Bravo to you, gentlemen!

My week’s highlight though was the simple event of watching a movie — with almost the entire fashion and showbiz industry in attendance at that. The reason? The movie Coco Avant Chanel which, as the title suggests, tells the story of Coco, before she became THE Chanel. There was a private screening at Gateway Cinema, with cocktails by Moet at the Mandarin Suites nearby. Kudos to Rhoda Campos-Aldanese, the woman who from day one has been the champion of all things Chanel. Why it’s such a hit at Rustan’s — your beauty source — is because of this hardworking lady. Thank you, Rhoda, from all the Chanel-loving people of the Philippines.

Watching the story of Coco Chanel’s life, who would have thought that she was so anti-frills and embellishment? That the LBD (little black dress) was made by her, designed after the death of the man she loved, as a symbol of her mourning. A thing that caused so much sadness would become something that inspired a style revolution.

Looking at the situation now, I can see the same in the Filipino’s sense of survival. We see it in the way we handle the floods, we see it in the way we handle our everyday lives. We continue to smile, we continue to live.

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Forward, Filipino, flow with me at twitter.com/iamtimyap.