Love is in the air

All the happiness in the world

Just a short something, dahlings, to wish stunning Southern belle with the four B’s, Maria Angela "Ange" (to her pals) Montenegro, and moi palangga from way back, Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, all the best that love and togetherness can give, palanggas. Moi will be out of the country on June 24, Monday, your wedding day, to keep a commitment I had made months ago. But rest assured, I shall be with you lovebirds on your big day in spirit.

All the happiness in the world to you! Cheers, palanggas!

* * *

The buzz is out, dahlings. During her 25th birthday celebration held at Pasig’s cozy Souffle resto last week, Young Star’s brilliant editor-in-chief and STAR columnist Ginggay Joven confirmed to moi that she is tying the knot with tres charmant and intelligent Noel de la Merced this July.

At first, moi couldn’t believe that the little girl with twinkling eyes moi had known had bloomed from a chubby kid to a dynamo who will soon get married. But I guess when you are in love, dahlings, nothing can stop you–not even your parents or a flourishing career. But knowing Ginggay, her marriage to Noel will inspire her to scale even greater heights.

Ginggay is the only daughter and youngest child of mega construction businessman Roland Joven and Visions & Expressions PR expert Susan Joven, no less. Noel is the son of Nestor de la Merced and the former Ligaya Silverio.

Close pals came not only to greet Ginggay a happy birthday but to wish her joyful years of togetherness with Noel. They were led by Margarita Locsin (who arrived fashionably on time!), Noel’s best pal Raj Moreno, Noel’s brothers, Richie with his wife Kelly, and Bambi with his wife Michelle, and Ginggay’s brother Lloyd with his wife Karen.

Love and joy marked the intimate dinner, palanggas, what with the engaged couple’s pals recounting fun times with the couple. Among the guests were Cessie Colayco; Rick Yupangco; Raymond Gonzales and his wife Thess; Rhoda Campos who jetted in from Paris just to be with Ginggay; top jeweler and eligible bachelor Raffy Florencio; award-winning underwater photographer Gutsy Tuason; eye-catching Becca Dosch; PEOPLE Asia executive editor Philip Cu-Unjieng; Anna Cruz and Manolet Dario; Luis Espiritu and Richard Perez; Propaganda’s Marlon Rivera and Ricci Chan; architect Hans Sebastian; businessman Santi Picornell; and pretty, pretty Kimmy Johnson.

Also having a hilarious time were head turners Karen Borja, Tina Pamintuan, Jenny Serrano and Lexi Schulze with Lexi’s steady beau Javi Berenguer-Testa. Pinky Sinfuego, who is like a sister to Ginggay, came with her hubby Kenneth and talented daughter Pianne.

Circulating with the beautiful faces in the room, dahlings, were MTV’s Rod Nepomuceno; world-class persona Wally Chamsay; Angelica Suiza; Benedict and William Chan; Robbie and Trisha Lopez; Ricky Gaspar; Julius and Sha Reyes; Angel Mariano; and Robbie Tolentino.

Also seen were popular Century Properties’ mega couple Joey and Gilda Antonio (who are back in town and have nothing but raves to say about Havana, Cuba where they spent five days after reading moi article on Cuba) and naturellement, Ginggay’s and her mother Susan Joven’s fave photographer Alex Van Hagen.

Ginggay’s mentor, STAR Lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil breezed in late-ish (she wouldn’t miss the happening for anything) with her husband, businessman Robert Mananquil and exotic- looking daughter and model Raya.

Noel’s Tita Nelia Silverio Dee was also there with her sons Mark and Patrick and only daughter Bea.

Needless to say, PR Wonder Woman Susan J.’s groupie arrived in full force–lady with a golden heart and Southern spit fire Virgie Ramos sporting her always elegant Issey Miyake look; Prince of Alta Moda Inno Sotto; Talent Works’ well-liked Girlie Rodis; and super eye-catcher Gina Rodriguez and her handsome husband Albit Rodriguez.

To a real cool couple, Ginggay and Noel, my toast to a wonderful and exciting life together. Cheers, palanggas!

Surprise!

A couple of sleeps ago, mega entrepreneur and top golfer Peng Perez de Tagle thought he was going to have a quiet birthday dinner, dahlings, with his squeeze Vickie and their Perez de Tagle barangay: Gaston, Sonsoles and Raphael. Eldest daughter Mishi was going to have a debutante’s dinner so Peng thought he’d drop her off at the hotel and then host his famille a birthday dinner in Le Souffle. He knew a reservation for seven people was being held for him care of King of Chefs and Le Souffle owner, Billy King, natch!

Imagine Peng’s surprise–no, make that his dismay– when he breezed in and Larry, the resto’s efficient resident maitre’d, informed him that there was no table for him and said, "Sorry, Mr. Perez de Tagle, we are full tonight." Larry continued, "Would you care, sir, to step over to the other door (Le Souffle’s ‘kid brother’ called the Butcher’s Grill)? They might be able to accommodate you, sir."

Blue with anger and despair, Peng called another resto and tried to herd his brood to the car. But the ever- naughty Vickie insisted on checking out the other place.

Reluctantly and with a long face, Peng hustled towards the other door. He wondered why the place was so dark. Suddenly he felt uncomfortable and wondered why there seemed to be something in the offing that night. You see, palanggas, Peng is a creature of habit and Le Souffle is a place of many an important repast for him. So if his first choice of venue wasn’t possible, then he was’t sticking around the other venue.

But before he could even think of leaving, a chorus of Happy Birthday echoed from voices–and faces–familiar to him. Immediately he realized it was a surprise party.

It was almost 9:30 when finally a celebration of love, surprise, fun, and laughter began for Peng’s birthday bash. Whistling and applauding apres the birthday song were Cosmo Manille society namedroppables like Maripi Muscat and Johnny Velasquez; Louie and Cecile Ysmael; Noel Oñate; Paco and Aurora Gonzalez; Russell Sobrepeña and Rina; Robin and sultry Boots Moyer; Manila Golf Club’s spit fire, Janine and Dave de Padua; Citibank’s Eric and cute wife Charie Alberto; Vickie’s brother, lawyer Jun Villa Francisco Jr.; Vickie’s super fun sister Charie Villa of Reuters of London, no less; power couple Ana and good-looking Iñaki Ugarte; the celebrator’s super pals, Marylee Gomez, Suzie Quiroz and Luigi Estella; fun duo Eddie Boy and Chinnie Santos; plus so many others like them too beautiful to mention, dahlings.

While Eddie Boy Santos kept spinning all of Peng’s favorite music, the night happily moved into morning and fun was still on the agenda.

What a delightful surprise!

A slam dunk grand opening

Brace yourselves, basketball aficionados! That great basketball footwear and apparel company AND 1 has opened its first concept store in Southeast Asia, dahlings. The 75-square meter AND 1 Playground is located at the tres elegant Podium, the latest chi-chi mall to open at the heart of Ortigas Center.

Snipping the ceremonial ribbon, palanggas, were PBA Commissioner Emilio Bernardino Jr.; Relzbach Ventures president Robert Bachman; and First Five president Jeremy Cham. One of the country’s top sports commentators, Anthony Suntay, emceed the proceedings.

Presented to the public were AND 1’s hotshot endorsers: Alaska’s Jojo Lastimosa; Rodney Santos and Ron Riley; Ateneo’s Ritchie Alvarez; Talk N’ Text’s Telan; and Red Bull’s Vince Hizon. Other AND 1 endorsers not present were De La Salle’s Mike Cortez and Purefoods’ Noy Castillo. The endorsers signed autographs and posed for souvenir photos.

Showing their support for AND 1, dahlings, were Ginebra and RP Team coach Allan Caidic; Alaska’s James Walkvist and Eric Reyes; Talk N’ Text’s Alex Crisano and import Gerald Honeycutt; Coca Cola head coach Chot Reyes; and sportscasters Bill Velasco and Quinito Henson.

Founded in 1993, AND 1 first made its mark in the apparel industry with in-your- face trash talk T-shirts. It now offers a complete product line for basketball players, palanggas, including on-an-off court performance shoes; shorts; tees; pants; team uniforms; licensed collegiate gears and accessories. Brand revenues grew from $1 million in 1993 to a cool $213 million in 2001, would you believe? NBA endorsers include five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Gernett (Minnesota Timberwolves); four-time NBA All-Star Latrell Sprewell (New York Knicks); Larry Hughes (Golden State Warriors); and Rafer Alston (Milkwaukee Bucks).

Now, with such hot basketball namedroppables like those mentioned, how could AND 1’s concept store go wrong, palanggas?

Check them out. Who knows? You may be an endorser too in the future. After all, palanggas, some dreams do come true.

Have a great weekend, palanggas, and do drive safely!

See you.