A night of high spirits

Our town’s discriminating drinkers, dahlings, were treated to the best of fine spirits and liqueurs at the launch of the Specialty Liquor Shop at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall. The event was well worth braving the rain and the horrendous Friday night traffic a new moon ago.

Duty Free proudly presented its innovative concept in the travel retail industry with specially-designed theme boutiques bearing such interesting names as Potion, Platinum Vault, Classic Whiskies, Dolce, and Vodka Bar.

Each boutique categorizes drinks. Potion, for example, carries exotic blends like the once forbidden absinthe, Absente, and herb liqueur such as Jargermeister. Platinum Vault proudly offers ultra-premium tequila, vodka and rum like the trendy Patron Tequila, the chic Grey Goose Vodka drink, Mezzaluna, and the superior Pyrat Rum from the exotic island of Anguilla in the British West Indies. Top whisky labels are available at the Dolce boutique with its sweet concoctions of fruity, floral and cream liqueurs like Alize and Nordic Ice, Tequila Rose and Carolans, plus after-dinner cordials like Drambuie, DiSaronno Originale, Galliano, Vaccari, Irish Mist, plus, plus. Check them out, palanggas. You won’t be disappointed.

Vodka lovers can choose their drinks at the cool Vodka Bar. Pushing the pioneering concept further, Duty Free set up a tasting bar where buyers who have a difficult time choosing from the wide selection can taste their favorites. A knowledgeable bartender is on hand to assist "tasters."

The ribbon-snipping was done by gorgeous model/actress/TV host Angel Aquino followed by a parade of spirits and liqeurs from the Specialty Liquor Shop. Each cocktail was mixed and then passed around for everybody to sip on.

With the pulsating beat of Manhattan lounge music, endlessly flowing drinks kept everyone in high spirits. Chef Vicki Villanueva of Bizu Patisserie complemented the drinks with her mmmmm(!) hors d’oeuvres and sweets like Patron Tequila Infused Salmon Kebab and Illy Café Liqueur, Tiramisu. Yummy!

Duty Free’s dynamic and well-liked GM, Michael Kho was all smiles as he circulated with the crowd making sure everybody had their favorite drink in hand. They sure did, palanggas! The super hotshot team of Premier Wines and Spirits led by magnum president, J.P. Santamarina, director Ted McDonnell, specialty brands business unit manager Chiqui Torres-Tan and their hardworking, creative brand managers came in full tidal wave force to lend their wholehearted support.

Platinum Vault brand manager, Fran Ribaño moved around checking out the marked difference in taste of the ultra- premium tequilas, vodkas and rums. Huddled by the Classic Whiskies boutique savoring their favorite single malts was hard-hitting brilliant journalist, handsome Mon Tulfo puffing on his favorite Davidoffs, with golf publisher, Robin Moyer listening to Premier’s brand manager, Alan Harrow, explaining the fine points of single malts.

Super stylist Angelo Villanueva rocked to the beat of the music and had a grand time sampling the cocktails. Tres visible were designing sisters two, Juliet and Mimi Tan, the DOT’s hardworking brilliant young Miss with the four B’s, Carissa Coscoluella; Romulo de los Reyes; Southern beauty Maricar Totengco; event organizers Ryan Pronstroller; Jay Lavalles; journalist Jose Luis Villanueva; Casino Filipino’s rah! rah! team of Roberto "T-boy" Castro and Jethro Chancoco; the Manila International Airport Authority’s mega directors, Ricardo Tan, Rolly Trinidad and Gen. Mike Hinlo, Emy Arcilla; and designer of the theme boutiques, lady architect Leah Bautista with Miguel Rosales.

Needless to say, those three hardworking smart babes of the popular PR outfit Ysmael Moyer Valenzuela, Rosary Ysmael, Boots Moyer and Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela beamed with pride watching the successful happening, dahlings.

The night was definitely a fitting toast to Duty Free Philippines’ efforts to bring a selection of the world’s best spirits and liqueurs to our country.

A fashion coup

It was fashion and glamor at their best, dahlings, when Escada and Laurel opened their latest boutiques at the third level of the posh Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Moi loved the colors and lavish fabrics I beheld that night, palanggas. One also couldn’t help feeling the magic and sexiness that Escada always evokes with the night’s Bohemian spirit, Latino heat, sexy pinstriped suits and luxe leisure outfits.

The fashion show featuring clothes from the Escada and Laurel Fall/Winter 2002 collection was graced by society’s creamiest of the cream led by German Ambassador Herbert Jess and French Ambassador Renee Veyret. Tom Zita of Shangri-La; entrepreneur extraordinaire Johnlu Koa of The French Baker and his fashionable wife, Escada Manille’s attractive GM, Marilou Peña-Koa; Escada AG’s sales director for Asia MoniqueTanner-Endrich and glamorous Gloria Angara led the ribbon-snipping ceremony.

Cathay Pacific’s rah! rah! workasonic team–assistant manager Susanna Lie, sales assistant manager Marjorie Custodio and marketing officer Rowena Romero enjoyed the fashionable get-together, palanggas. Also seen admiring the chic collection were Sky Cable’s Arlene Torres, super pals Resti Reyes of Carat Philippines and maverick fashion designer Eddie Baddeo; Billy Racho, Angel Mercado and Jig Reyes of Telecom Specialists, Inc.; Microwarehouse Mobile Technology consultant Elbert Cuenca; Yolanda Pajaro of Via Venetto who breezed in with her sister, Vicky Jardiolin of Confetti; Michael and Tina DiCicco; Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club members Hortencia and Carolyn Lim, Marita Salientes and Carri Bautista; gorgeous Bea Lucero-Lhuillier; and tall Southern beauty queen Aurora Pijuan.

Charming model Bianca Valerio did a spledid job hosting the event directed by talented Raymond Villanueva.

As moi zoomed in on the fashionable-set, who did moi see but friends from Philips consumer Electronic Business Unit-Wireless team led by dashing new GM, Philip Trapaga; the vibrant Tetet Songco and el simpatico Clark Popple and Ben Valencia. After all, palanggas, Philips was one of the show’s sponsors and fittingly so since their new Fisio 820 phone perfectly complements the ever so feminine and oh so sophisticated Escada style.

Colors of Elegance, dahlings, was co-sponsored by Cathay Pacific New Business Class; Philips Consumer Electronics; Rustan’s; Essences at Rustan’s; Cibo; Rodger Craig Hairdressers; Precious Petals; Bacchus International; Sky Cable and The French Baker.

The show was one hell of a fashion coup.

A feast for the senses

Makati Shangri-La’s well-attended magnum club cocktails held at the stately Rizal Ballroom half a full moon ago, dahlings, was a feast for the senses. The hotel’s workasonic GM, hard-to-beat gent of taste and know-how Richard Riley conceptualized and directed the fabi happening attended by Cosmo Manille CEOs, presidents, country managers and directors of Makati Shangri-La’s top corporate clients, natch!

Shangri-La’s power invitees were treated to a night of surprises, palanggas, that began when they were ushered inside a pitch-black ballroom. There they were welcomed by waiters clad in black service tuxedoes and glow-in-the- dark gloves beside ice-carved cocktail tables. As the bubbly champagne and red and white wines flowed, a large video screen displayed a 15-minute feature on Yugoslav artist Boban.

Boban’s unique style and clever use of non-traditional sculpted materials have earned him acclaim in the European and American art circles. The video’s end cued the hotel staff to unveil the next surprise. Heavy black curtains parted, revealing an exhibit of choice Boban masterpieces flown in during his recent Manille exhibit.

The artworks elicited "oohs" and "aahs" from the hotel’s chosen invitees like brilliant Finance Secretary Isidro Camacho and his wife, that lady with the four B’s Kim C.; Kuok Philippine Property chairman Tom Zita, no less; Coca-Cola’s Jim Harting; Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi’s Tetsuya Ota; Citibank’s fashionably smart Catherine Weir; Deutsche Bank’s Michael Hellbeck and Enrico Cruz; Hewlett Packard Phils.’ Raymund del Val; Itochu Corp.’s Shozo Suzuki; Mitsubishi Corp.’s Naoyuki Nobe; Sun Microsystems’ Cynthia Mamon; and Seimens’ Hans Weckherlin.

Aside from the yummy cocktail finger food, the guests were treated to several exquisite fusion savories like Peking Duck Quesadilla with Avocado Sour Cream; Black Tiger Prawn Roll with Fresh Mint; and Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce; and Barbecue Lobster on Soft Corn Tortilla.

The night ended with a classical touch, palanggas, when opera singers Rachel Gerodias and guests with stirring interpretations of Italian arias and excerpts from Phantom of the Opera.

It was an altogether fantastic and night well-spent the Makati Shangri-La way, dahlings.

Well, that’s our town. See you.