Here’s to the golden one

Loads of famille members and close pals breezed in the horse-y set’s stable, the Manila Polo Club, dahlings, to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of fun-loving yet hardworking popular couple, Benny and Ophie Clemente.

The dinner-dance, hosted by the couple’s three eye-catching and statuesque daughters, Jacklyn, Rachelle and Suzanne, was a huge success despite the last minute preparations. The Clementes were all set to jet off for a well-deserved vacation to the US when Benny, Belco Marketing, Inc. president, decided it would be better to have an intimate elegant dinner with relatives and pals. The sisters, with the help of event organizer Jun Pablo, worked hard on the month-long preparations for their parents’ renewal of vows and dinner-dance party.

The couple recited their vows the second time around during the Mass officiated by their spiritual adviser and super close confidant, Fr. Sanny de Claro.

Principal sponsors, palanggas, were tycoon Antonio Martel Jr. and tall, elegant working socialite Belen Lovina Ticzon Martel who were proxied by Don and Norma Sanders (the couple were in New York with their daughter, brilliant young miss Antonia); Roberto Felano and Rizalina Buenaventura, proxied by Harrison Plaza’s Irene Martel-Francisco.

Daughters Chinkee, Lelei and Sansan stood as secondary sponsors, along with Benny’s godsons, Bombit de la Peña, Julius Ticzon and Ryan Manaog. Peppy Dinglasan was the Bible bearer; Gabriel Santos, the ring bearer; and Andre Dinglasan, coin bearer. Pretty, pretty Margaret and Theresa de la Peña were the cutie flower girls.

Songs during the Mass were beautifully rendered by popular tenor Nolyn Cabahug whose powerful voice also filled the Manila Polo Club’s Main Hall.

Invitees, palanggas, were treated to a sumptuous dinner buffet. While everyone savored their dessert, the program hosted by the famille’s good friend, Wanggo Gallaga began with a short, heart-warming toast by eldest daughter, Jacklyn. A touching and witty video presentation, prepared by the Clemente daughters, Ophie’s youngest sister, Portia Santos, and niece Arlene Ticzon, was shown on a wide screen to the delight of the couple and their invitees. They were obviously overwhelmed, palanggas, by the events of the night. Benny and Ophie gave their speeches, thanking their loved ones for the wonderful party and also expressed their gratitude to each other. Noticeably misty-eyed were former beauty queen Myrna Borromeo who was seated with couturier-writer, fun Rikki Jimenez; Ed and Carrie Bautista; popular couple Louie and Mellie Ablaza; businessman Tito de G. and excellent buttered bread maker (for a hobby), socialite Pacita de Guzman; Thelma Gana; Mars Lambino; Marilu Reyes and Dr. Roberto Chinjen.

The usually soft-spoken Benny beamed at his wife of 25 years and thanked her for all the happiness and love she has provided him and their girls. The sentiments were returned by Ophie, announcing that she felt "truly blessed." But the program didn’t end there, dahlings. The couple were given two surprise numbers: the first one by niece Pauline Santos with her version of the classic love song, When I Fall in Love, and the second a quirky mambo number by Portia Santos, Arlene Ticzon and Sharon de la Peña.

The Clementes showed off their dancing skill as they opened the dance floor with music provided by permanent party fixture Lady Valerie, no less, and her orchestra. Members of the Clemente and Ticzon clans joined in on the swing of things: the Clementes’ grand matriarch Doña Coring Clemente; aunt Cleofas Jacob; Edelyn de la Peña; Elvie Manaog; Andy Clemente; Juliet Ticzon; Romeo Ticzon Jr.; cousins Pablo Ticzon; Myrna Javier; Lino and Bessie Du; Lele Taiño; Baby Gonzalez; Cora Ticzon; Irma and Ding Lovina; Ric Pascua; Erik Martel; and numerous nephews and nieces and grandchildren.

Rocking the dance floor until it cracked, dahlings, were Chit Gohu; handsome couple Linggoy and Connie Araneta; Danny and Lilia Cruz; Jim and Vivian Villacrusis; Emma Ilagan; and Tessie Maronilla.

Celebrating with the couple were their Quezonian gang who definitely had a ball: that host with the most and gentleman of the world Ado Escudero; Nards and Norma Virtucio; Roger and Glady Cabuñag; Susan Pagdanganan; lawyer Al and Bing Vizcocho; lawyer Ed and Rockie Escueta; former Gov. Ed and Emmie Rodriguez; Ret. Gen. Pepe and Grace Alcañeses; Gen. Marlu and Mardi Pedregosa; Jasmin Enverga and her son Mike; Naila Leveriza and her son Dennis; Becky Cabañero; Cindy Dayrit and her son C.J.; Flory Santiago; Lydia Hao; Joey and Julie Uy; Tony and Fe Villar; Linda Diamante; Hjalmar; popular lawyer Tito Tesoro; and Leandro and Mila Garcia. The Dean of them all, couturier Ben Farrales; engineer Dennis and Dulce Abcede; plus so many other fun personas who also enjoyed themselves.

The more "matured" invitees reluctantly left the younger pack who took over the dance floor. Needless to say, dahlings, it was an affair that Benny and Ophie C. will remember for years to come. Here’s to the golden one, palanggas. Cheers!

Fun games and golf

World-class, one-of-a-kind Philips Consumer Electronics (PCE), Europe’s largest consumer electronics company, dahlings, held the 2003 PCE Golf Challenge dubbed The Power of Two at Manille’s posh Southwoods Golf and Country Club.

Philips Phils. CEO Med Mateo formally welcomed to the event Philips’ strategic partners, appliance dealers from all over the country. He thanked them "for taking time out to join us for a day of fun."

Golf enthusiasts from the entertainment scene also joined the tournament: Lea Navarro; Al Quinn; funny man Gary Lising; Buboy Garovillo; the man Bert Nievera; and dashing Jaime Fabregas.

The afternoon awarding ceremony was perfectly hosted by handsome Southern gent Edu Manzano. Guests were also treated to the hilarious antics of impersonator Kris Anino. Top Philips products were raffled off as dealers readily joined Kris Anino’s Games Ka Na Ba?, a spoof of the popular local TV game show.

Bagging the top honors in this year’s PCE Golf Challenge were hotshots Alan Dungao (Class A); Antenor Banyagale (Class B); and Jimmy Lim (Class C). Runners-up were Victor Gutierrez (Class A); Ruby Mago (Class B); and Med Mateo (Class C). Special awards were given out to Ed Anselmo (Nearest to the Pin); Dindo Menoria (Longest Drive); Dong Matias and Bong Dungao (Most Exercised Golfers); Roger Lo (Lowest Gross); and Boy Cunanan (Lowest Net).

According to Philips’ brilliant and workasonic GM Angelo Valenton, "It is good to kick off the new year with a lot of positive spirit. The Power of Two: Philips and its strategic business partners  is a formula where we will help each other towards breakthrough performance, uncertainties in the business environment notwithstanding."

Needless to say, palanggas, it was a day of fun, games and golfing, the Philips way.

A two-in-one celebration

Good things we’ve done in the past have a unique way of catching up with us, dahlings, perhaps to remind all and sundry that life lived to the fullest has its own beautiful rewards. C’es la vie!, oui?

Take the recent birthday bash of artist, professor and society man, our palangga, Gilbert Perez, dahlings, who could hardly believe he was being honored with "thanksgiving" celebrations held on two different occasions and in separate venues. They were given by two of Gilbert’s most trusted pals in Cosmo Manille society, top socialite Menchu de las Alas-Concepcion and former Makati City Mayor, popular Dr. Elenita Binay.

Menchu’s cool bash for Gilbert was held at Menchu’s and her hubby Raul’s elegant residence at posh-y North Forbes.

What moved the celebrator to tears was the simple memorabilia photograph that Menchu gave Gilbert (he then weighed 20 pounds less and was then Manila Chronicle’s art director). The pic showed him holding up a candle to help light Menchu wearing her most radiant terno as she paraded, as one of the five chosen Flores de Mayo Zagalas during the exclusive 1959 Manila Overseas Press Club.

The other event hosted by Dr. Binay, palanggas, was held at the sleek penthouse of the new Makati Municipal Hall. It was a sit-down dinner affair, one with the ambiance of a five-star hotel with music by a five-piece band cum lady singers playing non-stop.

The penthouse affair was highlighted by spellbounding Latino exhibition numbers from National Dance sport diva and impresario Becky Garcia’s international award-winning ballroom dancers and protégés and Broadway love songs by a fresh talent Shiela Noreen Lopez. Not to be upstaged was the durable, unsinkable Helen Cruz whose bravura kind of singing provided a fantastic twist to this affair.

Invitees who made sure they were there on Gilbert’s special day included an A-list of our town’s personas: popular Rep. Cynthia Villar; Cesar and Teena Sarino; fashionable Jolita Villareal; ever reliable Nomer; Nini Layug; our palangga, Chit Salud; lady with a golden touch in banking those special, yummy bread, Pacita de Guzman; Ben Farrales; fun Suzanne Laudico; art connoisseur Danny Dolor; Marietta Santos; Larrie Silva; Myrna Borromeo; the Emperor of Retail, Ben Chan, no less; Fortune Ledesma; Lady of Substance Imelda Cojuangco; Kathy Park; Manille’s only hot lady Viring Ongkeko; Lady of Substance Justa Tantoco; Cinderella’s own Cinderella girl, Therese Santos; Milo Bondoc; Bobby Borja; Ideaz top man Bob Zozobrado; Anton and Nina Huang; super close friends, Maryann Salcedo and world traveler Jennie Zamora; witty and fun Oscar Peralta; beautiful couple Pacqui and Lilibeth Campos; Emmie Rodriguez; close bosom pal, Donnie Ramirez; Resty Vergara; two New Yorkers, prolific book author Ronnie Alejandro and cartoonist Dani Aguila; plus so many others too glamorous to mention, palanggas.

As always, the top space planner among upscale organizers, Jun-Jun Ablaza, no less, who lent his magic touches to the bygone era of the ’60s. An excellently prepared dinner menu came from the tres popular, Mellie Reyes of the in-demand restos, D’ Plaza and Via Mare. Overflowing champagne was provided by Frexinet, coordinated by Ogie Rodriguez.

Needless to say, well-loved Gilbert Perez will long cherish these special twin bashes, which deeply touched his soft heart!

Cheers, palangga.

Doctors in love

Congratulations, dahlings, to Dr. Roland Tadena, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Laren Tadena of Dingras, Ilocos Norte and Dr. Mary Ann de Guzman, the daughter of Mrs. Aurora de Guzman and the late Rolando de Guzman, who wed last Jan. 28 at the San Agustin Church, Manila. Their reception followed at Father Blanco’s Garden in Intramuros, Manila. The bride wore a gown by Bridal Touch.

All the best to you in your love life and careers, Roland and Mary Ann!

Have a great weekend, palanggas, and do drive safely! See you.