Uptown Girl

Since its opening over two years ago, palanggas, Dish continues to be favored as a hang-out by Cosmo Manille’s fun- loving creamiest of the cream baby boomers. This is especially so, dahlings, on Tuesday nights when the sensational Spirit of ’67 performs there. The band is composed of hot musicians Jake Arellano; Arnold Austria; Nato Canlas; Maso Diez; Candy Dizon; Steve de Jesus; Bimbo Santiago; Cholo Santiago; and the women’s swoon man Johnny Velasquez.

Dish is also where one of our country’s top 40 hostesses, Josephine del Gallego-Knox unwinds whenever she’s in Cosmo Manille and not in Punta Fuego, Batangas (that is, when she’s not jet-setting around the world!). She hies off to Dish when she wants to take a break from the 15-month construction of her future full-time house where she and her hubby, tall and dashing international banker, Erv Knox will live in after Erv’s retirement from his Middle East CEO posting this year.

It came as no surprise when one of moi favorite Pisceans celebrated another fabi year at Dish. Among the many invitees who sipped on superb Cabernet Sauvignon wine and enjoyed tres finger-licking, habit-forming yummy parmesan chips (the brainchild of Dish’s first lady Tess Litton) were tres attractive couples Amalie and Roman Azanza; Lorna and Levy Hizon; and Ruby and Buddy Roa. (The ladies are Josephine’s Scholastican gang mates.)

Other eye-catching Scholasticans drinking their Patron Tequila with the super delish cuisine–superb Filipino food from Barangay, yummy Italian delights from Luna, and an excellent Vietnamese menu from Pho-Viet–were body beautiful Annie Carmona; vivaciously adorable Ditas Laurel Marquez; sultry Maricor Nieto; fun Southern gal Girl Villareal who put on a couple of extra pounds; Munte del Rosario; plus Josephine’s special Scholastican school pal, the one-and-only super diva, Mitch Valdes who was asked by the band to come onstage to sing with them. Before she sang, Mitch said, "Our birthday girl, Josephine Knox not only knows how to enjoy life and have a good time, she is also a lady of substance who supports many good causes... and I’m one of them! Josephine always finds time when she is in town to organize friends to attend my concerts and support Bantay Usok, as she is a member of the Board of Bantay Kalikasan."

Naturellement, Bantay Kalikasan chair, that Southern belle who cares Gina Lopez and Bantay Usok’s secret weapon, articulate project manager, Evelyn Lim Forbes, took time off from their busy schedules to enjoy Mitch’s two songs, Great Day and Killing Me Softly.

Well, palanggas, it was not only Mitch who joined the Spirit of ’67 on stage. Our very own birthday gal joined the band for the jumpy Uptown Girl, which Josephine holds dear to her heart because Erv, a big Billy Joel fan, always sings this song to her. Josephine had requested the Spirit of ’67 over a year ago to add it to their repertoire which they finally did this year.

Josephine’s super fun, vivacious Dish mate Nini Valdez, suggested that everyone wear "pink" as a tribute to the celebrator. Moi, naturellement, obliged and so did for ever-stunning Vicky Zubiri; dynamic Cora Relova; nimble "Pretty Woman" Dr. Alice Labao; radiant Lovy-vi Valdez; eye-catching Roi Philips; Beth Romualdez; Paz Sotto; Lucille Villanueva; Jean Salvador; and Ruby Santos.

Swinging endlessly to the fantastic beat of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s were head turners Luli Delgado; Victoria Tuazon; Maripi Muscat; Toby Cabalkin; Cynia Mascariñas; and Dot Favis-Velasco.

In another table were the gang of pals who just arrived from a trip to Portugal and exciting Morocco: Casablanca-based working socialite Maritess Tantoco with her super nice Man of the Hour Renato Enriquez; always an eye-catching beauty Nini Licaros and businessman husband Abe L.; popular Rep. Raul Villareal and his fashionable wife Julieta V.; mega businessmen Arthur Antonio and Guilly Rufino; and our very own third eye and a close pal of the birthday gal, Alex Van Hagen, natch!

Exactly at midnight and over champagne and the yummy calorific sans rival birthday cake, the whole gang and the Spirit of ’67 sang Happy Birthday to our cherie Josephine. It was truly a fun-filled and delightful evening, palanggas, especially for our radiant Reina Josephine Knox.

Cheers, palangga!

Such bodies!

Summer is shifting into high gear, dahlings, with the grand finals of the highly-anticipated Boracay Bodies Model Search 2003 all set to take place on April 5, Saturday, 7 p.m. at the fabi Sun Village Resort in that tropical paradise, Boracay.

Apres the preliminary round held at Dish, 18 good-looking, confident, superbly toned men and gorgeous women made it to the list of Metro Manille’s finalists. They are Frederico Barrera; Alex Cenzon; Gino de Guia; Paolo Inocencio; G-Ford Lara; Ryan Mendoza; Ralph Padilla; Leo Reyes; Jan Christopher Santos; Vincent Santos; Ryan Silverio; Marc-Ann Banzuelo; Celeste Celis; Sharlene Ferrer; Tiffany Gonzales; Ma. Christina Jimenez; Mary Grace Layug; and Elaine Matawaran.

Comprising the panel of judges in Cosmo Manille’s leg of the modeling search were Longines brand manager Eric Alonzo; Philips Consumer Electronics marketing communications supervisor Elen Torres; Southeast Asian Airlines marketing manager Glenn Lamela; fashion stalwart Frederick Peralta; Louis Vuitton country manager Gigi Mabanta; PEOPLE Asia executive editor Philip Cu-Unjieng; top fashion model Raya Mananquil; FHM editor-in-chief Eric Ramos; SM Shoemart vice president for communications Millie Dizon; ace fashion photographer Raymund Isaac; Philippine STAR’s IT/Travel editor Tony Paño; and yours truly, natch!

Model-turned-TV persona Hans Montenegro beautifully hosted the exciting happening. The event also saw the presence of Singapore-based consultant for Philips colored TV, Mr. Charmer himself, Michael Chang; Jeanette Daleon; celebrated fashion director Robbie Carmona who will also direct the finals; gorgeous TV and screen actress Maritoni Fernandez; and dashing Illac Diaz. Hip channel, E! Philippines made a special coverage of the show. The station will air a summer special featuring all the Boracay Bodies activities on a later date.

The excitement continued a week later, dahlings, in Boracay’s hip Club Bazzura for the Visayas leg of the search. Representatives from the Visayas region became a step closer to winning the titles. Chosen as finalists were attractive Southern belles and gents, palanggas, Tristan Henry Aguirre; Jun Cesar Galila; Starsky Magahin; Ronald Tiu; Lizette Gambe; Ma. Theresa Gavieres; Alexandra Hardy; Ma. Sarah Angela Jaleco; Vanessa Rivera; Arianne Rose Sigue; Alma Susvilla; and Ma. Deana Valero. They will join the Manille finalists in what is expected to be a tight yet glamorous race for the coveted titles.

As in the past year, talented Frederick Peralta’s haute couture genius will again take the spotlight. He was tapped to dress the candidates for the finals. Peralta’s all-new and exclusive designs for the competition will show off vibrant colors and that refreshing and vibrant Boracay attitude.

The lucky ones this year, palanggas, will win fabi prizes from Longines; Philips; all-expense paid trips to Boracay and Palawan; and fashionable swimwear from Frederick Peralta, no less; plus cool cash.

As the modeling tilt marks its second year, Boracay Bodies Model Search becomes even bigger with its Visayas search to give a chance to equally deserving southern candidates to take part in this prestigious competition. More importantly, the search continues its thrust to promote Boracay Island not only among the locals but to the rest of the world.

Boracay Bodies Model Search 2003 is superbly produced by Fuentes Publicity Network, Inc. and presented by Longines; Philips; The Sun Village Boracay Resort; and E! Entertainment TV Philippines. Sponsors are Southeast Asian Airlines; B Salon; The Orchids Resort; Club Bazzura; Dish; and Barcelo Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

MYLK

The latest resto has arrived with a super bang, dahlings, at the new, modern Greenbelt 3 Entertainment Center. Simply called MYLK (as in, My Little Kitchen), it is an eye-catcher at the second level of the Podium with its white, fresh and crisp interiors.

The design was inspired by Greenbelt’s environment-friendly concept of landscaped paths and walkways; streams, waterfalls and fountains; and naturellement, the original tall and mature trees that now seem to breath even in their new setting.

MYLK’s excellent chef-partner, young and talented achiever Melissa Sison, dahlings, is a graduate of the prestigious Les Rochas in Switzerland, no less. She created a superb gourmet list of inspired dishes.

Fresh, innovative, hearty and flavorful would be the best words to describe the menu which the owners of MYLK would rather call, "Casual Gourmet Dining."

"It is our best offering to fine dining without fine dining prices!" said the bubbly Melissa as we enjoyed some of the vegetarian Tofu dishes which moi dug into con gusto.

MYLK’s vision is to provide serious food lovers the perfect combination of inspired gourmet dishes in a wonderful interior creation by renowned, in-demand interior designer, Ivy Almario.

The resto owners who excellently prepared the meal were Rep. Cynthia Villar; Jingle Badelles, the wife of Iligan City Rep. Alipio Badelles; chef Melissa Sison; Ging Dy, the wife of Gov. Dy of Isabel; Rep. Aleta Suarez; Vince Lozano; and Young Nieva.

Check MYLK out, palanggas, for a good lunch or dinner. MYLK is open daily, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays and 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

That’s our upbeat, swinging town, palanggas. Easy on the booze and do drive carefully.

See you!