Viva Guatemala!

Guatemala’s Vice President Juan Francisco Reyes Lopez, no less, dahlings, visited the Philippines during his recent Asian swing. He was honored by the Honorary Consul of Guatemala to the Philippines, one of the country’s top socialites and hostesses, Amelia Ablaza, with an elegant cocktail cum sit-down dinner in her well-appointed home. The Vice President arrived with his la simpatica daughter, Ileana Reyes Gharzouzi who is married to Roberto Gharzouzi, a respected representative of the Guatemalan Congress.

Among those who graced the event were permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr. and his wife Norma; Foreign Affairs’ Chief Protocol Officer, Ambassador Jose Zaide and his wife Victoria; Susana Ople; Chilean Ambassador Carmen Lynam; Venezuelan Ambassador Milena Santana Ramirez; Brazilian Ambassador Claudio Maria Henrique do Couto Lyra; well-respected Mexican Ambassador Enrique Hubbard and his wife Mariana; Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Enrique Syquia and his wife Letty; NCCA chairperson Evelyn Pantig; director Eduardo Jose de Vega and assistant director Jerome Castro of the Division for Mexico and Central America; plus so many more of the chic diplomatic gang.

The elegant Mandarin Oriental, the night’s caterer, whipped up an excellently prepared dinner of smoked duck breast and lobster tail accompanied by assorted garden greens, pumpkin soup, lemon sherbet, pan fried fillet of salmon on mashed potatoes with stir fried vegetables and vermouth sauce, coupled with that all-time favorite and slices of lechon specially requested by the Vice President. Assorted fruits and lemon sherbet served in Asian flavored fruit broth capped the meal.

During his visit, Vice President Juan Francisco Reyes Lopez had several audiences with Vice President Teofisto Guingona; Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople; House Speaker Jose de Venecia; and Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon. He also took a quick visit to UST; the National Museum; Bahay Tsinoy Museum; Manila Cathedral; San Agustin Church; Casa Manila; and Wow Philippines.

With the red carpet laid out for Vice President Juan Francisco Reyes Lopez and his entourage in Cosmo Manille, his visit will surely not be the last we will see of him.

Viva Guatemala!

A treat for moi fave palangga

In the first of a series of parties for everyone’s and moi favorite palangga Ethel Soliven-Timbol, dahlings, renowned hairdresser Ricky Reyes tendered an intimate dinner at the huge formal dining room of Ricky’s fabi Valle Verde mansion. Two dozens of Ethel’s dearest friends attended the sit-down affair.

Many of Ethel’s real close pals, including those from her high school class at St. Therese College Manila, came to the party, palanggas. Dahling Ricky took meticulous care of the details from the catering to the decor in his fabi garden where a dance floor was also laid out. San Miguel Corp.’s Ira Maniquis sent soft drinks and San Mig Light. Ethel brought tons of wines from her wine cellar, although some invitees brought more, like PTTA director Nixon Koa. Grace Gupana, the lady behind ABS ampalaya capsules and tea, sent pritchon, lechon served ala Peking duck.

Those who arrived fashionably early were Ethel’s colleagues, Malaya’s Winnie Velasquez and Woman’s Noelle Boado; Ethel’s relatives, Ate Mercy David with her son, Fr. Luis David SJ; the STAR’s very own precious lady, Preciosa Soliven, the wife of Ethel’s brother Max Soliven, who was out of town; real estate broker Vic Soliven; her godmother Nana Cheng Cardenas; Mike and Alma Cardenas; Eki Cardenas; Jimmy Laya; super pals and socialites Letty Syquia and Mellie Ablaza; Ethel’s kids Alex; Pink Magazine editor Bebeth; Dabby and her baby Rafael; and daughter-in-law Corlu and her precocious five-year-old Alyanna who enjoyed dancing with the DIs.

Some of the celebrator’s special pals, Cora Abalos, the wife of Comelec chairman Ben Abalos, and her daughter-in-law Menchie Abalos, the attractive wife of Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos; and Kay Tinga, the wife of Pasig Mayor Tinga.

"My favorite PRs," as Ethel calls them, were led by wonder woman Susan Joven; Jackie Maniquis; Raquel Hizon; Robinson’s secret weapon, Southern belle Rosseane Coscolluela Villegas and her good-looking husband Val, who are the new parents of a baby girl; Bonjin Bolinao; Dean of all PR ladies, the Mandarin’s Charisse Chuidian Vera Isberto who drove all the way from Pilar Village; Mario Tan and his buddy Eddie Wong; and the Three Musketeers of Bridges, Annie Ringor, Toni Gregory and Leah Caringal.

Seen were Ethel’s STC classmates Prosie Valero; Chita Gatbonton; Val Barcelona; Josie Panlilio; Rosie Fadullon; Jenny Tambunting; Dr. Lina de Dios Torralba; Norma Patacsil; Malou Cruz; Indang Mabasa; Tessie Rodrigo and her hubby Bobby; Remy Antonio; and Vida Fernando, among others.

Super buddies from way, way back, dahlings, Bvlgari’s Mario Katigbak, Richard Ching and Elaine Kintanar; tres charmant couple, glass sculptor Ramon and Lay-Ann Orlina; Princess Cruises’ Eve Cayaban; Dr. Toto and Joanne Salgado; Bert and Zenas Lozada; Bobby Borja; Boysie Villavicencio; lady of ladies Cindy Velez; the inseparable gang of Donnie Ramirez, Resty Vergara and Gilbert Perez; Rupert and Tina Jacinto; CBN Asia’s Grace Cepeda Lara; Globe’s Menchie Osial; close pals, Southern beauty Mila Abad, Singapore Airlines brainchild Rita Dy and Bob Zozobrado; Sonny and Deedee Siytangco; glamorous STAR associate editor and People Asia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez; Domini Torrevillas; Karen Vera who traveled with Ethel in Spain last December; top lady Thelma San Juan; and MOD’s Chay and Ed Santiago.

And who should be the last to arrive but renowned concert pianist Raul Sunico, dashing in a well-embroidered barong. He had just performed for the cardinal and bishops at the Archbishop’s Palace before rushing over to Ethel’s big day.

Here’s all the best to the woman who will be hard to beat in anything and everything she sets her heart to do.

Love you dearly, palangga. Cheers!

Larry spreads his wings

Die-hard Malate habitues will be ecstatic to know that Café Adriatico has reopened to tickle the palates of customers all over again.

Twenty two years since it rocketed to fame apres attracting legions of personas from all walks of life and professions, Manille’s original café has rejoined the restaurant fray and began a fresh phase to accommodate both its long-time regulars and hip new spenders.

Café Adriatico Premiere, palanggas, has retained its original character and tasteful interiors. With the indefatigable, unbeatable, tres charmant Larry Cruz as the man on the throne, expect more innovative entrees or fusion cuisine in addition to the great café originals like Chocolate Eh to Crispy Tadyang, creatively served in the fashion of a more genteel bygone era.

Hotshot namedroppables who wouldn’t miss Café Adriatico’s reopening during the 25th year celebration of the LJC Restaurant Group, palanggas, included hot TV host and newspaper editor Jullie Yap Daza, one of those who did the ribbon- snipping of the same resto back in 1980; hot, hot Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos; popular lawyer Emmanuel Sison who represented Manila Mayor Lito Atienza; Dean of Fashion Designers, Ben Farrales; tall former Tourism Secretary and head turner Gemma Cruz; plus other sizzling invitees like Jaime Laya, Teddyboy Locsin and café regulars.

Café Adriatico has evolved into more than just a cozy place to enjoy yummy food. It is where uptown and downtown personas – writers, artists, socialites, fashion designers, businessmen, politicians and other movers and shakers of our society – rub elbows.

Apres a quarter of a century, Café Adriatico is still alive and kicking – and how! The celebrated food fare and ambiance which made this first LJC restaurant unique are all still there to relish. In addition to Café Adriatico Premiere which is open from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m., the LJC Restaurant Group also operates Bistro Remedios; Mil Novecientos Tapas Bar and Bistro; Café Havana-Malate; Café Havana-Makati; Africana Restaurant Bar and a Cigar Lounge; In the Mood Dancing; and Afrodisia Grill. And take note, dahlings – another Café Adriatico and Café Havana will open at Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City. Leave it to Larry Cruz to spread his angel wings even wider, palanggas.

Such exciting events – a visit from Guatemala’s Vice President at the Ablaza mansion, palanggas, Ethel Timbol’s unforgettable birthday bash and Café Adriatico’s sizzling night.

Catch you around, dahlings!