A gorgeous wedding

A perfect wedding, dahlings, is a union before God of two hearts and souls in love. It is definitely a special event for all people to see. This is exactly what happened on a gorgeous Saturday evening, palanggas, when soft-spoken, porcelain Southern beauty, Ma. Lourdes "Lou" Zaldivar Dolendo from moi fave City of Smiles, Bacolod, finally met her match in ruggedly handsome, Bulakeño, Clemente "Bo" Tecson Garcia. No lady could have resisted the groom’s sense of humor, fine looks and intellect. And no man would not have been drawn by the bride’s charisma and that melodic Ilonggo accent.

The couple, who were introduced five years ago by Carinna Regalado, a close pal from Bacolod, share a passion for traveling and dining. During their courtship they eventually discovered they had more and more things in common. No wonder their friendship – thanks also to scores of dates – blossomed into love.

Bo is the unico hijo (as in only son) of the late Cecillo Garcia and the late Ceferina Tecson of San Miguel, Bulacan. One of Manille’s most sought-after bachelors before his wedding, he is the third in a brood of four. A tres successful businessman and entrepreneur, he finished college at moi very own rah! rah! De La Salle University, majoring in LiberalArts-Communication. Lou is the second eldest of four girls of Vicente Dolendo and Rosario Zaldivar. Her sisters are Marovic Dolendo; Ma. Vida Sockanathan; and Rhia Colocado. This Southern beauty attended the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod.

The groom wore a barong while the bride wore a simple white duchesse satin gown embellished with Swarovski crystals by Carla Sibal.

The couple’s famille and close friends from Bulacan, Bacolod and Iloilo, plus some invitees who jetted in from the US and Europe filled the Manila Cathedral, palanggas.

The wedding ceremony, palanggas, was officiated by Msgr. Francisco Tantoco Jr. The hotshot male sponsors included Don Paco Delgado; Nelson Lo; Mario Locsin; Gen. Pacifico Lopez de Leon; Dr. Bert Bella; Ric Berlin Jr.; and Benjamin Sagum. Namedroppable sponsors included Dr. Lalitha Sockanathan; vivacious Ruby Gonzales-Meyer; Janet Tan; Rebecca Berlin; Sylvia van Seghbroeck; Mely Palomar; and Delie Swafford.

The ladies in the entourage, who wore the shade of celadon, were matron of honor Vida Sockanathan; bridesmaids Isabella Gonzalez and Lou’s youngest sister Rhia Colocado.

Best men were Bo’s super pal, Louie Quirino Gonzalez, whom Bo stayed with in the US for six years in the early ’90s, and Gary Fallorina, one of the members of the must Friday night gang. Groomsmen were Raven Sockanathan; Carl Velasco; Edmund Lipana; and Rico Tecson. Secondary sponsors were Marovic Dolendo and Kenneth Colocado, candles; Cora and Rod Cruz, veil; and Tess Lopez-Palanca and Luis Young, cord. Bearers were Garyboy Reyes; Laker and Gage Swofford. Flower Girls were Priyanka Sockanathan; Yana Bayoneta; and Chloe Cruz.

Kuh Ledesma, a close pal of the groom, set the romantic mood with her hard-to-beat style.

The reception venue, Fr. Blanco’s Garden, dahlings, was a magnificent sight. Above, the night sky was a canvas of stars, and below there were loads of imported flowers and table decor arranged elegantly by 1816 flower shop, no less. The excellent dinner menu was catered by Makati Skyline with an endless flow of wine. Before the romantic night ended, the tres chic invitees beheld an amazing fireworks display. Apres, they danced to the Latin beat provided by Mai Castro and Onda Latina band, thanks to their professional and hardworking manager Mary Anne Gomez.

A fantastic affair marked the beginning of Bo and Lou’s new life as husband and wife. Cheers, palanggas!

Belo and Obagi’s one beautiful night!

As they say, "Beauty begets beauty,"dahlings! One proof was the super successful cocktails launching the "Obagi Circle of Friends." The party was thrown by the beauty doctor herself, Vicki Belo, no less, at Makati Shangri-La’s grand ballroom.

Cosmo Manille’s beautiful personas who have been long-time Obagi users flocked to join Dr. Vicky B. and no less than Dr. Zein Obagi, the hotshot behind the popular Obagi brand. Suave, debonair, and still wrinkle-free at 60, Dr. Obagi, palanggas, was convinced by Dr. Vicki Belo to visit our town so that his devoted users might hear the truth about beauty straight from him. Unlike traditional skin care products, the elegant doctor explained, "The Obagi skin Health Restoration System works at the cellular level." Thus, he added, his system not only corrects surface discoloration and blemishes, it actually stimulates cell renewal to bring back the glow and softness of healthy, younger-looking skin.

No wonder the grand ballroom, the lobby and even the hallway overflowed with tons of smooth faces, palanggas! (Your secret is now out, ladies!) The paparazzi happily snapped away at all the dazzling faces.

Looking delicious in her sexy turquoise ensemble, Dr. Vicki B. joined Dr. Obagi (both beauty doctors to the rich and famous) in answering questions on anything about beauty. Tall and handsome business (and life?) partner Joey Santos proudly watched Dr. Vicki B.

It’s true that birds of the same feathers flock together because the event gathered other gorgeous doctors like Minguita Padilla-Lopez; Val Floro Herbosa; Doris de Leon; and Becky Singson.

Not one, but two regal beauty queens stunned the crowd that night – Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran and Miss Universe First Runner-Up 1999 Miriam Quiambao, plus the sunshine of any day, beautiful Lana Asanin. Her sky blue eyes can easily melt anyone’s heart, believe moi, dahlings!

The Spa Village was beautifully designed for the event by talented interior designer Cynthia Almario. One couldn’t help but rub elbows with top news hen Karen Davila and her pal, a new mom, Kring Kring Gonzales-Romualdez, who’s more radiant than ever. Moi also zoomed in on one of the chic-est and fashionable news mavens around, Ces Drilon, a tres vocal "botox" fan.

Probably following Cynthia’s concept of "East meets West," the high-profile society pack hobnobbed with sultry stars who oozed with oodles of sex appeal: Katya Santos; Diana Zubiri of the Mandaluyong bridge controversy; Angela Velez; and former People Asia cover girl, Aubrey Miles. The absolutely handsome award-winning actor Albert Martinez, who doesn’t seem to age a bit, palanggas (would that be thanks to Dr. Belo?); Bobby Andrews; and moi pal and TV partner, Johnny Litton.

Decked in to-take-your-breath-away jewelry and oozing with lots of sass and class were the elegant Ching Cruz; über talented interior designer (I say artist, palanggas) Ramon Antonio; Stock Market Queen Vivian Yuchengco; Queen of Jewelry Kristine Yang; and that top charmer, Atom Henares. Oh, yes! I mustn’t forget MEGA’s grand lady, Sari Yap and super entertainment writer, moi fellow columnist at Star, Butch Francisco.

It was such an exhilarating, dizzying affair that moi had to step out for my dose of sweets. You guessed it, palanggas, there were rows and rows of sumptuous desserts whipped up by genius pastry chef Buddy Trinidad.

As you may know or not know, dahlings, Dr. Vicki B. absolutely adores chocolates and pastries. Could this be why she had to learn to liposuction? Breezing around the glittery crowd, moi noticed that many society ladies who are die-hard Obagi fans were missing – the likes of glamorous former First Lady Imelda Marcos; fashion maven Tina Maristela-Ocampo; and that miss with the four capital B’s, Doris Magsaysay-Ho. Perhaps, they wanted to keep the reason for their beautiful skin a secret. So let’s keep our lips sealed, palanggas!

Another cup, please

The aromatic Lavazza is one of the most acclaimed coffee brands in the world, dahlings. It is renowned for giving coffee drinkers a real Italian coffee experience.

The only Lavazza coffee shop in the world is in Turin, Italy, Lavazza’s birthplace. Several establishments have now switched to Lavazza coffee since it landed in the country, palanggas. Already serving the fabi brew are Cibo; Oliver’s Sandwiches; Dish; Via Mare Oyster Bar (Rockwell); El Cirkulo; Milky Way Café; Monk’s Dream; Pacific Wharf; Pasto; Chianti; Pizza Express; T.G.I. Fridays; Auntie Ann’s; Comiks; Shangri-La Makati and Mactan Gourmet shop; Alliance Francaise; Bizu; Mario’s; Oody’s Bar; Goodies and Sweets; Blue Bacon and Green Eggs; Haagen Dazs; Bravo; Café Orvieto; Power-bikes Café; and over 150 different restaurant outlets.

Italia’s hotshot celebrities like Luciano Pavarotti and Monica Vitti have endorsed Lavazza in advertising campaigns. Lavazza has been producing the very collectible and in-demand Lavazza calendars since the early ’90s. With world-class photographers like Helmut Newton, Ellen von Unwerth, Albert Watson and Jean-Baptiste Mondino working on the prized calendars.

Lavazza is available at leading supermarkets; Duty Free Philippines; Bacchus shops; and other high-end stores where fine food is sold. Bacchus International, Inc. is the sole Philippine distributor of Lavazza coffee.

Ah, Lavazza is so good. Another cup, please!

The Circle of Mentors

During a thanksgiving ceremony, United Medical Education and Development (UMED) recently conferred on its faculty the title, Circle of Mentors, in recognition of its invaluable service these past three years.

Dr. Ivan Villespin, a member of UMED’s Board of Advisers, an associate professor of the UST College of Medicine and Surgery and director of the UST Center for Respiratory Medicine, said that UMED has lived up to its mission of providing CME devoid of commercialism and strictly addressing the technical and scientific needs of doctors.

For her part, Dr. Josefina Carlos, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and another member of UMED’s Circle of Mentors, agrees that UMED has a CME program conducted effectively by teachers who had to undergo a facilitation skills seminar to handle the UMED courses. She says, "I have gained a wealth of experience as a member of the core faculty of UMED. Teaching is a two-way process. I also learned from the participants/students who were doctors like me. And so it was being united with partners working towards one goal."

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Do drive safely, palanggas, and have a great weekend. See you.