‘Oh Boy by George!’

Sisters Mimi and Juliet Tan called recently to invite me to a dinner with Boy George.  In my mind: "Will he show up? If he does, will he come on time?" Hearsay had it that he was a diva and difficult.  Not missing a chance to meet an icon, I showed up at the 9:30 p.m. appointed time at Colin McKay’s fantastic restaurant, Sala, in Malate.

The place was full except for a long table set for 15. I saw fellow Star writer Cecille Zamora, Leah Puyat and Anton Barretto who were also there for the dinner. Colin asked us to sit and a little before 10, Boy George walked in with Mimi and Juliet, DJ Mark Vedo, his manager Ian Harmer and Andrea Law. Boy George (George O’ Dowd in real life) neared the table and Cecille whispered to me: "I’m gonna die." I felt the same thrill being a fan myself. "Hi, I’m George," he introduced himself to us.

Boy George and his company were all friendly and charming — no pretense, no star complex, simply down to earth. In a nutshell, they were as interested in what we had to ask as much as we were all ears in what they had to say. At one point, Boy George said, "Heat is the enemy of drag" when asked about the weather in Manila. He added that the strangest question asked him when he was in Taiwan was: "How’s Cyndi Lauper?" To this he replied: "I met her and I know her but I’m not close to her." Everybody laughed.

He recounted where they came from and where they were headed for on this tour: Indonesia, Singapore, UK and then back to New York where Boy George lives. "I live in Canal Street, near Chinatown" he said.  He and rising DJ Mark Vedo (who is half-Portuguese) have been touring together. Mark speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. Both were trying to learn some Filipino words. 

Colin prepared a delicious four-course meal with a choice of salmon or veal as main course. Boy George chose salmon. Also present were Liza Ilarde, Elbert Cuenca, Hindy and Gippy Tantoco, Rhett Eala, DJ-stylist Angelo Villanueva, Tim Yap, stage actor RS Francisco, Ann Jaleco and Gray Lyons from the British School.

The mingling ended before 1 a.m. as Boy George and his group had to catch an early flight out of Manila. E-mail addresses and phone numbers were exchanged and smiles were stuck on everyone’s face, enough proof that all had a wonderful night.

Beauty in Wonderland

The theme was "Alice in Wonderland" as guests walked through the looking glass into the world’s most luxurious beauty and skincare haven, My Beauty Hub.

The beauty hub offers the most exclusive names in European treatment lines for the discerning beauty-worshipper, both male and female. The boutique was adorned with hanging mirrors on velvet ribbons, ropes of pearls, lush satin swags and little elements straight out of Lewis Carrol’s fantasy: A mad-hatter’s tea party, white rabbit with chain watch, and decks of cards that guests picked and their free treatment had the brand they were to use.

Guests enjoyed personalized skincare consultation using a skin-analysis machine used to diagnose their skin type. They were also treated to a facial from My Beauty Hub’s highly-trained experts. My Beauty Hub carries Carita of Paris, Shiseido, Phytomer and Vie, men’s skincare brands Zirh, Shiseido Men, Nickel, Phytomer Homme, women’s makeup brands Shiseido, By Terry, Fleurs, Pied Nus, Serge Lutens, and men’s grooming brand Le Male by  Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Hosting the event were Luxasia general manager Mia Nolasco-Cuenca and retail manager Sigrid Villamil. Also seen at the tea party were Donna Faylona, Candy Lim, Robin Magdangal, DJs Stevie Tambunting and Adrian Cuenca, architect Gil Coscolluela, photographer Steve Tirona, Teddy and Janine Dario, Anton Gonzalez of Planet Sports, Cherie Habayeb, Capone’s Topsy Server, Sookie Chiongbian and Angela Reyes.

(For inquiries, call 752-7937.)

Shanghai chic

Shanghai chic was the theme at the New World Renaissance Hotel’s Emperor Court where the latest Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner was held. The Cantonese restaurant was transformed into a merging style of traditional Chinese and cutting-edge modernity, symbolic of Shanghai today.

Local Chaine head Fred Fricke and wife Baby Girl and New World general manager Stephan Stoss and wife Katriona welcomed guests who were there to have a 12-course degustacion dinner, a creative presentation of regional Chinese cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Among those enjoying the dinner were hotel and restaurant stalwart Leonor O’Leary with son Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines vice president Humphrey O’Leary, Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, Bases Conversion and Development Authority chairman Jun Rojas and wife Pina, property magnate Joey Antonio and wife Hilda, food connoisseurs Claude Tayag and Gene Gonzalez, Insular Life chairman Vicente Ayllon and wife Annie, Juan Lanuza, Swiss Council’s Urs Gressly, Days Hotel Philippines president James Concepcion,  ASL Logistics Worldwide chairman Dieter Lonishen, Metropolitan Insurance president Jose Periquet Jr. and wife Elizabeth, Vicky Baluyut, RAF Int’l. Forwarding managing director Benjamin Baluyut, Buenjiho Padua, Philippine Airlines’ Marian Alkuino, Susan Angeles and Jaime Arturo Viola and New World’s fantastic PR girl Monique Toda.

Kudos to the New World Renaissance Hotel led by F&B director Martin Wong, director of event management Susan Roxas, director of restaurants Joy Ronquillo, Chinese executive chef Ken Chiu, Western executive chef Colin Healy and Emperor Court’s manager Mario Mendoza for an excellent dining experience for the members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs.

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