Keeping track of the jelly time

It was a fun celebration when the 333 millionth Swatch was produced. Simultaneous with this event was the launch of the new Swatch "Jelly in Jelly" line which comes in five colors – white, blue, orange, black and pink with five classic designs from the Core Collection.

The "Jelly in Jelly" collection represents a romance between Swatch and arts. This was kindled in 1985 with the first art special at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris. The collection reveals a colorful and refreshing statement, taking into account the trend towards bigger watches. Each of these fashionable Swiss watches has a contemporary wider face and longer strap and a great price of P2,950!

The 333 millionth Swatch produced is truly a reason to celebrate. The charming and very hardworking Virgie Ramos – everybody’s favorite Tita Virgie – made sure everybody would have a a "jelly good time." Performers that night included Elemento Band, Savannah Lumen and the Mekanism rock band.

Others spotted in the crowd were STAR’s Regina Belmonte, PR whiz Susan Joven, Chelo Banal Formoso, Noel de la Merced, Matteo Guidicelli, L’Oreal’s Leica Carpo, Marilu Martirez, talent manager Joji Dingcong and singer Geneva Cruz.

Check out the new Jelly in Jelly Collection at all Gift Gate outlets. Also check out the designs at www.swatch.com.

For art’s sake (and Toni’s)

The Banquet Hall of the Milky Way Building was packed with people who were present to witness the first exhibit of Manny Padilla and to support their friend Toni Abad. Manny generously donated much of the proceeds of his Room Series exhibit for the benefit of the breast cancer awareness projects of the Essenses Foundation and for Toni, who used to work for Essenses.

Manny is the only actively painting descendant of the great Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. At a very young age, he began drawing people he encountered every day, as well as landscapes during his vacations in Spain. In 2001, he began painting abstract forms to depict objects within enclosed spaces. His Room Series featured works in oil and pastel. The artist says, "Each painting is a reflection of my mindset, my mood, my inclination, at a particular moment. Since that moment does not happen again, I cannot repeat or even copy a certain work." Art for Manny is a hobby. In fact, he designed the first Philippine-made computer "Chico" in the early ’80s and was also in the carnival and amusement park business, setting up theme parks in both Pasig and Bonifacio Global City.

The event was painstakingly organized by Manny’s wife, Mia Tambunting Padilla, who made sure that the 29 paintings were perfectly arranged. Guests enjoyed fine food, great wine and live music that helped ensure Manny’s paintings would be sold for his good friend Toni’s chemotherapy.

Toni spoke about her breast cancer at the event where guests enjoyed bar chow by Cirkulo and wine courtesy of Ralph’s Wines & Spirits. Others spotted at the event were Pedro and Gina Roxas, Angelette Calero, designer Rhett Eala, Luxasia’s Sigrid Villamil and Mia Nolasco, interior designer Mike Sandoval, Planet Sports’ Anton Gonzalez, Chary Mercado, Dely Ongsiako, Trish Briones, Tana and Richard Gelb and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.

Kendall-Jackson now in Manila

A splendid dinner was hosted at Hotel InterCon’s Prince Albert by the very hardworking Tita Trillo of Titiana Wine Cellar to welcome Jeff Cook of Kendal- Jackson Wine Estates International. Titiana is now the exclusive importer and distributor of Kendall-Jackson wines in the Philippines. Kendall Jackson is a California wine founded by Jess Jackson. He produced his first bottle under the Kendall-Jackson label in 1982.

InterCon Hotel’s executive chef Patrick Fournet prepared a dinner that was well matched with Kendall-Jackson Wines such as the Camelot Sauvignon Blanc, 2004 Pepi Pinot Grigio, 2003 Collage Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, 2002 Vintner’s Reserve Merlot, and 2002 Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Others at the dinner were InterCon’s food and beverage director Marc Cerqueda, Silk Cocoon’s Frances Lim, Renaissance Hotel’s Raul Aquino, Vicky Dee, Petron chairman Khalid Al-Faddagh, lawyer Lorna Kapunan and Becky Garcia-Sarakinis.

* * *

E-mail me at [email protected]