The museum of color and style

Hair care leader Sunsilk successfully launched the revolutionary Sunsilk Color Shine System at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel featuring 11 women who are believers and advocates of hair color. All the women colored their locks for a special exhibit photographed by Victor Consunji. Stylists George Bantolino of Sir George Salon, Gio Ledesma of David’s Salon and Nelson Cruz of Essensuals Tony & Guy colored and styled their hair. The advocates were model turned photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol, physician and dermatology resident Anna Palabyab, professional model and yoga instructor Raya Mananquil, musician and writer Alessandra Tinio, VP for international sales of Globe Asiatique Realty Divine Lee, radio disk jockey and student Andi Manzano, singer Savannah Lumen, Futsal instructor and thespian China Cojuangco, model and designer Mika Lagdameo, fashion designer Debbie Co and TV reporter Marie Lozano.

Stylist Douglas Lillico, artistic director from the Philip George Salon in Hong Kong, opened the evening’s festivities. Unilever’s Gilbert Simpao then shared a few words, saying, "The Sunsilk Color Shine System is a revolutionary new range of wash and care products specially developed for colored hair. This system lets you enjoy your color even more by adding vibrancy and shine to colored hair."

Others seen at the party were Assunta da Rossi, Angelika dela Cruz, Maritoni Fernandez, Kathleen Hermosa, Henri Calayag, Jing Monis, Mia Borromeo, Frannie Jacinto, Ching Cruz, Agnes Huibonhua, Fortune Ledesma, Francis Lumen, Mellie Ablaza, Helen Ong, Evie Costa and Rommel Aducul.

Release yourself

Hennessy, the oldest and leading manufacturer of premium Cognac in the world, has gained new popularity. Manila party-goers have become more adventurous and mature with their cocktails of choice. Cognac resurgence has come to the drinking public, having cognac straight up or mixed as a cocktail.

"Crunk Juice" is Hennessy with Red Bull and is endorsed by artist Lil Jon while "Sin" is Hennessy and Gin which the group Bone Thugs and Harmony loves. Tupac Shakur drinks "Thug Passion" which is Hennessy mixed with Alize. Kanye West and DJ Carl Cox love Hennessy cocktails while rappers and hip hop artists like 50 Cent, DMX and P Diddy have all rapped in one or two songs they drink Hennessy straight.

"Release Fridays," the hottest party on a Friday night at Club Embassy has been overflowing with Hennessy cocktails, thanks to Randy Uson, the hardworking brand ambassador. Check out some of those who enjoy Hennessy and the parties they throw at Club Embassy at The Fort.

Loco over flip-flops

All Flip-Flops’ launch of its flagship store in Bonifacio High Street at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig marked the opening of the world’s largest all Havaianas-retail outlet.

Guests were welcomed by owners Abba Napa and Geronimo Begre together with Anne Gonzalez of Terry S. A., the sole distributor of Havaianas in the Philippines. Havaianas manager for Asia and the Pacific Marcos Morastico was also at the event where guests enjoyed Brazilian food and caipirinha as bossa nova music played in the background.

The place was buzzing as guests crowded the store and bought several pairs of flip-flops offered at a discount for that night only. A big hit with kids were the glow in the dark flip-flops.

Others seen at the opening were Vicky Zubiri, Luis de Terry, Tricia Panlilio, Ricardo Po, Cat Juan, Bebeth Timbol, Maurice Arcache and director Quark Henares.

All Flip-Flops also has branches at Glorietta 3, Alabang Town Center and Mall of Asia. Watch out for their new outlets opening in Pampanga and Ayala’s new development Trinoma in Quezon City.

Indulgences and dreams

Radio Station Dream 106.7 hosted back-to-back parties dubbed as Glam Dreams and An Evening of Infinite Indulgence. Dream is the station that knows how to throw a one-of-a-kind party and lets you indulge your senses as well.

Guests were pampered in the Body Shop booth and had mouth-watering treats from Sweet Bella Desserts. Isabel Roces won the grand prize, a necklace from Roman Jewels.

Between East and West

The Philippine Star writer Tonette Martel wrote Between East and West, a collection of essays on the places, themes and ideas that give meaning to the times we live in, and to a world brought closer together by the forces of globalization and information technology, exploring the melding of the heritage of East and West and cultural exchanges between them. The book contains images from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Rockefeller Collection of Asian Art, the Prasart Museum in Thailand, The Asia Society in New York and especially commissioned photographs of contemporary Bangkok and New York. Tonette’s book is published by Anvil Publications and designed by 2006 National Book awardee Guillermo Ramos.

Born and raised in Manila, Tonette received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount Manhattan College in New York and a Master of Arts degree from New York University. She has written articles on the arts and culture, on travel and on social issues for over a decade. She has served as consultant on policy and technical services at the office of the Vice President of the Philippines, as speechwriter to the President of the Philippines and as Special Assistant to the Office of the Presidential Spokesman.

Between East and West will be launched on the evening of March 15 at RED at the Makati Shangri-La. A portion of the book sales that evening will benefit the Virlanie Foundation.

(E-mail me at peppertstar@yahoo.com)