Bacardi in Boracay

The summer in Boracay has just started but for now, it will be best remembered not for the blue sea and white sand but for vibrant black and red Bacardi colors! The distinctive colors, along with the iconic bat logo, were seen everywhere on the island, from the hippest nightspots like Hey Jude and Club Paraw to daytime watering holes. Even local sailboats were hoisting bat emblazoned black sails. Brand Bacardi is the world’s undisputed leader in premium rum.

VIPs on the island converged on the top secret venue, the hip Juice Bar (maps to the party were distributed only on the day itself, inside mini Bacardi bottles filled with sand) and at 12:01 a.m., Embassy’s DJ Owens Sun conjured a house music storm that kicked off the party.

Free flowing Bacardi and Coke and refreshing Bacardi Mojitos were the choice drinks of the night. By the time the guest DJ and event organizer GP Reyes got on the decks, the crowd was already in a dance frenzy fuelled by the great Bacardi drinks poured by the Juice bartenders.

Key to Bacardi’s resurgence is of course its new main man Rajiv Ghumman who explained, "Bacardi is a powerhouse brand the world over, and it stands for freedom, for being free spirited, for spontaneity and friendship. Every drop is a celebration of life, and I think we can see that in the energy of each and every person here tonight. Bacardi had been a little quiet for some time now, and we promise to overcompensate for that. There are so many exciting things lined up for the brand in the next few months, so keep your ears to the ground because the next Bacardi Party will be even better!"

Here’s to future Bacardi parties!

Girls’ summer shopping spree

Girl power ruled as some of my girl friends readied themselves for the heat and splurged on summer wear. Modern Mythology, a recently opened vintage/indie clothing store at 109 Gamboa St., Legaspi Village in Makati, held its first fashion social to show off the latest pieces on its racks. Stylish owners Leica Carpo and Celine Gabriel had a spread of sexy/funky beach cover-ups, classic knits, sweet cotton shift dresses and breezy cotton tops from Spain, Italy and France. They also had their own jersey in-house designs based on vintage pieces. The ladies didn’t mind queuing up to use the fitting rooms to try out quirky, pretty pieces with unique prints and details because they had spoonfuls of yummy Haagen Dazs ice cream while waiting!

Hindy Tantoco’s residence was another shopping hot spot with Culte Femme’s Spa and Shop Summer collection on display. To get into full summer vibe, Hindy transformed her home into a beach resort with hammocks, sand and seashells. One corner offered summer pampering which the ladies availed of after their successful search for the perfect seaside ensembles. Cocktails and even more yummy Haagen Dazs ice cream were served to celebrate their finds and keep the sweltering temperature in check.

An oinkin’ great time

The Singapore Tourism Board-Philippines (STB-P) welcomed the Chinese New Year with its annual media appreciation function, the board’s unique way of thanking its media partners for their support through the year. Guests had an "oinkin’ good time" at the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental that started with a musical performance by Negros Occidental sensation Tribu Carlota who was later joined by the dancers of Groove Manila.

Celebrating the Chinese Year of the Fire Pig, a lauriat lunch was preceded by the Yu Sheng Salad Tossing tradition, which brings greater fortune to the higher salad-tossers. There were games like the "Count the Pigs" and "Golden Treasure" which yielded exclusive prizes from STB-P. Comedienne Marissa Sanchez gave guests much to laugh about with her impersonations. STB-P held a similar appreciation function in the evening especially for its partners in the travel industry. The event was graced by STB regional director of the ASEAN Islands Chooi Yee Chong who joined to acknowledge the invaluable support of friends and colleagues.

STB area director Rocson Chang announced remarkable news that the Philippines has taken over the top 10 position of global contributors of tourist arrivals to Singapore with some 385,960 Filipinos visiting in 2006! He also featured the soon-to-come, awe-inspiring projects that will boost Singapore’s tourism landscape even more in the years to come such as the Integrated Resort and Casino. The first-ever Marina Bay Sands costs about $5 billion and will feature the world’s first and only Art-Science Museum, a unique one-hectare SkyPark rising above three iconic hotel towers offering panoramic views, new retail brands and two 2,000-seat theatres. Another key component of Marina Bay Sands will be its impressive 9,200-square meter column-free Grand Ballroom, the largest in Asia, and capable of accommodating up to 8,000 people.

Visitors to the second Integrated Resort, Resorts World at Sentosa, which will cost $5.2 billion, will be entertained by all the fabulous activities brought about by a Universal Studios Theme Park featuring 16 of 22 rides found only in Singapore, the world’s largest Oceanarium — The Quest Marine Life Park, a 1.3 hectare water theme park, a casino and flagship retail stores.

Borders at 10

Borders launched the first of its year-long series of activities called Borders Perfect 10, a fitting celebration to mark its 10th anniversary. For the first event, Borders’ owner Alice Streegan-Cruz asked four well-known personalities to show off their decorating skills on their favorite part of the house.

Lanelle Abueva-Fernando does a dining table setting. A UP Fine Arts graduate, she apprenticed in Japan and later specialized in ceramics in the Center for Arts and Humanities in Sun Valley, Idaho before she put up her own pottery studio in Antipolo.

Sylvia Heras-Lopez chose to set up a family room because, as she puts it, "after a hard day’s work, it’s always gratifying to come home to family. A room where all my family can relax and enjoy each other’s company is where I’d like to be." Lopez, a PSID graduate, leads her 20-year-old design firm in creating environments known for their good style and practicality.

Susan Calo Medina, host of Travel Time, the longest-running travel-lifestyle show on local television, interprets her favorite reading-cum-relaxation nook in her house. Medina loves to collect artifacts and does a lot of reading.

Couturier Frederick Peralta is a Lyceum of the Philippines Foreign Service graduate and started off as a designer for a jeans company and rose to the pinnacle of local and international fashion fame in 1994 by winning the Grand Prix in the Concours International des Jeunes Creaturs de Mode in Paris, the first Filipino designer to ever win the honor. He ventures into total lifestyle design by becoming the first to design for Canadian, through SM Home World, a line of couture beddings. And see it all in Frederick’s mock-up of a bedroom at Borders.

The initial Borders Perfect 10 exhibit runs until the end of the month, at the Borders Showroom, Ground Floor, GE Philippines Bldg., 2291 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 893-2905 or 893-2908.

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