A grand tee party

Avid golf fanatics were once again treated to the posh Mercedes Trophy cocktails, with sponsors and champions led by CATS Motors Inc.’s chairman Gregorio Yu and president Felix Ang, recently held at the Makati Shangri-La. With an increasing number of golfers gaining interest in the much-coveted Mercedes Trophy, the gathering was well-attended by the industry’s top personalities to join in celebrating this year’s tournament held at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club. Among the prominent guests seen at the cocktails were Philippine Airlines president and COO Jimmy Bautista, Arrow Shirts Philippines vice president Aileesa Lim, Lucerne and Chronos’ Edith Dychiao, PLDT SVP Eric Alberto, Pilipinas Shell chairman and president Edgar Chua, Makati Shangri-La GM Reto Klauser, Sta. Elena Properties chairman Rico Tantoco, Asia Brewery EVP and COO Michael Tan, Carlos Palanca Group/Diageo (Johnny Walker) chairman and CEO Carlos Palanca III and Cathay Pacific country manager Ed Higgs.

Congratulations!

One lavish celebration

The industrious and brilliant Manila Hotel manager and seasoned hospitality expert Leon Keekstra welcomed another wonderful year in his life with a posh celebration at the ethereal Champagne Room of the Manila Hotel. An exclusive dinner for his family, closest friends and selected media people left everyone wanting for more of the scrumptious food made by the restaurant’s new chef Christine Zarandin who got enthusiastic reviews from the guests. The celebration was definitely one memorable event at the Champagne Room. Among the guests seen at the fun-filled festivity are Star EVP Grace Glory Go, Moet Hennessy’s Olga Azarcon and Thai Airlines GM Nivat Chantarachoti. May you have more elegant and blessed years to come, Leon! Cheers!

Johnny says, ‘Check this out’

More Than Just Adobo. The classy Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, led by gracious GM Hans Hauri, Filipino cuisine consultant Jessica Avila and assistant director of sales and marketing Lara Constantino-Scarrow, will be having The Great Adobo Challenge. Four of the country’s greatest chefs, namely (in photo, from left) Northern Luzon’s Danny dela Cuesta, Batangas’ Myrna Segismundo, Leyte’s Glenda Baretto and Manila’s Nancy Reyes-Lumen, will come together for the event to be held at the award-winning Café Marco from April 29 to May 1 to showcase the different versions of adobo in the country. See you there!

A Hymn of Peace. In preparation for the Filfest Cultural Foundation’s third season, a special concert titled Piano Peace featuring Jewish pianist Yaron Kohlberg and Arab pianist Harouny Bshara will be held at the Insular Life Hall in Alabang on April 24, Saturday, at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at P1,000, P800 and P500. Students will get a 50 percent discount while senior patrons are entitled to 20 percent discount. See you there!

(For tickets, contact Sheryl Camacho at 0918-9419472

or 666-4095.)