Italian pride

A polo cup was held at the Manila Polo Club for the official launch of Italian luxury sportswear brand Paul & Shark in the Philippines. The Paul & Shark Polo Cup 2014, presented by the Italian brand and La Chaine des Rotisseurs, drew a 400-strong crowd.

The nautical-themed festive afternoon was hosted by Marc Nelson. The tasteful and sophisticated entertainment, which was  thoroughly enjoyed by the guests, was provided by the MSE Music Ensemble and singer Pinky Marquez.

The Low-Goal match (a round-robin match comprised of the Red, Grey and Yellow teams) was won by the Red Team composed of Jim Donovan, Jimboy Dulay, Freddie Borromeo and Angelo Licaros. After the match, a traditional parade of colors and the ceremonial throw-in saw the MPC president Violeta Gallego-Kramer, Brand Gateway Inc. CEO Gabriele Boschi and his wife Julie, La Chaine des Rotisseurs’ Michel and Amparito Lhuillier, and Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno officially kick-starting the highly anticipated High-Goal match.

A riveting fast-paced High-Goal match pitted the Black Team against the White Team, which kept the crowd cheering for more action in the field. The match was won by the White Team composed of  Manot Montilla, Jay De Jesus, Alfie Araneta and Jones Lanza. It was at half-time when Paul & Shark models led guests to make their way down to the field to relish free-flowing bubbly.

In a raffle draw, six lucky guests went home with Paul & Shark bags that doubled as both a sling and duffel bag. Awarding of trophies followed, then Pinky Marquez took to center stage once again to sing just before a parade of roasts descended on the field where the guests congregated to enjoy good food, good company and good music.

Also seen at the scene of revelry were Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar-On, Spanish Ambassador Jorge Manuel Domecq, Kim and Feli Atienza, Adrien Semblat, Nico Bolzico, Ferdi Salvador, Jojie Dingcong and Ingrid Chua-Go.

The Paul & Shark brand story goes back three generations and from one knitting mill in Varese, Italy, a luxury fashion empire emerged. Today, the brand boasts more than 500 stores around the world with presence in all the major capital cities.

(The Paul & Shark flagship store is located at the East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza. It is exclusively distributed by Brand Gateway Inc. in the Philippines.)

‘Straight Up’ party

Straight Up, Bonifacio Global City’s highest roof deck bar at Seda BGC hotel, turned a year old with a cocktail bash that saw frequent patrons, hotel clients, media friends and other guests enjoying exquisite food, non-stop drinks and fabulous music from dusk to dawn!

Seda hotels’ group general manager Andrea Mastellone was very happy with the party set. The place was packed from the main bar indoors to the al fresco area, boasting of a stunning view of the city. Straight Up’s resident musical consultant Cocoy Puyat invited guest spinners and entertainers to keep the crowd pumped up with their interpretation of Straight Up’s signature 21st-century Lounge Music.

(Straight Up is on 30th Street corner 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For more information, call 945-8888 or 588-5700.)

A night with Il Divo

Operatic-pop quartet Il Divo, together with Lea Salonga, enchanted anew their Filipino fans when they recently performed some of the most beloved musical soundtracks in their one-night-only concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at  Resorts World Manila (RWM).

The sold-out concert was part of Il Divo’s A Musical Affair world tour, in celebration of their 10th anniversary in the music industry. The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra provided the musical score for the world tour’s Philippines leg.

Il Divo’s A Musical Affair capped off RWM’s Imperial Festival 2014, which celebrated the prosperous dawn of the Chinese New Year.

This summer, RWM continues to bring world-class thrills with an Epic Summer 2014 party highlighted by another international act, American alternative rockers Vertical Horizon.

(For more information about shows and concerts at Resorts World Manila, visit www.rwmanila.com or call 908-8833.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)