Recently, one of my best friends, Harvard-Columbia-Oxford educated Patrick Reyno, hosted a grand birthday celebration for moi at his family’s South Forbes Park home. It was actually a “triple treat” because it was also the birthdays of our two other close friends, ABS-CBN executive Bibot Nolan and international wine merchant Marlene Bonnin.
For the party, Patrick, a host with the most, had a sumptuous buffet dinner prepared courtesy of Winford Manila Resort and Casino. In case you have not been at Winford, it is the new five-star boutique hotel and casino designed by the architects of The Peninsula Hong Kong in the old San Lazaro race track near UST in Manille, palanggas. It is doing extremely well; after all, it’s so close to Chinatown.
Food critics are raving about Winford’s excellent Chinese restaurant Choi Garden, where a number of chefs from China and Hong Kong work. Winford is a subsidiary of the Reyno famillie’s Manila Jockey Club, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
So, it’s time to name-drop again, starting with my dearest soulmate from way back, Vicky Zubiri and her husband, Bukidnon Gov. Joe Zubiri, one of my pals Freddie Olbes and the trés popular sisters/restaurateurs Cecille and Lorrie Reynoso.
Also with us were top banker Bing de Guzman and his stylish wife Kathy, who then just got back from Europe for the Christmas holidays; architect Ramon Antonio, socialite Karen Santos and her visiting friend businessman Joe Assad, businessman Al Tengco, my favorite couple Johnny Velasquez and Maripi Muscat, investment banker Andrew Gan, eye doctor and world traveler Glenn Carandang and light designer Mark Wilson. Interior decorator Jonathan Matti graced the party looking so slim, “after putting a lot of discipline while dieting,” he explained.
In another corner were gorgeous ladies Carol Masibay Garcia, Rosanna Fores, Marivic Vazquez and newly appointed Cultural Center of the Philippines trustee Margie Moran-Floirendo. The trio of Monique Siguion-Reyna, Bobby and Chingbee Cuenca also made it to the revelry after coming from another party. Bobby and Chingbee are now happy grandparents to a new baby boy.
My palanggas from my hometown of Bacolod made sure they did not miss the happenings! Edouard Garcia, Alvaro Pertierra, art dealer Mara Loinaz Pardo de Tavera and Miren Lopez Zayco. Despite his very busy schedule, my pal Anton San Diego was able to make it to the “triple” bash with Asia Society chair Doris Magsaysay-Ho and surprise guests Rose Anne de Pampelonne and her husband, top French investment banker Bruno de Pampelonne, together with their two handsome sons, Alexis de Pampelonne and Dominic Beckhart. Bruno also brought another top banker from London Marc d’Andlau and his wife, Paris alta sociedad Fleur de Galard d’Andlau Hombourg.
More? Why not, dahlings? Our host Patrick R. also invited Paolo Prieto and wife, my palangga Ria Francisco Prieto, Greenfield Development Corp. president Duane Santos, banker Derrick Santos and wife Ria Romero Santos, who were back for good from Singapore, and witty advertising executive Manny del Rosario.
Also at the party were Jon-Jon Rufino, Ipe Cruz, JPT Phil. Corp. managing director Pacifico John “PJ” Castro, Sean Go, KC del Rosario, Jay Campos, Runar Peterson, Miguel Que Rodriguez and his partner Arthur Nowak.
Patrick’s older brother and Manila Jockey Club president King Reyno also arrived to see if everyone was having a good time. We surely were, dahlings.
It was also nice to see LBC COO and Quad X CEO Dino Araneta and his beautiful wife Marta, Sony brand ambassador and one of the country’s most sought-after photographers Pilar Trigo Bonnin, Aimee Marcos, lawyer Cid Bernedo, Elena Lobregat Balaguer, Spain-based dentist BG Trigo Bonnin and wife, banker Regina Planas, and DMCI heiress Chin Consunji.
The lavish stations of to-die-for food and desserts were superbly done by Florabel catering. Also served were amazing Spanish wines by Bares & Estrellas Wine and Food Services Corp.
A jazz quartet set the ambience during cocktails. After dinner, the DJ spun ‘70s and ‘80s favorites that made guests dance all night long till way past Cinderella’s curfew.
Bravo, Patrick Reyno! It was a fabulously organized triple birthday bash for Marlene, Bibot and moi!