Blissful Wedding

Cosmo Manille’s creamiest of the cream gathered at the grand opening of the ultra-luxurious Oriental Spa, considered as the city’s "newest haven of tranquility and relaxation". Located way up in the elegant Mandarin Oriental Hotel, dahlings, the Oriental Spa is sheer elegance and splendor, with auhtentic Thai artifacts from that world-class spa in Chiang Mai.

Popular Thai Amb. Lt. Ravee Hongsaprabhas, Makati Cong. Teddy Locsin and wife Louie, and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay led the unknotting of the Thai silk ribbon to officially open the spa. Assisting were Mandarin GM Helmut Gaisberger, still on Cloud 9 over the hotel’s being named among the Top 25 hotels in Asia by no less than the global Travel & Leisure magazine, the only hotel in the Philippines to make it, and Sportathlon’s MD Anthony Tottman.

Exotic Thai dances caught the attention of hot-shots present, like Tina Colayco, wife of Mandarin Manila chairman Nonoy Colayco, NBC’s Francis and Mary Ann Lumen, Siemens prez Hans Weckerlin, culture chronicler Bambi Harper, society doyenne Marietta Santos.

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365 days of preparations were worth it, dahlings. At the Santuario de San Antonio during a new moon, well-liked lawyer Henry Villarica and his eye-catching wife Linabelle Ruth Ramos-V. held their thanksgiving mass and renewal of vows without the usual sponsors; instead, their children Hailey Lynne, Henry Lester, Harvey Lawrence and Hans Lerwyn were the "sponsors". Fr. Jerry Orbos, svd who officiated the mass, asked the children to bless their parents’ union.

The eye-popping floral arrangements and decor in the church and reception at the Shang ballroom were done in the Zen concept by Jun-Jun Ablaza and Jonathan Hernandez. Linabelle was radiant in her silk gown with Swarovski crystal beading by Joe Salazar, no less. Henry was dashing in a tux by one of the best! Ascot Chang. Toasts were offered by Victor Lazatin, former classmate of the groom, and Margie Portugal, the bride’s bosom pal who jetted in from the US. The towering cake has 25 favors for couples happily married for 25 years. A commotion occurred when lucky ladies claimed the 25 pieces of jewelry, a diamond angel pin of sterling silver, being given away. The "honeymoon" will have to wait, since Henry and Linabelle are in the midst of expanding their pawnshop business. Their marriage and their successful working partnership has withstood the test of time and they, hopefully, will go for the gold!

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Remember, palanggas, "Jesus Christ always gives us what we ask–or something better." Smile. See you.