By: Maurice Arcache, Philippine Daily Inquirer
The 2013 Fila Polo Cup at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park was more colorful than ever because of its unique theme, “Brazilian Carnival!”
By 6 p.m. there was more glitz than ever before, dahlings. Superbly hosted by handsome Fila endorser Fabio Ide, the affair had endless entertainment by Guarana, Escola de Samba de Manila Dancers, Maracuja Dancers and “Talentadong Pinoy” hall-of-famer Astroboy.
Leading the Fila officialdom present were president and CEO of Fila Philippines, Cris Albert, and husband, chair Butch Albert, who was marking his birthday on the polo field that day, palanggas.
Astroboy had everyone amazed with his fiery display of fierceness. No wonder he is Manille’s premiere hoop artist and “Talentadong Pinoy” Grand Champion.
“Why a Brazilian carnival”? moi asked Cris A. “Merely because when it comes to emotion, color, atmosphere, and sheer over-the-top joyous celebration, there’s nothing that beats the Brazilian method and rhythm. This is a perfect welcome for Fila’s bigger direction in 2013, which has stayed true to boldness, color and design,” said the chic Cris, as she sipped her chilled flute of Dom Perrignom, dahlings.
The Rio de Janeiro-style Mardi Gras performing at the polo field sent the men and the young-at-heart rushing up front to get a 3D view of the women dancers. Wow!
The carnival was capped by kaleidoscopic fireworks.
All in all, some 800 guests enjoyed the night. That’s Fila for you, dahlings.
(More info on Fila? Log on to www.fila.ph.)
Mandarin festivity
Somehow I enjoy Chinese New Year’s Eve more than the traditional New Year’s Eve. And this year was no exception when the elegant Mandarin Oriental Manila held the grandest lunar new year bash outside of Binondo with the 17th edition of its lunar fest welcoming the “Year of the Water Snake.”
It began with cocktails led by major sponsors BMW, Hennessy, China UnionPay, Enchanted Kingdom, Universal Harvester Inc., Dragonair, Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou and Makati City at the chic MO Lounge.
Guests of honor were Makati Mayor JunJun Binay, with his daughter Alexi, Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing, Netherlands Ambassador Ton Boon von Ochssée, with his wife Martine; Singaporean Ambassador VP Hirubalan, with his wife Mano; and Indian Ambassador Amit Dasgupta.
Miss World 2012 Wen Xia Yu of China joined the celebration, palanggas.
Colorful ceremonies followed outside the hotel, at the corner of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, where Master Joseph Chau performed the Paai-Shan ceremony.
Sharing the honors of dotting the five lions “waiting to be awakened” were dashing hotel manager Oliver Kreuzer, Jardine Matheson Group of Companies in the Philippines country chair Nonoy Colayco, Mayor Binay, Metropolitan Museum of Manila president Tina Colayco, philanthropist Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, Jocelyn Kreuzer, Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas, Jullie Yap Daza, Asian Carmakers BMW president Maricar Parco, Moët Hennessy Asia-Pacific manager Randy Uson, and of Universal Harvester, Inc. EVP Mila How.
Enchanted Kingdom fireworks lighted up the sky at midnight, as guests witnessed the awesome video projection of a colorful snake slithering down the column of the hotel’s exterior, would you believe?
Executive Chinese chef Hann Furn Chen and executive chef Rene Ottik cooked up prosperity dishes, such as Steamed Live Garoupa with Superior Homemade Soy Sauce; Braised Chicken with Dried Oyster, Black Moss and Golden Garlic in Oyster sauce; and Tin Hau’s signature tikoy.
Après gorging all that after midnight, it was time to party some more and burn out all that calories, dahlings.
Yes, palanggas, Mandarin’s traditional Chinese New Year was totally hard to match, dahlings.
Philippe Starck building
Century Properties has scored another real-estate coup with its newest project, Acqua Iguazu Yoo, inspired by world-class namedroppable Philippe Starck no less, dahlings.
The fifth building within the Acqua Private Residences, a 2.4-ha property on Coronado Street, Mandaluyong, was recently inaugurated.
The hotshot invitees enjoyed the eye-catching Acqua Iguazu showroom.
Breezing around, moi noticed Iguazu has a breathtaking multilevel amenity deck called the Cielo, and common areas that have the unmistakable imprint of Yoo, the design firm founded by top design mind Philippe Starck, natch.
British real-estate magnate John Hitchcox said in his welcome speech: “Because these spaces will be home to a lot of people, we have made our creations unique and very special. You have the privilege to see them now at the Iguazu showroom.”
“I am so very proud to present the first Yoo-inspired, Starck-designed building in your beautiful country and I am so delighted to be a part of this very exciting project,” said a smiling Philippe Starck in a video message.
Century’s hard-working COO Marco Antonio said, “Acqua is the perfect place to showcase Yoo-inspired by Starck’s sensibilities: edgy and fantastical yet functional and environmentally conscious.”
“Yoo inspired by Starck’s design for Acqua Iguazu will forever change our standards for residential living,” said Robbie Antonio, Century’s head of international collaborations.
Because of their exclusivity and design, the units were grabbed and reserved on the spot faster than one could bat an eyelash. Iguazu buyers were rewarded when they brought home Philippe Starck branded gifts as souvenirs. (Visit www.acqua-iguazu.com.)
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