It was a blast, the Metro Society White Party at the Discovery Shores in Boracay. Everyone was in white except for editor-in-chief, Raul Manzano who was in white and blue. But Raul looked in fighting form, having lost unwanted flabs and is still bent on losing 20 pounds more. From a distance, the party must have looked close what heaven maybe is — white figures (like white fairies and angels) fluttering around joyfully in a sybaritic feast of heavenly food and cocktails — delicious laughter pervaded in the air; God must have been pleased — He showered the party with abundant rain so that everyone moved to the covered areas of the opulent Discovery Shores. Conversations became more spirited, smiles bigger, embraces tighter, bodies closer, hellos warmer, as the night was becoming more wickedly enchanting.
“Go, you like being in the middle of action. I like watching from afar,” Monchet Olives, head, ABS-CBN CCPMG fondly told me. Monchet is a formidable presence and is always generous, charming, playful and kind.
Melo Esguerra, Bettina Aspillaga, and myself took the shuttle (a fab Ford Fiera) of La Carmela de Boracay that delivered us to the Discovery Shores. Melo was in white, Bettina was in white shirt and black pants, (“This is how far I will go white,” she said), I was in white shorts and shirt but I threatened Philip Cu-Unjieng, head, creative services APL, earlier during the day that I planned to go to the party in a flowing white gown. But I changed my mind, I planned to use my white gown when I kayak in front of True Home next time I visit Boracay. Philip is truly a wonderful friend and host. He made sure we were comfortable — that we were with people who were fun and fab. Philip with all his wit and sexy body will go to heaven.
Congratulations to ABS-CBN Publishing big boss Ernie Lopez. Bravo Metro Society!
In the Metro Society party, there was Cricket Tantoco. She is so smart and pretty that, if she decides to do a morning talk show, she’d give Diane Sawyer a run for her money. She’s hilarious. There was stunning Fely Atienza, one of my favorite girls. She has that kind of presence that makes you feel good about the world. I also saw Pinky Tobiano who sparkled in one corner, the very talented Jigz Mayuga of L’Oreal, the good-looking Patrick Tan of Seair, beautiful couple Juan and Bianca Elizalde, the queen of ABS-CBN 9501 Myrna Seguismundo, and many beautiful others whose names and faces were so familiar I see them often in society pages. But then I was starting to behave like a long lost relative. I had to run away, to hide in the darkness of the night by the shores of Boracay were the mermaids waiting for me.
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The night before the Metro Society party, we (Bong Quintana, Bobby Garcia, Melo Esguerra, Bettina, Philip Rojas, Joy Gutierrez and Boy So of La Carmela de Boracay) had ourselves invited to the Nautilus/Penshoppe Fashion show in front of Regency Hotel. Boy made a few calls and found Claire of Mindworks whom he gently coerced to reserve us a table at the venue so that we would appear to have been invited. Thank you Claire and to the ushers and usherettes who were all kind to us shameless gate crashers. I was so hungry, I finished everything in my plate and the nearby plates.
And then the show began. First the Nautilus — PJ Arañador part. There were some technical problems but who cared, what with the drop-dead delectable bodies of the models, I wouldn’t even have complained if we were in total darkness. Gaby de la Merced and Rizza Santos were smashing. Will Devaughn was splendid, he looked like a gorgeous Zuma minus the snakes. Will walked the runway so smoothly that he looked like he owned the shores of Boracay. What a will!
Then the Penshoppe part started. It was better. I noticed the clothes and not just the good-looking models. Matt Evans, Melissa Ricks came out. They were sweet. Nikki Gil looked pretty and Heart Evangelista tried to sashay. All of them endorse Penshoppe. The show was short and sweet.
Makeup of the Penshoppe models was by Lala Flores, the beautiful one. What a pleasant surprise it was to see Lala in Boracay. She’s one of the best. And she’s one person you want to be with anywhere, anytime. We had a good time with Lala, we even posed like supermodels for photographers. The models shimmered in Lala’s make-up. But Lala Flores outshone all of them because she’s pretty inside and out.
We glided back to La Carmela de Boracay, sashayed into deep slumber — smiling, pouting like fashion models.