Were you at the Romero Cup 2012?

It was an afternoon of royalty and elegance, befitting a toast to polo, the sport of kings.

The thunder of horses’ hooves on polo turf may be the one sound that strikes instant recall of the age of knights and kings. The east polo field was the stomping and romping ground of the exquisite thoroughbred horses and the who’s who in society as Mikee Romero, CEO of Harbour Center, led his Team Red to victory with his three impressive goals. 

Mikee and his lovely wife Sheila Romero, CEO of Oracle Hotel and Residences, graciously attended to their over 500 guests and well-wishers last March 11 for the first-ever Harbour Center-Air Asia Polo Cup, which I fondly call the Romero Cup. The polo game was witnessed by the audience sipping champagne and savoring hors d’oeuvres, cream puffs and chocolate éclairs.

Guests seated on the bleachers and cushioned chairs at the Enrique Zobel Field of the Polo Club witnessed an adrenaline-packed game between Team Red and Team Blue. Team Red was composed of Mikee Romero, Inigo Zobel, Anthony Garcia and Manot Montilla. Team Blue, on the other hand, was composed of Gus Aguirre, Cole Aguirre, Tonio Veloso and Santi Elizalde. 

Truly a sweet afternoon, the audience watched the glamorous polo play ensue as rookie Mikee Romero of the Team Red clipped Team Blue 9-7, to bag the much-coveted high goal championship in the inaugural Harbour Center-Air Asia Polo Cup at the Manila Polo Club. Anthony Garcia and Inigo Zobel provided their leadership par excellence as Mikee supplied the firepower, scoring three goals in a solid stint that surely impressed the crowd. Mikee confessed his team had conscientiously practiced over the past two weeks and knowing his lovely wife Sheila had over 500 revelers among the audience, he just had to do his best.

I have attended several polo games in this venue but it’s only now that I can say there has never been a stellar gathering of spectators and guests of this magnitude. Mikee passionately says it is time this sport be shared with more enthusiasts. We certainly agree as I overheard from the guests on the east field that glorious and grand events like this certainly keep this King of Sports lifestyle alive and reverberatingly so.

AirAsia Philippines stewardesses in their chic red suits helped welcome guests at the reception. It is worthy to note that with AirAsia’s fleet of brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus A320s among many other exciting developments, traveling locally and regionally is most affordable and convenient.

The on-the-spot buffet set-up transformed the field into a party scene with additional white cushioned lounge chairs. Oracle Hotel and Residences provided the cocktails of overflowing champagne and delicious satay and hors d’oeuvres while a hearty dinner of roasted calf, turkey, duck, Angus beef, Mexican specialties and more satisfied the delighted guests.

After the game, a glamorous fashion show featuring Folded & Hung luxe resort wear was appreciated by the audience.

Manila Polo Club president Roman Azanza Jr., AirAsia president Maan Hontinveros, Folded & Hung president Ronald Pineda joined the affable Romero couple at the awarding ceremonies. Trophies and the Cup were awarded to the winning team.

The Romero Cup at the Manila Polo Club gathered once more the likes of the Zobels, Zubiris, Romualdezes, Aranetas, Olympian Frank Elizalde, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and winsome wife Shalani, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Lifestyle Asia’s Cheryl Tiu, Mega Publishing president Sari Yap, GMA-7 lawyer Anette Abrogar, and Weber Shandwick’s lawyer Mike Toledo, among others.

Indeed, the polo game continues to attract only the distinct few, as it did way back when kings ruled the world and bore upon it on horseback.