Bedazzled!

During a full moon, dahlings, Manille’s creamiest of the cream including the pack of jewelry lovers, suppliers from Asia-Pacific, and avid watch connoisseurs tres visibly celebrated the formal opening of the super popular Rafael Jewellery’s newest glitzy showroom at the Makati Shangri-La’s mezzanine level.

Tall, handsome, dedicated persona Raffy Florencio, Rafael Jewellery’s mega general manager and owner, has been in the business for six years. His second showroom will attract more clients to his latest jewelry collections and his immensely in-demand TechnoMarine line, naturellement.

Rafael Jewellery’s trademark has been its chic style. Its pieces are a fusion of modern, classic and art noveau, marked by strong European and Italian influences.

"Realistic is back," said the ever-meticulous Raffy. His invitees from Cosmo Manille’s café society clearly saw what he had meant apres viewing the incredible attention to detail obvious in the display. Even photographs fail to capture the beauty of the fine pieces that include brooches and realistic renditions of endangered Philippine animals. The pieces’ moving parts feature diamond bouquets set in 18-k yellow and white gold with shifting branches. Unlike other Manille jewelers, Rafael Jewellery will come out with collections, jewelry families, every three to four months. It hopes to extend its jewelry designs worldwide in the coming years.

The blessing and ribbon-snipping, palanggas, was held close to the showroom’s stainless steel and glass exterior. The snipping was led by well-loved Sen. Manny Villar assisted by the gorgeous Vilma Valera and attractive Naty Papas. Fr. Gene Castañeda officiated the blessing.

Architect Dan Lichauco did a great job by making use of dark wood, stainless steel, glass and kamagong to complement the showroom’s fine jewelry and watches, giving the atmosphere a distinct elegant, quiet and comfortable fee. Hotshot dazzlers included Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez; Metrobank’s low-key Peggy Ty; hardworking heiress with style Marivic Madrigal Vasquez; Consul of Monaco, vivacious Fortune Ledesma; art enthusiast Rachy Cuna; and sultry beauty Jerika Ejercito who breezed in with Bebu Bulchand.

Owners Rene and Cora Florencio and their daughter, vivacious beauty Mia Florencio, who just happens to be the young miss behind Moissanite, and our palangga, Robert Castañeda circulated like forever with other invitees that included Washington’s Lincoln Yao; feminine beauty Josie Sy; the fantastic Astoria Plaza’s Olivia and Vay Ng; actresses Rachel Lobangco and Dina Bonnevie who came with Vicky Puno and Haydee Castillo. TechnoMarine’s new general manager Jerome Garcia and TechnoMarine brand manager Ciara Sevilla were in another part of the store entertaining invitees who breezed in. The batch included Bubut Andres; Goody Ilagan; Ms. Body Beautiful Cory Quirino; Riza Oreta; Inq7’s tres eligible bachelor Paolo Prieto; brilliant Metro editor Thelma San Juan; and Freida Darion; plus others like them too gorgeous and beautiful to mention.

Check them out, palanggas. You’ll definitely be dazzled by Rafael’s jewelry. After all, diamonds are still a girl’s best friends while having watches are among men’s best time.

An international hit!

Don’t you feel great and proud whenever you hear that one of our local boys has become an international hit? Well, moi couldn’t be happier for our very own palangga, Bacolod’s pride and joy Rafe Totengco, who has conquered the snobbish fashion world of New York, no less.

Naturellement, most of you must have seen Rafe’s tres, tres gorgeous and fabulously stylish bags which have appeared on the arms of chic Gwyneth Paltrow; Elizabeth Hurley; Drew Barrymore; and Jennifer Aniston, among many gorgeous others. And if you’re a fan of that hit HBO show, Sex and the City, you’ve seen the cast toting "Rafe, New York" both on and off screen.

Rafe, New York is available only at the cNew York like Bergdorf Goodman; Henri Bendel; Neiman Marcus; and Barney’s. They’re also available at Isetan and Misukoshi in Japan and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.

But put away those passports and airline tickets, palanggas. Rafe is now delightfully sariling atin, or aton gid na in Ilonggo, because Rafe, New York is available at fashion icon Tina Maristela-Ocampo’s tres popular Mix Boutique in Greenbelt Mall.

Needless to say, Cosmo-Manille’s fashionable hotshots were tres visible at the super special preview of Rafe’s Fall-Winter 2002 Collection. This was after a highly-successful forum at the Filipinas Heritage Library organized by that working heiress Doris Magsaysay-Ho and The Asian Society.

Among those who drooled over Rafe’s gorgeous bags were Filipino foreign-fashion leader Josie Natori, no less; the Zobel sisters three, Sofia, Patsy and Cristina; Tessa-Prieto Valdes; L’Oreal’s Leica Carpo; Cosmopolitan’s Myrza Sison; Asian Society’s Sonia Ner; Ines Delgado and Doris Ho; Knit Queen Lulu Tan Gan; Tatler’s Anton San Diego; our palangga, Marilen Concepcion; Philippine STAR’s twinkle-eyed Mons Tantoco; observant Presidential Daughter Luli Arroyo; and Sandy-Prieto Romualdez, who bought a Rafe, New York beige leather tote; Century Tuna’s workaholic Gabbie Po; Bea Valdez; magnum event organizer and top PR persona Keren Pascual; columnist and PR person Tim Yap; F hosts Angel Aquino and Daphne Osena; Rina Curtis; Agnes Desiderio; and best dressed Mandy Santos.

Delectable hors d’oeuvres, courtesy of the popular Kitchen, naturellement, were served. Anonymous poured red wine and everybody raised their glasses and toasted Rafe Totengco for making Filipinos proud. Believe moi, palanggas, that was one toast I was delighted to make.

Arriba, Abra!

That tres popular Abra Gov. Vicente Valera, no less, and his fashionable, vivaciously-attractive wife, Bangued Mayor Ma. Zita Claustro-Valera, led the ribbon- snipping ceremonies, dahlings, with the hotshot guests of honor, Tourism Undersecretary Evelyn Pantig and Century Park workaholic EVP Julio Tan. They were assisted by the Abra Cultural and Entertainment officer, dedicated Veda Bañez Alonzo at the grand inauguration of the Arya Abra Food Festival at the Century Park Hotel’s Atrium Lounge.

Abreños and Abranians from different parts of the globe joined in this once-a-year festival. Tres visible were namedroppables from various sectors of society, palanggas, who enjoyed the special yummies of Abra and the fashion show. They included eye-catcher Lorna Quisumbing; one-of-a-kind couturier Patis Tesoro; super popular Sen. Manny Villar; attractive former Sen. Nikki Coseteng; mega lensman Wyg Tysmans and his vibrant wife, Carol T.; glamorous Vilma Valera and her adorable sister, Susan Laudico; and San Fernando City Mayor Mary Jane Ortega who enjoyed basi, a unique concoction of natural honey freshly squeezed from hives and green mango juice. TV host Angel Aquino of F; Travel Time’s Susan Calo Medina; NBN 4’s Bessie Cruz; RPN 9’s George Salvo; plus others like them checked out the yummies of Abra.

An exhibit showed off Abra products like fruit trays; bamboo bags; cloth bags using ethnic Abra hand-woven cloth; dried fruits; and ready-to-wear clothing from cotton fabrics dipped in natural dye.

One of the evening’s highlights was the fashion show, palanggas. Designed by the 32 members of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines and modeled by 18 Body Shots models including singer, dancer and stage performer Ralion Alonzo, the collection featured various textiles and hand-woven materials.

The night was both educational and enjoyable, palanggas. The buffet dinner served at the Café in the Park was a feast with Abra dishes like pinakbet with bagnet; dinaldalen; singlaw, the healthy and rich violet mountain rice; the popular appetizer of ant’s eggs with whole red cultured ants; fried eel cut in quarters; frog’s legs and meat with mushrooms; plus, plus, topped with Abra’s popular desserts.

Governor and Mayor Valera assured their invitees that this festivity promoting Abra culture is the beginning of a truly wonderful year for Abreños and Abranians.

Fly Ace at the American Food Show

"America the Bountiful," dahlings, was the theme of the largest US food and beverage promotion ever held in the Philippines, The Great American Food Festival 2002, sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. According to US Agricultural Counselor Charles Alexander, the promotion gave Filipinos "an opportunity... not only see but to experience the high quality and diversity of American foods and beverages."

Fly Ace Corp. was a major participant in the two-day exhibition. Fly Ace imports seven American food brands exclusively to the Philippines: Jolly Maraschino Cherries from Oregon, Miller’s Honey, Franzia and Corbett Canyon Wines from California, Popeye Shoestring Potatoes from Arkansas, fisher Nuts from Illinois, and Old Orchard juices. Established in 1972, Fly Ace imports, markets, and distributes high quality food and personal care products to both trade and institutional customers.

One of the Philippines’ leading importers, it offers products from every major continent, including Africa.

Fly Ace’s product lines were showcased to an estimated 3,000 visitors from the import/export trade. The Great American Food Show was one of six activities held at Ayala Center while the festival was conducted. Along with trade visitors who attended the Food Show during its two-day run, dahlings, an estimated 50,000 members of the general public went to The American Food Bazaar each of the four days it was held.

What else can you ask for when you are wearing Rafael’s jewelry and carrying a Rafe Totengco’s bag?

Drive safely and have a happy weekend, palanggas. See you.