Our Queen for a Day

The popular and dedicated Commissioner Myrna Yao of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, dahlings, who is also the president of the National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP) and the Filipino-Chinese Federation of Business and Professional Women of the Philippines, celebrated another dazzling year of her hectic life a full moon ago at the chi-chi Essenza Condominium in Fort Bonifacio.

Myrna’s tons of invitees included heavyweights from the government, business world and NGOs; foreign dignitaries; and close pals and famille.

The gracious birthday celebrator was showered with gifts and blessed with love and prayers from a merry mix of top women leaders.

Perfect hostess Myrna circulated endlessly and made sure her invitees had a great time. They surely did, palanggas.

She also had long conversations with government hotshots and some of the foreign dignitaries about the role of women today. After all, she isn’t the secretary general of the ASEAN Confederation of Women Organizations (ACWO) and chair for Asia of The International Alliance of Women (TIAW) for nothing, dahlings.

Cheers, palanggas, to our vibrant and well-respected Queen for a Day, Myrna Yao!

Yummy beef bowl

Where in Makati can you enjoy delicious, healthy and filling yet affordable alternative to the usual fast-food fare, dahlings?

Head to the newly-opened Yoshinoya outlet at Ayala Center’s Park Square 1 and get a taste of the best beef bowls in town. Yoshinoya is the oldest and most popular gyudon (beef bowl) resto chain in Japan. Would you believe, palanggas, that the recently-opened Park Square branch is Yoshinoya’s 1,073rd store worldwide?

Located at the heart of Makati’s business and commercial center, Yoshinoya Park Square 1 drew Makati’s working pack who eagerly sampled the restaurant’s well-known tasty meals. Visitors at the grand opening were pleasantly surprised to find popular actress, our palangga, Joyce Jimenez at the counter, assisting the Yoshinoya crew in getting the orders of patrons.

Naturellement, some of Cosmo Manille’s low-profile social and economic pillars partook of Yoshinoya’s specialty, the gyudon. This is a bowlful of steaming rice with a generous topping of thinly-sliced beef marinated in an excellent blend of herbs and spices. The famous beef bowl uses a century-old secret recipe, unchanged since Yoshinoya first opened in Tokyo’s Nihombashi First Market in 1899.

Top executives from Yoshinoya Century Pacific, palanggas, including its popular and good-looking president Ricardo Po Jr., as well as representatives from Yoshinoya’s business partners, Mitsui and Co., Ltd. attended the grand luncheon opening.

The ribbon-snipping ceremony was led by Richard Po; Mitsui and Co., Ltd. country manager Shoichi Kameyama; and naturellement, sultry beauty Joyce Jimenez. Representatives from Ayala Land, Inc.; advertising giant BBDO; the advertising industry; and chosen members from the press witnessed the unveiling of new Yoshinoya.

World-class architect Conrad Onglao, no less, conceptualized the Park Square branch’s hip new look.

Raffy Lantin, Yoshinoya’s marketing director, explained, "We combine traditional Japanese meals with American fast-food efficiently in a tres friendly atmosphere perfect for the fast-paced Makati life."

Aside from the beef bowl, dahlings, Yoshinoya also offers chicken and pork bowls, generous servings of steamed rice topped with grilled boneless teriyaki chicken or marinated pork with lots of vegetables on the side. For those with hearty appetites, Yoshinoya has the beef and chicken combo bowl with generous portions of beef, chicken and vegetables with rice. These filling rice bowls, cooked-to-order to guarantee freshness all the time are available for as low as P59 (regular size bowl). Truly great value for money!

Yoshinoya also offers tasty side dishes like kimchi and miso soup, dahlings, and great coffee jelly and fruit salad for dessert. To quench one’s thirst, Yoshinoya has the specially-formulated iced green tea.

Just like Yoshinoya patrons around the world, palanggas, Filipinos will definitely love the best-tasting, high-quality offerings of this popular resto. Combined with excellent service and true value for money, Yoshinoya sure knows the way to the Pinoy’s heart, as well as our stomachs, palanggas.

Czech National Day

Despite the heavy late-afternoon rain a new moon ago, dahlings, the Czech National Day was celebrated successfully at the ambassador’s residence in chic-ky Forbes Park.

The well-loved and respected Czech Ambassador Stanislav Slavicky shared the ceremonial bubbly toast with his then counterpart, Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Lauro Baja Jr. and the dean of diplomatic corps and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco.

Ambassador Slavicky’s sons, both pianists in their own right, thrilled the chi-chi pack with their tres professional piano performance. The eldest, Adam, entertained us with the song Humoresque by Antonio Dvorack. Marek followed with his own interpretation of the Filipino song, Souvenir de Philippine by Francisco Santiago.

Members of Cosmo Manille’s diplomatic corps who have only recently been designated to the country, palanggas, couldn’t say enough of the fun affair. Among them were Belgian Ambassador Christian Tanghe and Russian Ambassador Anatoli Nebogatov.

The Czech National Day was attended by representatives of the Filipino-Italian Association led by the popular Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr.; Rustan’s Marketing Corp. president Zenaida Tantoco; and Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti and his vivacious wife, Clara C.

It was not only a day of diplomatic cooperation but also an ecumenical gathering of sorts with ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin; Israeli Ambassador Irit Ben-Abba; Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco; and Buddhist wife, Binh Slavicka.

Also present were Sayaw Foundation’s new Honorary Consul of Belize, socialite Helen Ong and Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s mega GM, Helmut Gaisberger and tall and attractive Evangeline Pascual, who gave an unexpected rendition of Pangako Sa ‘Yo accompanied by a Filipino quartet led by Louis Tampoc.

To the delight of the invitees, the elegant Mandarin Oriental Manila’s banquet staff catered the event.

Days before the 84th Czech National Day, dahlings, the Embassy of the Czech Republic featured the Oscar award-winning Jan Sverack’s films, Dark Blue World and Kolya.

Guests who came to the opening night of the screening of Dark Blue World, which was about the battle for freedom of Czech exile pilots in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) in World War II, included guests of honor, British Ambassador Paul Diamond and his wife Carolyn D.; Foreign Affairs’ European Affairs Assistant Secretary Jaime Yambao; and the delegation of the Department of National Defense,

The next day, the award-winning Kolya, the 1996 Oscar Best Foreign Film, had the audience laughing and crying.

That sure was one happy celebration, dahlings!

Sailing off to Gilligan’s Island

"Amoy, Mateys!" was the welcome greeting of the crew of the recently- blessed luxury ship-inspired restaurant called Gilligan’s Island, along Glorietta II’s restaurant row of Ayala Center.

Brothers two Guilly and Filbert Alquiros and their partners had long wanted to open the trendy Glorietta II branch of their now tres famous Gilligan’s Island (they recently decided to close down the first one in Katipunan Ave. for the perfect location in this Makati spot). They have another successful resto at the Festival Mall, Alabang.

The young shakers and achievers, behind the resto, dahlings, started from catering for famille and close pals. See how far they have now gone.

The whole Alquiros famille and gang celebrated the opening with both the brothers’ wives, Monette (née Aquino) and Jong, both very preggy. Proud parents Willie Aquino and his wife Teresing Sainz-A. excitedly watched the goings-on with their other sons Jerry and Andy. Sociable and still gorgeous aunt, Rowena Aquino came with her gang which included her son Beajay Jose; so supportive sister-in-law Bying Aquino; Michael Aquino; Leia Aquino; Leny Aquino-Penson and attractive daughters.

Moi also zoomed in on Jaime Legarda; gorgeous Southern lady Pilar Pilapil; lovey-dovey newlyweds, Lito and Emma Anzures; Bing and Charo Villegas; Boy Fores and the love of his life Pinky; talented photographer Mindy Abad Santos Gana; and US-based businessman, Ed Jeswani. Other supportive friends and regulars of "GI" as the resto is fondly called, were also on hand, such as Tony and Anna Torres; Dr. Antonio Oposa; pretty dermatologist, Candy Noche; loyal friend Vale Santiago; and high school buddies Tonoko Manahan, George Lontoc, Norman Salonga, Andrew Chua and Terence Chong.

Check Gilligan’s out, palanggas. Feast on some of the specialties of the house like pork and chicken sisig; clams with garlic; binagoongan lechon kawali; sizzling seafood; grilled beef ribs; tenderloin salpicao; and sinigang na salmon belly.

Need moi say more, palanggas? Mmm, yummy!

Remember, palanggas, speed kills. So do stay sober and drive carefully.

See you.