Neri: Celebrations

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

IT was definitely a glittering crystal affair... yes, I’m talking of the Crystal Ball celebrating the 15th year of Zee Lifestyle Magazine at the Radisson Blu Hotel. How time flies! It didn’t seem so long ago when Eva Gullas invited me to the launching of Zee.

The strictly formal party began with cocktails at the lobby lounge with saxophonist Vince Lahora providing music, followed by a seven-course dinner at the Santa Maria Ballroom where singer Tria Bascon did her repertoire of beautiful songs.

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Among the evening’s highlights were the awarding of Loalde founder Lou Aldeguer as Zee’s Style Icon for her dedication to the Cebu ready-to-wear industry; and the gala fashion show featuring the holiday collections of Philip Rodriguez, Cary Santiago, Arcy Gayatin, Jojo Romoff, OJ Hofer, Philipp Tampus, Jun Escario and Yvonne Quisumbing. There was also the auction of big-ticket items like the latest Samsung Galaxy tablets, Breitling and Omega watches, Hermes scarves, a Bergamo made-to-order suit, Metro Ayala diamond jewelry certificates and a Cathay Pacific business class ticket to the US.

The “big-do” was a fund-raiser as well because in tandem with the Fashion Council of Cebu (FCC), it was an effort “to help raise awareness and funding for FCC’s advocacies: "educating and training indigent women in the traditonal art of dressmaking, and updating the technology and instruction at the Cebu City College’s vocational wing to help save the future of fashion and couturiers in Cebu.” This we learned from Zee managing editor Katsy Borromeo.
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A thanksgiving dinner on the 1st Friday of January was Choi City’s way of showing appreciation to loyal guests and media friends. Choi City Seafood Restaurant at the Banilad Town Center (comparable to the best restaurants in Hong Kong) is the 1st branch of the Choi chain in southern Philippines. The people who brought the resto here are Frank Lao, Jay Tan, Sharon Go Ong and Norman Cordon.

The party began with a cocktail spread that featured specialties not commonly offered in other restaurants (my fave was the Taro Seafood Roll). The lauriat dinner that followed was a sumptuous affair underscoring the culinary talents of the four foreign chefs - Executive Chef Siu Bing Keung, Sous Chef Zhang Jun Rong, Dimsum Chef He Jiu Jie and Roasting Chef Li Shao Hui.

The celebration also saw the launching of Choi City’s Prestige Card which offers rebates to the card holders - 10 percent for the Gold and 5 percent for the Red. Program host was TV personality Blinky de Leon. Director Sharon Ong gave the welcome remarks while assistant manager Elmer Santos officially closed the event with words of gratitude to the guests who have supported Choi City since it first came to town.