ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Post a comment       RELATED STORIES   Natori lifts luxury to art KC, sexy, cool Snowman GALLERY 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next   Zoom    THE CUP is attended by the late Enrique’s wife, children and grandchildren: Dee, Bianca, Jake, Paola and Natalia Zobel, with their mom Maricris Zobel; president Isabel Caro Wilson; Prince Bahar Jefri of Brunei with friend; (seated) David Stirling; Santiago Laborde; Alejo Taranco; Iñigo Zobel; Tonio Veloso, and Ramiro Guiñazo Zoom    AMBASSADOR Mario Schuff with former president Juan Carlos del Rosario Zoom    MPC DIRECTOR Violeta Gallego Zoom    MELISSA Fung, Tod’s Asia Pacific marketing manager, and Aileen Arevalo, Tod’s Philippines brand manager Zoom    ELVIRA Yulo, China Aurelio and Esther Ramonez of Bantay Bata 163 Foundation Zoom    CRISTINA Belton and British Ambassador Peter Beckingham Action Start By Ruel S. De Vera Associate Editor MY father is many things—engineer, businessman, intellectual—but he is also something rare: a connoisseur of bad action movies. Th ...More 10 reasons to watch the UAAP opening weekend Hope in uncertainty Wear your school spirit–but in style Let Hero tackle the swine flu panic I am no Michael Jackson fan PWU’s Renaissance woman marks milestone French delights Inner beauty Cervical cancer: ladies’ malady Cures for post-acne mark, dry feet, cellulite More Stories » Showbiz and Style Why a bachelor like me chose to adopt Elevating the ‘toyomansi’ barbecue Instant noodles are not balanced meals Oils that help remove body toxins Deep-fried foods lower body energy Documenting heritage Wife nags husband about past infidelity Running the marathon for a healthy lifestyle Doña Maria is perfect for ‘bagoong’ rice Be practical–but keep the style Showbiz and Style Interesting stories about Michael Jackson Family comes first for Marvin Agustin King of Pop may be viewed in glass casket I am no Michael Jackson fan Fans urged to stay away from Jackson memorial Both a blessing and a curse 10 reasons to watch the UAAP opening weekend Being fit boosts Bea's confidence Diet collapses, now out of danger ‘Sad' Madonna plans Jackson tribute ‘Katrina, Aljur deserve a break’ Sandra Bullock pulls off big surprise   Showbiz and Style Most Read RSS Jayceekay Stationers & Engravers Look for: Caroline L. Paspe Tel. No.: 817.6384 or 817.6786 Instant Rewards! Buy Donaldson filters. Redeem your dream holidays, electronic gadgets etc...  OTHER COLUMNS Lotus Pond - Bismark : Inner beauty / S. Bismark Street Smart : PWU’s Renaissance woman marks milestone / Mandy Navasero Medical Files : Let Hero tackle the swine flu panic / Rafael Castillo, MD Discovery : Hope in uncertainty / Massie Santos Ballon Without Batting An Eyelash : Designers inspired by Bombay Sapphire / Maurice Arcache Makeover 911 : Cures for post-acne mark, dry feet, cellulite / Kinny Salas Kitchen Rescue : ‘Dinuguan’ and other food finds in Bulacan / Reggie Aspiras

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila Polo Club (MPC) was supposed to officially open its 2008 Polo Season last Jan. 6 at the Enrique Zobel Field. But the opening had to be postponed because of the wet field from the rains.

So the following Sunday, the Past Presidents’ Cup, as expected, drew tons of the elite set to the Polo. Over 200 members, guests and foreign dignitaries from various embassies and international organizations witnessed the chic game, dahlings. Eleven of the club’s hotshot former presidents were tres in visable in the game of games.

The formal opening ceremony followed the low goal match. MPC’s first woman president, former Ambassador to Spain Isabel Caro Wilson, together with former presidents, declared the opening of the new season.

The highlight of that lazy Sunday afternoon, dahlings was the high goal match between the Blues and Oranges. Blues were Anthony Filamor, Jake Zobel and his dad, Iñigo Zobel, and Hiro Suzuki. And Oranges were Cole Aguirre, Gus Aguirre and Argentinian import players Tomas Diez Hidalgo and Augustine Foncueza, who were incredible, dahlings.

Some players fell off their horses, but this did not stop them from defense and offense. Final score was in favor of the Orange Team. Daniel Devrient, seasoned Argentinian polo player, was the umpire and ensured a fair match.

As always, dahlings, cocktails served on the polo field with chilled-out sounds, while the chi-chi polo club members chatted away.

The following Sunday was the grand Enrique Zobel Memorial Cup. This remains one of the most distinct cups of the season, with its stylish presentation and an impressive number of our town’s A-listers in full attendance, dahlings.

Après the first match, the opening ceremonies were held. It was an awesome sight—the parade of horses and sleek Porsche with adorable Dee Zobel on board. Ambassador Wilson later declared the games open. Assisted by Amando del Rosario and Edward Chan of PGA Cars, she did the ceremonial throw-in, dahlings.

The second match pitted the Gray Team (Brunei prince Bahar Jefri, Jake Zobel, David Stirling and Ramiro Guiñazo) against the Red Team (Iñigo Zobel, Tonio Veloso, Santiago Laborde, Alejo Taranco).

It was a super close fight of highly skillful and seasoned polo players. After five chukkers, the Gray Team won, palanggas.

The affair ended with special cocktails courtesy of PGA Cars Inc., Wine Depot and San Miguel Corp., naturellement, palanggas.

FCCP grand ball

“Some enchanted evening,” as the song goes. And a truly enchanted evening it was for the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) members and patrons when they arrived in their chic-est outfits, outdazzling each other, dahlings, during the annual FCCP fund-raising ball at the ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel Makati.

Après the flowing champagne and wine, there was enough time to say “hello” to everyone or, almost everyone, before the excellent buffet tables were opened to the chi-chi invitees.

Popular emcee Johnny Litton started the ball rolling by introducing the all-male chorale made up of husbands, sons, and friends of FCCP members, who had taken the time to attend the weekly three-hour rehearsals held at the beautiful and spacious penthouse of mega-interior designer/businessman Gerry Contreras.

Singing all-time favorites were Frank Adriano, Manny Almelor, Howard Belton, Contreras, Ding Cristobal, Noel Gonzales, Nandy de Jesus, Mars Lambino, Jimmy Laya, Jorge Nery, Jacob Policarpio, Mario Somera, Joey Soriano, Sonny Tambunting, and Boysie Villavicencio, dahlings.

Après the yummy dinner, Gloria Gatmaitan and her band performed, which had the invitees hitting the dance floor, palanggas.

The smashingly successful event was organized by the hardworking ball committee headed by Helen Ong and Karen Macasaet, Mabel Abaño and Contreras.

The souvenir program was by Chacha Camacho.

“It was, no doubt, an enchanted evening. The FCCP was able to raise an awesome sum to continue giving subsidies to CCP, Namcya, Predis, National Museum, National High School for the Arts, Ballet Philippines and Ballet Manila,” Ong said. “We were also able to raise funds to continue supporting scholars in the visual and performing arts.”

Luxury leather

Italian leather goods brand Tod’s recently opened its boutique at Greenbelt 4. For the opening, it teamed up with Metro Society magazine. Beneficiary was Bantay Bata 163, palanggas.

It was one of those elbow-to-elbow affairs, with excellent cocktails and live musical entertainment by jazz and samba artist Moise.

Seen enjoying the festivities were Peninsula Manila general manager David Batchelor, with his lovely wife Malu, the ever fashionable Emily Lopez, ever-regal Gina de Venecia, stylish Josephine del Gallego, Leah Puyat, Pinky Tobiano, Joy Zapanta-del Rosario, James and Rica de Jesus, Anton Barretto, and Bantay Bata’s Gina Lopez.

The grand highlight of the charity event was the silent auction of two exquisitely crafted exotic-skin bags, the Marlene Pochette Micro Evening Bag and T Bag Bauletto Mini.

Moi never did find out who were behind the winning bids, but one thing I know is that the generous winners did not only win the luxury leather bags, but they also helped the children of Bantay Bata 163, dahlings.

Tod’s shoes, bags and accessories are exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. Tod’s is at Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati.

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