MANILA, Philippines - The May issue of the Philippine edition of Town & Country features Cebu. That?s reason enough for a party so T&C threw a bash at the Shangri-La in Mactan.

Mary Anne Aboitiz Arculli is the cover story, and featured is the bucolic beach house of Jon and Chary Aboitiz in San Remigio. That?s in the northern tip of Cebu Island.

Coming to Cebu for the occasion were the magazine?s editor, Monique Villonco, editor at large Mia Borromeo, fashion/ beauty editor Rorie Carlos, associate publisher Tara Santos, and more who figures prominently in the editorial box.

The marquee looked cool and summery draped in white. Teresin Mendoza put calla lilies in profusion. Jaime Chua brought ceiling-high bamboo in pots; Pinky Chang lent her crystal chandeliers, while Herve Lampert and Maritess Gonzalez displayed their exquisite Dedon furniture all over. You could sit on them, too.

Summit Media was the party host with Citibank, well represented by Judy Go and Babette Peña; Shangri-La in Mactan, by its GM Raymound and Susan Bragg; and Landco?s Monterrazas de Cebu, by Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, Francis Ceballos, Shella Sarmiento and more.

Architect Augusto Villalon Jr. explained that the Monterrazas urbanization is on 200 hectares of his family?s estate, on top of Cebu?s mountains, with breathtaking views, and a climate that is cool all year round. Of course, it?s selling fast.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia attended the party, and so did Leontina Benedicto, Consul General of Turkey in Cebu and wife of Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Frank Benedicto, accompanied by Norma Uysiuseng. Cebu City?s First Lady Margot Osmeña came with Bea Villegas, her son Miguel?s pretty girlfriend.

Making a grand entrance was cover girl Mary Anne in a stunning gown. Someone asked if it was a Chanel to which she quickly replied, ?No, it?s made in Cebu, by Cary Santiago.?

Not far were her parents, Luis and Annie (nèe Osmeña) Aboitiz, and husband Derek Arculli with their pretty little daughter Jazmine.

Glimpsed: Edna Diago Lhuillier (her husband Philippe is Philippine Ambassador to Rome) with children Angie and Martin Miranda; Michel and Amparito Lhuillier, who said she doesn?t mind being called the Mother of Monique; and Marguerite Lhuillier striking a pose for us with Mariquita Yeung and architect Tessie Javier.

Others who came to the party were Timex?s Bob and Susan Oliver; Go Ching Hai and wife, Martina, who have just celebrated 55 years of blissful marriage, with their children Nellie and Antonio Chiu (Consul of Slovakia); Marissa Fernan and Elvira Lu Ym quite excited about the US launch of the book, ?Cebu Pride of Place,? with excellent photography by Billy Mondoñedo.

The launch schedule says May 13 in San Francisco, and May 16 in New York City under the aegis of true-blue Cebuano Hilario Davide Jr., former Chief Justice and now the Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Nations.

The book is published by the Arts Council, and since it?s practically sold out, Marissa is planning a reprint.

The next two years will be very active for the Arts Council of Cebu, which will mark its 50th anniversary in 2010.

It has been agreed that the organization needs an endowment fund if it has to survive 50 years, or even five.