MANILA, Philippines - The bridal fair ?Weddings? at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu went on its second year and scored a bigger success than last year?s event. For two full days, brides-to-be and their fiancés as well as the general public came to see what Cebu?s top wedding planners had to offer. Add to these exhibitors pastry shops, florists, photographers and more.

Big Foot?s Itzamatch handled speed dating and matchmaking games, while the Cebu City Civil Registrar?s office conducted seminars on marriage licensing and family planning.

Maggie Cabrera of Joyful Weddings gave a talk on wedding planning. Barbi Chan of Maybelline New York shared makeup tips for brides and for anyone who cared to listen. Swarovsky?s Bernice Quiambao gave the Fashion Council of Cebu a sack of crystals, to embellish bridal finery at the culminating fashion parade.

But that?s going ahead of the story. First, there was a grand morning opening ceremony that had the city?s glamorous First Lady, Margot Osmeña, cutting the ribbon with hotel general manager Hans Hauri, Fashion Council of Cebu president Philip Rodriguez and Metrobank?s Jovi Abad. She is assistant VP and head of Metrobank for the Visayas and Mindanao, with Metrobank?s Femme Visa card being the event?s main sponsor.

Free admission

It was free admission to the culminating fashion show held at the lobby of the hotel, which was filled with white-draped chairs, a profusion of flowers and a ramp generously sprinkled with Swarovsky crystals.

Upfront sat Hans and Bo Hauri with their twin sons Austin and Morgan, Margot Osmeña with Teresin Mendezona and Rosebud Sala, Bernice Quambao with Anna Hoetzeneder of Swarovsky Singapore and the eight designers of the Fashion Council of Cebu: Philip Rodriguez, Albert Arriba, Arcy Gayatin, Jun Escario, Felix Yu, Ditas Rodriguez, Oj Hofer and Cary Santiago.

Vince Escario, with his usual panache, annotated the fashion show, which featured the loveliest of the Models Association of Cebu. Indeed, those gowns sparkled with Swarovski crystals in varied colors.

An after-the-show reception was held at the Lobby Lounge, and it was the perfect occasion to congratulate everyone responsible for the success of it all: director of sales and marketing Lynn Romero, events coordinator Carlo Borromeo, Rheena Garcia (a gem of a PR girl), HRD head Julie Najar, assistant reservations manager Jude Pangan, and Marwin Velicaria, who as banquet/catering manager put a fabulous spread on the buffet.

Enchanted evening

Soon after, there was another enchanted evening at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Hotel with a preview of Blu. That?s the new al fresco grill and bar on the penthouse floor (24th story) where the evening breezes are cool at 1,000 feet above sea level.

Johnny Litton was the evening?s program host, bouncy and witty as ever. He pointed out that Blu has a theater kitchen, which means you can see how your food is cooked through a large pane of glass.

In attendance were Metrobank Group chairman George S.K. Ty, and the mayor of Nanjing (China) Jiang Hongkun, here on a private visit. They exchanged pleasantries with Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña.

Others in attendance were Marco Polo Plaza Hotel?s VP for sales and marketing Simon Pearson and his wife Ruth, the hotel?s chairman Alfred Ty, president Rey Villar, and GM Hans Hauri, who said Blu will be open to the public some time in June.