ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Comment on this article on our Vox Populi blog     RELATED STORIES   Polish Catholic center offers 'get well' therapy for gays Seaside living and loving it The House of Rockeoke GALLERY 1 2 3 4 Next   Zoom    WE ARE the champions: Wansee dragons of Germany Zoom    CAMARINES Sur (CamSur) Dragonboat Team, winner of the 300-meter race, with Gov. Luis Villafuerte Zoom    MEGA businessman Murray Hertz with the grand wine master of the elegant dinner, Tita Trillo of the popular Titania Wine Cellar, with Annabel Yong and Yong Cheng Zoom    GANG OF 3: Mario Katigbak, Bvlgari’s hotshot main man and country manager; Tony Maughan, MCC brilliant president; and Anton Corro, MasterCard VP for operations Channeling Noah By Pennie Azarcon dela Cruz, Executive Editor Sunday Inquirer Magazine IF you welcome the rains, you’re either a farmer in a parched field, a student reprieved from cl ...More South Africa’s most awarded wine now here How to cook the best sweet and sour pork Cinnamon apple fritters Cyrille Soenen to open his own bistro Food for thought for the health-conscious Don’t contaminate yourself with toxic emotions Is strong attraction for another due to past life? Philip Stein project benefits the Red Cross Lessons from the ‘bahay na bato’ Baubles, bangles and beads More Stories » Showbiz and Style Cinnamon apple fritters When prices go up, go downtown Manila How to cook the best sweet and sour pork Debut, concert with all-star cast Woody has lunch while directing love scenes Combatting Battle Fatigue Moving on after a heartbreak Crucible of Philippine history ‘Beyond Conspiracy’: Someone got away with murder Zoo finds new frontman Showbiz and Style Debut, concert with all-star cast When prices go up, go downtown Manila Not the best of Dolphy and Vic Tonyboy’s formula for a perfect match And now, the real work begins Bicolana on Broadway Woody has lunch while directing love scenes How to cook the best sweet and sour pork Hot mamas on teenage angst A win worth P5.7M ‘Olympic’ battle continues for Cesar, Sunshine ‘Beyond Conspiracy’: Someone got away with murder   Showbiz and Style Most Read RSS Hottest Tags Lifestyle & Leisure WHAT'S THIS?                 More >>  OTHER COLUMNS Without Batting An Eyelash : Despedida for Cristina / Maurice Arcache Makeover 911 : Get that Dita Von Teese skin and look / Kinny Salas Knockout! : Why you should try going nude (lipstick) / Ria Francisco-Prieto Country Cooking : Cyrille Soenen to open his own bistro / Mickey Fenix Kitchen Rescue : How to cook the best sweet and sour pork / Reggie Aspiras The Consumer : Food for thought for the health-conscious / Marietta Velasco Giron Inside Out : Don’t contaminate yourself with toxic emotions / Cory Quirino

MANILA, Philippines—Popular absolute brand Fila had Boracay on the roll with over a thousand participants from the Philippines and around the world competing in the hottest water sports tournament of the year, the 2008 Fila Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival, dahlings.

No less than the brand owner gorgeous, young president of Fila, Cris Albert, led the event with 47 teams from as far as Australia, Germany, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. They battled it out in the men’s, women’s and mixed 300- and 500-meter races.

Already on its second super successful year, the dragon boat festival was the largest to date and the biggest sporting event held on the island-resort.

The opening ceremony and welcome cocktails officially started the party rolling with a live band plus other breathtaking entertainment, palanggas.

The participants in the 300-meter men’s, women’s and mixed open races heated up the island while spectators were enthralled by the head-to-head action. The hard-driving CamSur team almost swept the championships, topping the men’s and mixed events. Hong Kong’s Stormy Dragons won the women’s race.

The action never stopped, palanggas. The next day it was the 500-meters men’s open, women’s open and mixed races. Bagging the women’s championship was Boracay’s very own Bugsay Boracay team while the Wansee Dragons of Germany rowed their way to the top of the men’s race.

The Fila International Dragon Boat Festival was packed with hotshots. Fila, the mega title sponsor and official outfitter, superbly organized this awesome event together with the Boracay Island Paddlers Association and in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Philippine Dragon Boat Federation and the Municipality of Malay.

French Savior Faire

The Baron Philippe de Rothschild super tres elegant dinner and wine degustation at the up-scale Bellevue restaurant of the popular Diamond Hotel on Roxas Boulevard was one dinner the chosen invitees will never forget, dahlings. It was totally French par excellence! The hotel’s cyber smart general manager Kazutaka Igarashi together with its hotel president, brilliant woman of substance Cecille Ang and the talented executive chef Jean-Pierre Migne made sure everything was as perfect as can be.

The beautiful guests dressed in their elegant best, breezed in and circulated while engrossed with the overflowing superb cocktail finger food paired with the excellent Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from the Lanquedoc South of France. Naturellement these wines proved to be just the beginning of the great apéritifs making all the guests exuberant, palanggas.

Our sit-down dinner was graced with Amuse Gueule (appetizers) Herbed Wagyu Beef Carpaccio with Feta and Manchego Cheese, and Ciabatta Toast—excellent!

Followed by L’ Entrée, Tagliatelli tossed in Tarragon Cream with Duck Liver Dices and Pork Cracklings that truly captivated the palates of the invitees.

Next! La Soupe, Purple Yam Soup with Shallots, Chorizo Juliennes and Clams. The climax was the Granite of Mouton Cadet Blanc with Bayone Ham, spiced with Black Pepper and Basil. All downed with the excellent 2006 Mouton Cadet Blanc. “It is characterized with fresh yellow fruit, white blossom, citrus fruit and lemon.” Yes, dahlings, three pleasures indeed!

Le Plat (main course) was the incredibly yummy, Pan-Fried Veal Loin with Mushrooms Duxelle, cooked with a Medoc Sauce with Grapes, followed by Risotto and Truffles on a bed of buttered asparagus and paired with the excellent Mouton Cadet Reserve St. Emilion 2006, a wine with a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics of a great Bordeaux wine.

And finally, Le Desserts—Platter of Le Bellevue desserts seduced everybody’s mood with a great pairing of the to-die-for 2004 Reserve Mouton Cadet Sauternes, a super tres elegant wine.

We finished our dinner by captivating the “excellent art of blending” made by Baron Philippe De Rothschild, no less, who has been making round, smooth and fruity wines from the vine to the bottle—only for the pleasure of the senses… bien cuit!

Leave it to la simpatico Tita Trillo the fantastic wine master of the affair, to organize a truly French savior faire that was any gourmand’s or connoisseur’s dream come true.

Check out some of the best wines available at Titania Wine Cellar at 7435 Yakal St. San Antonio Village, Makati; call 8941371 to 74; or e-mail, titaniawinecellar@yahoo.com.

Bvlgari: Platinum choice

The elegant red carpet was rolled out once again for Metrobank Platinum MasterCard founding members, as they breezed in to the exclusive event of Bvlgari’s spring summer jewelry collection. Shopping at 0-percent interest on selected items and terms, they were able to get the first peek into Bvlgari’s chic Iconic B.Zero1 Spiral Motif jewelry collection, the Elisia collection, and the Parentesi Pink Gold collection. All these bling blings dazzled the guests and big spenders, palanggas.

Welcoming the tres chosen invitees were Metrobank Card Corporation hotshot president, Tony Maughan and Bvlgari’s country manager, the main man Mario Katigbak, dahlings. As we entered we were served endless rounds of superb hors d’ouvres on silver platters and the finest red and white wine. This even urged the guests to buy those gorgeous bling blings, which models in immaculate white long gowns wore, dahlings.

Aside from having access to hot premier events, Metrobank Platinum also allows you to enjoy a preferential finance charge of only 2.75-percent, a large credit limit, and allowing them to have all the finer things in life, among all the other benefits of this card.

More info? Call the 24-hour customer service hotline at 8700707.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

Digg this story

Blink List

Blink Bits

add to my del.icio.us

Reddit

Yahoo MyWeb

• Polish Catholic center offers 'get well' therapy for gays
• Seaside living and loving it
• The House of Rockeoke

• South Africa’s most awarded wine now here
• How to cook the best sweet and sour pork
• Cinnamon apple fritters
• Cyrille Soenen to open his own bistro
• Food for thought for the health-conscious
• Don’t contaminate yourself with toxic emotions
• Is strong attraction for another due to past life?
• Philip Stein project benefits the Red Cross
• Lessons from the ‘bahay na bato’
• Baubles, bangles and beads
• Her friend is in love with a married man
• Celebrating the friendship between Belgium and Philippines
• Pinay designer’s creations in In Style and Elle Décor
• Bishop Oliveros blesses San Roque chapel in Bulacan
• Of mice and moisturizers
• The formula for long life
• Cleansing
• Joys of home service
• Advance reviews on new makeup lines
• Best organic vinegar; best pure cow’s ice cream
• Showdown of chefs
• New hospital in Davao
• Drink wheat grass juice to boost your immune system
• Get fashionably fit and fab
• The Pacman goes back to school: ‘Happy ako!’
• Pesticides harm babies
• Influencing behavior through the art of feng shui
• The secret of a classic
• A ‘secret’ dish for the holidays

• Without Batting An Eyelash :  Despedida for Cristina / Maurice Arcache
• Makeover 911 :  Get that Dita Von Teese skin and look / Kinny Salas
• Knockout! :  Why you should try going nude (lipstick) / Ria Francisco-Prieto
• Country Cooking :  Cyrille Soenen to open his own bistro / Mickey Fenix
• Kitchen Rescue :  How to cook the best sweet and sour pork / Reggie Aspiras
• The Consumer :  Food for thought for the health-conscious / Marietta Velasco Giron
• Inside Out :  Don’t contaminate yourself with toxic emotions / Cory Quirino