MANILA, Philippines - La Chaine des Rotisseurs in Cebu scored another hit with its most recent fellowship bash. No formality this time, as it had a South Seas theme. Everyone came in Hawaiian prints. Ladies sported fragrant leis and wore orchids on their hair.

The setting was perfect, too: An island on the sea-water lagoon of Plantation Bay in Mactan. ?Aloha,? greeted the resort?s staff as guests arrived and were led to a little grass hut which in turn led to a causeway on the water.

Lovely ?wahines? swayed to the tune of graceful ?hula? music, while fire eaters wading in the water blew flames in the sultry air, and tinged the lagoon with color.

Palm fronds of the numerous coconut trees were filled with flowers strung into garlands, sometimes entangled by the soothing breezes. Amid this tropical splendor was Plantation Bay?s general manager Efren Belarmino, welcoming guests as they stepped into the islet?s white sand.

From afar, a couple came into view, and some foreign guests wondered aloud if it was Miss Hawaii and her escort. It was none other than La Chaine?s Baili de Cebu Amparito Llamas Lhuillier. Her escort, in tight blue jeans and blue floral prints was husband Michel Lhuillier, who heads La Chaine in the entire Philippines.

Cocktails and canapés were passed around as guests hurried to find good seats. There were tables and mats on the sand, all giving a good view of the show that would later ensue. Dr. Nestor Alonso, accompanied by his pretty wife Joji, was getting the rush. A member of La Chaine?s Cebu board, he was the evening?s event chairman.

Various food stations

Dinner was served in various stations. One entire buffet featured sautéed vegetables. Another buffet held seafood cooked in every imaginable way. The best was prawns in curry, well flavored but not hot. A carving station dispensed slabs of prime rib, with a choice of sauces?pepper or glaze. Heaps of desserts were in another area.

Boats festooned with exotic blooms and lit by torches loomed in the lagoon loaded with some of the most beautiful girls ever, dressed in shimmering grass skirts, crowned by flower tiaras, and undulating their arms to the tune of Hawaiian guitars.

They form part of the hotel staff who enrolled in a dance troupe for occasions like this one. Their repertoire of South Pacific dances was quite impressive. Some of the alluring ladies at the party commented that the male dancers held their own, too. ?Manly, you know what I mean,? said one of them, adjusting the mass of frangipani on her décolletage.

Citations

There was much applause, punctuated by shouts of ?Bravo! Bravo!? It was now time for citations and credits. Earning top honors was Plantation Bay?s executive chef Vinz Karlsen, surrounded by an extensive kitchen brigade. La Chaine board members Al Evangelio and Jake Sungahid joined Michel, Amparito and Nestor for the ceremony.

Pretty Grace Colmenares was called to come forth and receive a bottle of vintage wine. It was her special day and there was a lusty rendition of the birthday song. The party continued, and while many opted to be home before midnight, a good number stayed on until the break of dawn.

When?s the next La Chaine bash in Cebu and where? Chances are it will be at the soon to be opened Bistro Nouveau along Banilad Road. It?s a new restaurant that will offer Continental cuisine with accent on French recipes.

But before the year is over, or at the start of 2009 there will be one dazzling gala which Michel and Amparito will announce in due time. You can just guess where.