MANILA, Philippines - A picture is worth a thousand words, so a thousand pictures must be a lifetime of memories. But not for me. I take about a thousand pictures a month as I go from event to event.

My point-and-shoot camera is a constant accessory, right alongside my faux bracelets and rings. Over the years, I have gone through many digital cameras, some lost, some stolen, some obsoleted by megapixel inflation.

So I?m quite excited by my latest top-of-the-line camera, a 12-megapixel Canon Digital Ixus 960 IS. Its fast shutter speed and brighter flash will allow me to take brighter and clearer pictures. This is particularly important when I?m at say, the Bench Black Out Denim and Underwear Show.

Navel-gazing

The Bench biennial is the much-awaited, most star-studded fashion event, which always stretches the fabric of art in its flesh displays. My little Ixus was more than comfortable in my front-row seat, a great vantage point for navel-gazing.

My would-be cousin, Francine Prieto, ramped with the Spanish flair of a flamenco dancer while dramatic actress Alessandra de Rossi looked sexy as always in a classic black bikini. And did dashing Dingdong Dantes deliver more decibels than ravishing Richard Gutierrez? You?ll have to search YouTube for the answers.

I was looking for Piolo Pascual, who is endorsing a new Piolo clothing line and Pure Passion cologne for Bench, but found out he was not part of the show. In a one-on-one interview, Piolo revealed that Bench Black Out was not in his contract. Darn principles!

Successful retail giant Ben Chan, who has a keen eye for the brightest talents, has full support for Piolo. With Piolo?s sculpted body and Adonis face, it?s not hard to see why. Piolo would have been the perfect model at the Samsung-sponsored Inquirer Lifestyle Fitness. Fashion Show.

Exciting concept

Thelma San Juan, progressive editor of the Inquirer?s Lifestyle team, concocted the exciting concept combining the country?s top designers and the sports wear brands to create a line of funky and sporty designs.

The only skin showing was the back of Sen. Pia Cayetano, sporting the latest Speedo swimsuit and styled by James Reyes. I was happy to sashay down the ramp clad in Fila and playfully styled by Lulu Tan-Gan.

As in any event, there were loads of raffle prizes, and I was happy to entertain the crowd with gifts from Swatch, HSBC and Samsung, the most fashionable phone nowadays. The best winner was columnist Maurice Arcache, who won one of the Swatch watches with a naughty display of his hairy chest.

Abs are a mystery. I take Bikram yoga lessons daily at Tristan Choa?s studio and run countless kilometers with my coach Ani de Leon, but I can?t get the pan de sal that Metro Active editor Jeena Lopez has. Despite her three kids, Jeena has an awesome physique, proudly displayed as she skateboarded down the ramp in Aigle and Oxbow, styled by super designer Rajo Laurel.

Rajo and Jeena are also part of my fundraising efforts for the Philippine National Red Cross Makati Branch. After our very successful Poker for a Royal Cause Tournament yesterday at the newly expanded Metro Card Club at Metro Walk, we are now on full preparations for the next project: Visions For Red.

Charitable donors

In celebration of the Camera Club of the Philippines? 80th anniversary, the club members and I came up with the concept of featuring the next-generation charitable couples. All very low-key, these charitable donors agreed to be featured in the one-day Visions For Red exhibit.

The Camera Club today lists over a hundred members who attend monthly gatherings at the Hotel Intercontinental. The members come from diverse backgrounds, but all are in for the passion of photography. If you?re an aspiring photographer, visit www.cameraclub.ph.

After weeks of planning and photographing the Red Cross ladies, I have bonded with the Camera Clubbers. I?m so impressed with those who have given their time and talent for this worthy cause.

Visions For Red will be held at Robinsons Land?s newest project showroom, the Trion Towers Showroom at Bonifacio Global City, on August 14 at
6 p.m. Under the helm of its president, Frederick Go, Robinsons Land continues to innovate and stay one step ahead in their residential condominium projects at bustling Bonifacio Global City.

Trion Towers will be the first, three-tower, residential complex in the Fort boasting an ingenious tri-axial design. All three 49-storey towers were designed with a premium on privacy, quality daylight, natural ventilation and multiple views of the city. See www.robinsonsproperties.com.ph for more information.

The Visions for Red exhibit will be catered by Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and overflowing champagne will be provided by Möet & Chandon. Belvedere Vodka will also be served to the generous guests.

Festive trip

Mandarin?s Martinis recently celebrated its first anniversary with a festive trip back in time to the Prohibition era. The ?Speakeasy? theme transformed Martinis into a hip nightspot of the gangster era. I forgot the password to get in, but the guy at the door let me in, anyway. It pays to come dressed in character!

Martinis manager and mixologist Jim Michael dela Fuente made sure all the guests had free-flowing drinks and cocktails from Future Trade International. Mandarin Oriental?s GM, Helmut Gaisberger, looked like the Boss of the Mob as he posed next to the beautifully restored vintage cars.

My next photo-taking event will be the Earth, Wind and Fire Concert on August 22, 8 p.m. at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. Concerts are always tests of a camera?s abilities, but I have great faith my Canon Ixus will deliver sharp photos as I dance to the original songs of band members Al McKay and Mike Harris. MTV Philippines notes that tickets are available through Ticketnet.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but to space-conscious editors, this article can?t be more than that. So let me end with a plug from my sister, Sandy, who notes that Assumption High School Batch 1984 will have a fundraising event, ?Still Swinging? at Strumm?s on Sept. 15, featuring the music of 8 Track. For inquires, e-mail Tina Antonio Roxas at tinaroxasdmd@yahoo.com.

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.