MANILA, Philippines?Paing Hechanova and Mely Concepcion-Hechanova hosted a fantastic dinner for longtime friends?incoming ambassador to Spain, el simpatico Tonet Lagdameo and his wife, Linda Floirendo, and incoming ambassador to Mexico, Paqui Ortigas and his wife, Susie Bayot, at their grand mansion in North Forbes.

The Lagdameo-Floirendo and the Ortigas-Madrigal clans came in old-wealth force.

The trés elegant dinner bore the markings of a ?typical Mely? party, palanggas. Mely always insists on not just one caterer but several caterers; she picks the best dishes from them. That night the menu included paella from Alba?s, fresh corned beef from Via Mare and its signature lumpia in a pouch; baked spareribs and adobo hors d? oeuvres from Le Souffle; and lechon from Elar?s.

Also served were homemade Hechanova signature dishes such as the yummy pochero and the lengua estofada.

As usual, the dessert table was a sweets-a-holic?s delight and a calorific nightmare.

Rustan?s Flower Shop created the gorgeous chartreuse and orange floral arrangements, matching the night?s grand hostess Mely?s feather placemats of the same color.

During dinner, at another table close to where moi was sitting, a well-known couple was discussing their marriage. She: ?Don?t complain, I gave you the best years of my life.? He: (loudly) ?So, what do you want? A receipt?? And faster than you could bat an eyelash, his wife changed the topic. Oh wow!

In the end, while giving goodbye?s and thank you?s, moi couldn?t help but hear many of the chi-chi invitees telling the two new ambassadors and their wives, ?We will visit you for sure this year and next year.? Was that a look of fear I caught on the wife of one ambassador?

Manly spaces

It was definitely raining men inside, dahlings, when Furnitalia, the house of top-of-the-line Italian furniture, mounted ?The Men?s Room.?

Tons of men dashed to the posh glasshouse showroom of Furnitalia in Fort Bonifacio, for an evening especially prepared for them.

Furnitalia managing director Florence Ko welcomed the trés special guests such as Italian Ambassador Rubens Anna Fedele; Scholtes Kitchen Appliances area manager for Asia Pacific, Justin Cheong; businessman, Paing Hechanova; hotshot BPI president, Gigi Montinola; former trade secretary Cesar Purisima; and Golden Arches Development Corp. chair, George Yang, to name a few, dahlings.

The evening had a lot of pluses?from the chilled Moet et Chandon champagne to the gorgeous models in sexy Rajo Laurel and Randy Ortiz outfits, and a sizzling number from sultry performer, Geneva Cruz.

Furnitalia showcased its luxurious Italian furniture pieces and state-of-the-art kitchen and wardrobe systems.

But some of the businessmen, it appears, were more interested in the models than the furniture? Ooops! My lips are sealed.

Furnitalia gave away fab prizes, such as Poltrona Frau, Giorgetti and Fontana Arte art pieces.

But sorry, guys! No models were included in the giveaways.

Champs day

I?m not exactly a golf enthusiast, palanggas, but when moi was invited to watch the Tournament of Champions at the lush greens of upscale Orchard Golf and Country Club, how could I refuse, n?est pas?

So there was moi, with a record field of 196 amateur golfers in a tournament that was looking for the next Philippine representatives to the prestigious 3rd Jack Nicklaus International Invitational next month at the PGA National Golf Club?s Champions Course, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, no less, dahlings.

The golf meet is part of the global brand initiatives of Jack Nicklaus apparel, an internationally distributed label specializing in golf and leisure wear.

Each team vied for the chance to wear the country?s colors at the 3rd JNII and defend the championship title won last year by Filipinos Joel Ignacio and Omar Dungca.

It was a neck-and-neck battle between the team of Marty Ilagan and Bernadette Abiera and the team of Alan Cruz and Larry Patnongon. At the 18th hole, a tie was declared. But Ilagan and Abiera carved a birdie to finally win by 1 stroke with a net 13-under par 59. Wow! Such an exciting play would be hard to beat.

Apart from the all-expense four-day trip to Florida to compete in the 3rd JNII , Ilagan and Abiera each won hotel accommodations at El Nido resort, Motorola phones from Globe, and gift certificates. Second placers Cruz and Patnongon won vacation packages to Boracay courtesy of Seair and Microtel Suites, palanggas.

But as in any Jack Nicklaus event, everybody wins. The other players got fantastic special prizes. The tournament was presented by the Orchard Golf and Country Club, with Petron and Globe Platinum.