MANILA, Philippines?Every start of autumn, New York?s party train chug-chugs into Manhattan where every day promises one big bash after another, dahlings.

After jetting into the Big Apple with Qatar Airways, the action begun for us the following day.

Our host was top chef Lorrie Reynoso of the New York Restaurant School. We did fashion-watching by day and restaurant-hopping and clubbing by night.

Another host was vivacious Cristina Valdez, who has made a fashion statement with her year-round cowboy boots.

During lunch at the excellent Republic Restaurant right smack in Union Square, I asked her, ?Where did you get this super Rolex watch??

?Oh, it?s the latest accessory you must have,? she said. And she was so right.

The following day I read in several dailies and learned on television that the Hollywood pack and New York social set are going gaga over the fabulous James Bond Collection of Swatch!

Even during the Marc Jacobs show, I noticed three Hollywood celebrities wearing different versions of the James Bond Gold Finger collection.

Early the following day I made a dash to the huge Swatch Shop in Times Square and lo and behold, there was a wall for the entire James Bond Collection.

Naturellement, I grabbed the Rolex type from the Gold Finger series, with the 007 logo on one side of the links.

My other friend?s choice was the Thunderball series on matte block alumni bezel with transparent white crystals.

You must also check out the other watches?The Spy Who Loved Me, License to Kill, Quantum of Solace, Casino Royal and the fab Die Another Day.

Now the good news is the James Bond collection is now in Manila at the Swatch Shop at Glorietta 3 where it was totally sold out!

But a new batch is in today, so grab one before they run out of it again, palanggas. It?s truly a conversation piece.

Ball of ?have more?s?

Without a doubt, dahlings, the hottest ticket and most glamorous affair last Saturday was the glitzy seventh-year anniversary of one of Asia?s top lifestyle magazines, the Philippine Tatler, naturellement!

It brought out cosmopolitan Manille?s creamiest, and I mean the creamiest of the cream, from the social set who came in their most gorgeous gowns and formal black tux.

As two young women belonging to the new guard commented, ?This year?s Tatler ball have the women wearing the most beautiful gowns I?ve seen in a long time.?

And for their accessories, well, loads of bank volts were opened to show off family heirlooms and other exquisite jewelry.

Here?s my list of the 12 most stylish and standout ladies in their gowns, dahlings. In no specific order: Marivic Madrigal Vazquez, Celine Lopez, Fely Atienza, Margarita Delgado, Lizzie Eder Zobel, Amparito Lhuillier, Maricris Vazquez Prada, Apples Aberin Sadhwani, Jessica Wilson, Emily Lopez, Jeannie Goulbourn and Myla Crespo Villanueva.

Yes, dahlings, it was the night of the ?haves? and the ?have more?s? at the grand ballroom of Shangri-La Makati, for a night of partying?and all to raise funds for the Synergeia Foundation.

New wedding mag

For all you gals who get harassed when preparing for your big day amid tight budgets, have no fear, because the hottest new source for bridal advice has arrived, Wedding Belle magazine, which was recently launched through a lavish bash at the Blue Leaf Pavilion in Bonifacio Global City. Taguig.

The chi-chi happening was an aperitif of the magazine?s style: hip but classic! We were welcomed with wine and champagne courtesy of Rene Barbier.

An overflowing open bar was provided by Beer Exchange. Endless hors d?oeuvres and pasta were by H Cuisine.

Hot designers presented stylish, contemporary gowns in a fashion show, hosted by the gorgeous Bianca Araneta-Elizalde and Miguel Rocha, palanggas.

The big moment, naturellement, was the unveiling of the magazine by Team Belle, the brilliant young women behind the magazine.

Wedding Belle is the newest magazine of Bella Luce Publications, by hot publishers Marta Araneta and Pilar Tuason.

Wedding Belle seeks to provide ?the need for a stylish yet no-nonsense guide to marriage and married life for brides-to-be,? said Araneta.

?Wedding Belle is prepared to spare no effort or expense on her wedding, honeymoon and future life,? she added.

To which one witty gentleman present whispered to a friend, ?Yeah! A wedding usually means lots of showers for the bride and curtain time for the groom!?

I burst out laughing.

Check out Wedding Belle at www.weddingbelle.com.ph.

The magazine is a quarterly publication and retails for P295. The maiden issue has just hit the mag stands. Check it out, palanggas.

Pink Kitchen

Pink Kitchen is back at Rockwell Tent, palanggas, from Oct. 18-19. Fifty hot top chefs will be dishing out their favorite meals.

?The entrance fee of P200 for adults and P100 for children below 11 years old will go directly to Ating Dibdibin, the Philippines? first community-based breast cancer screening program under the auspices of the American Cancer Society,? explained Bettina Lopez Osmeña.

Order tickets online at pinkkitchen08@yahoo.com or at the gate on the day itself, palanggas.