RAJO Laurel has barely hung the clothes from his recent gala collection when, last week, he took centerstage again. He previewed his ready-to-wear Holiday 2008 Collection for the House of Laurel to a most select audience at the Makati Shangri-La’s Rizal Ballroom.
“Rajo Laurel: A Christmas Story” was a Globe Platinum event, one of its pre-holiday special treats for its loyal clients. Globe Platinum was also the presenter of Laurel’s gala, “Rajo Red,” in September.
Presenting what looked like a coda to Saint Laurent tributes this year, Laurel’s collection showed tailored pieces reminiscent of some of the late master’s marked imprints on fashion: masculine-feminine clothes in the form of tuxedo shirts and pantsuits.
He also had gossamer blouses paired with ultra-skinny skirts of horizontally banded strips of fabric with zippered slits. Lace, the material of the moment, also made an appearance in several pieces.
Laurel’s holiday palette is a mix of dark and light punctuated with Bordeaux-red pieces. To underscore the season of merrymaking, he also used some shimmery material for men’s suiting.
Guests were serenaded with Christmas carols by the University of Santo Tomas Chorale, and a performance of standards by Richard Poon.
Exclusive club
Globe Platinum is the telecom giant’s exclusive club for its top-tier clients. Apart from the usual privileges—discounts and freebies at dining, leisure, auto, well-being and shopping establishments; first dibs on new mobiles and gadgets; 24-hour personalized service via so-called “relationship managers”—Globe Platinum began in July a series of highly exclusive events for its members when it invited former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to speak at a leadership forum at the Makati Shangri-La.
About 1,000 Globe Platinum Elite subscribers—those with monthly subscription plans of P15,000—are CEOs, entrepreneurs and corporate bigwigs. Another bracket is the Globe Platinum Premier, with members who spend P5,000 or P10,000 on their monthly subscription. Globe Platinum was established in 2002.
“Before [2002] nobody was recognizing the relationship [between] utilities [providers and customers],” notes Manny A. Aligada, Globe Telecom’s head for Customer Engagement. “[Telecom] was just an ordinary utility. Loyal customers weren’t being given preferential treatment.”
Many Platinum members, he says, have been faithful to Globe since the 1990s.
Personalized service
Among them is a young couple, who have both been Platinum subscribers since 1999. The couple, who requested anonymity, say they enjoy the personalized service the most. Each member is assigned a relationship manager, whose sole responsibility is to attend to the client’s needs with regard to his/her subscription.
“When there’s something wrong with my phone or the line, I call my relationship manager and immediately a technician comes to me to fix the problem, or transfer my phonebook from one phone to another. And that’s all within the day,” says the wife.
Her husband adds, “We enjoy the events, and we get first dibs on the lovely phones.”
Among the standard perks of a Platinum subscription is a 24-hour help desk, access to the Globe Platinum Lounge, priority service at Globe’s Hub and business centers, free pickup-delivery of handset for repairs, free use of emergency or roaming handsets and spare SIM.
Last month, Platinum members also got another exclusive treat from Globe: tickets to the Formula One race in Singapore where SingTel, an owner of Globe Telecom, was a major sponsor.
Valued customers
At the Laurel show last week, Globe Telecom CEO Gerry Ablaza announced the club’s partnership with Asia Miles, which instantly rewards Platinum members with 40,000 Asia Miles upon subscription renewal—equivalent to two round-trip tickets to Hong Kong on coach class via Cathay Pacific, or one round-trip ticket on business class.
On Globe Platinum’s relationship with Laurel, Aligada says: “He’s a valued [Platinum] customer first, and we recognize that. He embodies the typical Platinum customer—successful but down to earth.”
Aligada adds the Laurel fashion show isn’t likely to be their last event for its members before the holidays. More are in the offing.
“They love these events because it’s close to their lifestyle,” he says of the members. “It’s also for networking. They’re very busy people, so when they ask us who else is going, they show up. It’s a chance for them to touch base with friends and associates. And it’s a good excuse to dress up.”
Cheche V. Moral
Copyright 2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
To
subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines,
call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.
Factual errors? Contact the
Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk.
Believe this article violates journalistic ethics?
Contact the
Inquirer's Reader's Advocate.
Or write The Readers' Advocate:
c/o
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Chino RocesAvenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets,
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-10240141080188.jpg", 410, 565))
Zoom
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-10240141230517.jpg", 640, 480))
Zoom
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-10240141400873.jpg", 410, 565))
Zoom
