FIFTY chefs whipped up the best entrées and the most sinful desserts for two days at The Rockwell Tent during the super-successful Pink Kitchen II organized by ICanServe Foundation, dahlings.

Diners packed the place. Loads of them brought take-home orders from different booths. Proceeds of the food festival went to the organization’s flagship project, “Ating Dibdibin,” the country’s first community-based breast cancer screening program under the auspices of the American Cancer Society, palanggas.

What made this yummy event different was Pink Kitchen II included talented budding chefs whose creations were instant hits with the diners.

It was a good serving of scrumptious food and choice wines for Pink Kitchen’s second event, a truly worthy undertaking, palanggas.

Co-presented by ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. and the Lifestyle Network, the event was supported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Super Ferry, San Miguel Corporation, Del Monte, The Rockwell Tent plus loads of radio stations.

Take a bow, ladies. You did one hell of a great job, palanggas.

PLDT-SME message

The loud buzz in Cebu during the hottest ticket that week was not Cebu’s famous lechon or beach resorts. It was the PLDT SME Nation’s message of “connectivity and profitability for business” during the 17th Cebu Business Month held at Cebu’s International Convention Center. The event was organized by Cebu’s Chamber of Commerce, palanggas.

Converge in Cebu brought tons of attention to the southern star capital “where business interests meet and interact for an exchange of ideas, information, goods, services and resources.”

“CBM and SME are united in promoting the development of SMEs (small- and medium-scale enterprises) through these events, enabling them to turn technology into profit, and in launching Cebu as a major investment haven in the country,” said Gabby Cui, SME Nation’s community consultancy head.

There were forums and conferences where some delegates fell asleep after a rough night out, oops!

But it was definitely the Philippine Retailers’ Association’s hot, good-looking president, Jay Aldeguer, the genius behind the successful Island Souvenirs Inc., who kept the women delegates at the edge of their seats, dahlings.

In a keynote address, SME Nation head Kat Luna-Abelarde explained, “All these solutions are part of PLDT’s modern technology’s commitment in enabling solutions to business communities nationwide.”

Then it was time to party and party hard these delegates did, dahlings.

One delegate told me about another delegate who had a fun time after the convention ended. He said, “I noticed you were having a great time at the party last night.” The other answered, “So much that I couldn’t remember who was giving it. I was sick for three days after that.” Yeah! This delegate was definitely on a roll, palanggas. After all, all work and no play ain’t healthy at all, n’est ces pas palanggas? (as in di bala)

Fun run for wellness

While I know of many people who party till the wee hours of the morning, there where health buffs who ran at Fort Bonifacio, when the incredible Robinsons Supermarket held its first Fit and Fun 5K Wellness Buddy Run as the culminating activity of the chain’s month-long Wellness and Nutrition Festival, explained Ilongga bella Roseann Coscolluela Villegas, Robinsons’ prime asset, palanggas.

Three hundred pairs were all ready by 6 a.m., when host Paolo Abrera called Regine Tolentino and the Fitness First trainers to lead the runners in warm-up exercises.

“Fit & Fun was unique since the runners registered in pairs, and we made this a buddy run. Wellness isn’t just about eating healthy, it is also having an active lifestyle,” says Robinsons Supermarket marketing manager Jenny Teves.

Which reminds me, dahlings, what one of the heavyweights in the business world told me after the race. When I jokingly told him, “I do hope you’re insured,” he answered me seriously, “You know what, I’ve got one, but having fun is like having a life insurance. The older you get, the more it will cost you.” Hey, palanggas, ain’t that the truth?

Anyway, the top prize was a trip for two to Cebu with a three-day, two-night stay at Mactan Shangri-La Hotel and a chi spa treatment thrown in for extras, palanggas. Second to 10th placers received P4,000 plus Nestlé gift packs. All finishers received grocery bags with tons of super goodies.

Several contingents came from Universal Robina Corp., led by Lance Gokongwei, no less; Procter and Gamble’s hotshot CEO Jim Lafferty, Nestlé Philippines, Unilever, Fonterra; Bayantrade, Mother Earth and Dizon Farms, plus other leading conglomerates, dahlings. Second placers were UST’s Irinio Raquin and Roger Denolo, followed by Ronald Salgado and Rey Santos. The Sportsmanship Award went to Oscar and Myrna Teves, while the top three pairs were Renyer Siosan and Junnie Barranta, Noel Sanchez and Miguel Mendoza, and Willy and Lynne Co, all from Robinsons Retails. Rah! rah! rah! palanggas.