ITS October issue?s French theme provided the perfect motif for Philippine Tatler?s recent annual ball, which brought together the cream of Cosmo Manille?s alta sociedad, dahlings.

Gorgeous sweeping ballgowns and elegant tuxedos filled the upper lobby, where bubbly champagne and wine were served. Some 480 guests walked the red carpet lined with blue hydrangeas and giant topiaries. The grand ballroom was draped in sheer white fabric as the Tatler?s giant initial was flashed on the photo wall.

Naturellement, there had to be a touch of Provence: bunches of red and pink roses, green carnations, pink liliums, blue hydrangeas and lemon grass wrapped in banana leaves with their ends tied in raffia, were the centerpiece on the tables; guests could take them home as souvenirs. The centerpieces were excellently done by Rustan?s, under the fantastic supervision of Nene Vargas Tantoco.

Credit Tatler?s big-hearted publisher and managing director Irene Martel-Francisco for creating the magical ambiance of the evening. The credit should also go to tireless editor-in-chief Anton San Diego.

In her signature quiet way, Martel-Francisco mingled with the A-list guests, thanking them for their full support of the magazine, which is now on its seventh year.

Several guests who just didn?t know the meaning of the word ?etiquette? did the big no-no of changing the place cards on the tables. Oh well.

And then there were those who were not invited this year and were horrified: ?Why was I not invited? I can?t believe it.?

Other boo-boos: not RSVP-ing then showing up, or worse, bringing a couple of hanger-ons who were not on the guest list.

But the best comment that evening was made when the absolutely gracious American Ambassador Kristie Kenney walked in in her head-turning red gown. One young-at-heart mega-rich socialite said loudly, ?Wow, I?d trade in my husband any time to have a figure like hers.?

And believe me when those stunningly dressed Lizzie Eder Zobel, Fely Atienza and Hindy Weber Tantoco entered the ballroom, the women and men opened a path for them, like the sea parting. Wow.

Sharing the limelight that evening were the ball?s major partners: HSBC?s Mark Watkinson; Nokia?s William Hamilton Whyte; Mercedes-Benz?s Felix Ang; and Lucerne?s Ivan and Emerson Yao.

In her address, Martel-Francisco also thanked the Rustan?s group, which, ?for all these past years, had generously sponsored a good number of the luxury gifts that the Tatler awardees receive during the most important portion of the ball, the Tatler Awards.?

Auction

The Tatler Ball is one of the most successful fund-raisers. Every year it chooses a beneficiary, and this year, it has picked Synergeia Foundation.

At the end of the evening, the ball raised enough funds to help 1,500 elementary school children get enhanced education for six years.

Getting the ball rolling for the fund-raising were restaurateur-hoteliers Al Tengco and Choy Cojuangco, as well as Ayala?s el simpatico Fernando Zobel. Other generous souls followed.

The funds were raised through an auction hosted by the irrepressible Johnny Litton. As Tatler?s social and lifestyle editor, I assisted him.

Auctioned off were a super-sleek Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte phone; a 1997 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle magnum; a trio of 1996 vintage wines from Angelo Gaja; two Thai Airways business-class tickets to any European destination; and a Chopard Happy Sport diamond watch with rubies and pink sapphires especially crafted for Tatler.

The highlight of the ball was the traditional Tatler Awards that went to the following: Bea Valdez, Most Stylish Lady; Illac Diaz, Most Eligible Bachelor; Pitoy Moreno, Most Creative Force; Ambassador Isabel Caro Wilson, Most Distinguished Lady; Rustan?s Nedy R. Tantoco, Most Charitable Force; and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and Lovely Tecson, Most Eminent Couple.

The most surprised honoree was Tessa Prieto-Valdes, who was named the Bon Vivant of the Year (the same award I received last year, palanggas). Tessa screamed and jumped around, so that her huge wig almost fell.

The entertainment hewed closely to the French theme as brilliant singers Menchu Lauchengco, Robert Seña, Karla Gutierrez and Jon Joven performed excerpts from ?Les Misérables.? They were accompanied by Inday Echevarria and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus.

During the dancing, the ladies? gowns swerved, while their bling-blings rattled, as everyone rocked to the sound and the beat of the Spirit of ?67 band.

First to hit the dance floor were the Hong Kong-based officers of the Asia Tatler group, such as CEO Barrie Goodridge, regional operations general manager Doris Mui, and management accountant Sebastien Luminiere. They were all there to celebrate Philippine Tatler?s smashing seventh year.