MANILA, Philippines - (Thumbs up)A businessman gave a timely observation that First Daughter Luli Arroyo?s decision to make her wedding to former banker Luigi Bernas quiet and private did President Macapagal Arroyo?s image a world of good.

?It?s a good move (on Luli?s part) to make it so low-key and private. That actually won points for the mom,? the businessman told Inquirer Lifestyle over casual lunch.

There?s no pundits? poll to validate the businessman?s observation. But frankly we doubt if the independent-minded Luli could care less about polls or public opinion. Always fiercely guarding her private life, Luli managed to throw off her track, not only from media, but also her friends and relatives.

First, there was no fuss about a wedding gown or entourage. She wore vintage?the white terno of her maternal grandmother, the former First Lady Eva Macapagal. So there was no risk of leaks among fashion designers, simply because they themselves didn?t know. Inno Sotto thought it would be JC Buendia who could be doing the gown, and vice versa. It was only days after the Tagaytay wedding that a senior fashion designer (not Inno?s generation) admitted that the wife of one of the sponsors indeed went to him to have her gown made for a Tagaytay occasion. The couple chose only people close to them, among them Nene Quimson as principal sponsor, the society doyenne and cousin of the First Gentleman.

Second, Luli and Luigi have always managed to keep their relationship under the radar. When they went to socials, they never called attention to themselves.

And Luli has always been a low-key person, a First Daughter who never resigned herself to living in a glass bowl.

Not feeling the pinch?yet

Is the restaurant business an indicator of the economy?

(Thumbs up)?Yes and no,? says Helmut Gaisberger, Mandarin Oriental?s general manager.

In fact, the fine dining restaurant, The Tivoli, even fared better than expected when it had two Michelin-star guest chefs in the past few months. ?If you make things interesting, business will come, regardless of the crisis,? he says.

Paseo Uno, the coffee shop which started the mega buffet trend, still enjoys good business. Slumps at Martini, the bar, and Tin Hau, the Chinese restaurant, are attributed to factors other than the economy. At Martini, a change of the band act brought business back, while Tin Hau will have a facelift next year.

He admits that there was a slowdown in banquet and events business as companies cut back on spending. Nonetheless, the performance of the food and beverage department has been healthy. Gaisberger cites the classic formula of quality food, impeccable service, ambience and value for money to keep the business going.

Glenda Barretto of Via Mare hasn?t felt the crunch because the market finds security in its meals. ?We serve comfort food and the prices are reasonable.?

When Louie Ysmael of Nuvo compares notes with other restaurateurs, he says they are not exactly happy. ?The economy has no effect on the niche market. Some restaurants are earning. Some are break-even, others are in the red. Some have branches which do well, while other branches don?t.?

He says the prices of ingredients, the weakening peso, plus the competition have affected business. ?People are still going out but spending less.?

Gaisberger observes that in the past 25 years, many restaurants have cropped up, diluting the business, only to fold up. He says people go to a restaurant because of the novelty only to find out there?s no reason for them to return. The key to a restaurant?s longevity even in tough times is sound management.

Colin Mackay of People?s Palace, Sala and Sala Bistro says business outlook remains positive. ?People want to experience pleasure from eating. And, Manila is still an affordable place for dining compared with other cities in the world.?

(Thumbs down)Uh-oh

A sign of the times. At a state dinner at Malacañang Palace, the ?creamer? for the after-dinner coffee was only evaporated milk.

(Thumbs up)Strutting your pet

Walking the dogs is becoming a trend. Bonifacio High Street is touted by pet owners as the premier place for pets. Second is Tiendesitas where the Philippine Canine Society sells pets. Still unknown to many, the non-aircon strip of Mall of Asia along the Imax theater is the new and shady place to strut your pet.