THE New York Opera Singers were the highlight of the absolutely fantastic “Beloved Encore!” at the Makati Shangri-La grand ballroom.

The soulful foreign group performed alongside world-class Filipino talents such as singer Martin Nievera and composer Louie Ocampo.

The event, dahlings, was a charity fundraiser, led by philanthropist Imelda Cojuangco, “I feel so blessed and I want to share these blessings to all the children, who are most in need of our love and guidance as they go through their illnesses,” said Cojuangco.

Sharing her mission was the co-chairperson of Beloved Encore!—PLDT’s dynamic chairperson Manny Pangilinan.

The concert’s beneficiaries were the Gift of Life Foundation, its liver transplant program and the Philippine Heart Center.

Beloved’s project management committee consisted of Marietta Santos, Josine Elizalde and Deeda Garcia Versoza.

Another super contributor to this très successful happening was Jill Kuok Friedman, who brought the colossal New York Opera talents rightfully dubbed as “Singers Beyond Borders,” for their undeniable gift of music.

The New York Opera Singers gave incredible performances of opera favorites. The group was composed of acclaimed talents, such as soprano Lea Woods Friedman, mezzo soprano Fenlon Lamb, baritone Ryan Taylor and tenor Victor Robertson, with top pianist Tyson Deaton.

Their exceptional renditions of classical arias blew our socks off and brought the house down, eliciting thunderous applause and “Bravos! Bravos! Bravos!” from the appreciative chi-chi audience, dahlings.

Nievera literally rocked the ballroom with his fabulous repertoire. For the finalé, he joined the New York Opera Singers in performing the Italian pop song, “Con Te Partiro.” Wow!

As always the one-of-a-kind floral arrangement by Margarita Fores added to the glamour of the event.

Beloved Encore! was truly a memorable and meaningful night, a concert that was entertaining while raising funds to improve children’s lives.

Hennessy toast

Leave it to Hennessy to bring us a night of opulence.

Hennessy welcomed the creamiest of the cream to toast its new cocktail mix made from raspberry puree and lemon juice, sprinkled with premium cherry brand and elevated to the next dimension with the addition of Hennessy VSOP.

The resulting drink was —Voila!—a crowd pleaser called “Hennessy London.”

Après that Moet Hennessy, Asia Pacific Philippines’ chief representative, smart Olga Azarcon, escorted us to the posh Old Manila of the Manila Peninsula.

Our host, the très charmant and handsome Arnaud Mirey, Hennessy brand ambassador, gave us a few snippets of the history of this well-loved and expensive cognac, dahlings.

“The Hennessy family and the Fillioux family has been in partnership in creating this number one cognac since 1765 until today.”

Then the grand feast begun, dahlings, with lobster bisque with shellfish salad (which I skipped, being allergic to it) delectably paired with Hennessy VSOP.

The main entrée, palanggas, was the to-die-for succulent slow-roasted milk-fed rib eye topped with truffle-scented emulsion, veal reduction. This was paired with the cognac blended with 100 eaux-de-vie and aged up to 30 years.

The luxury experience reached its peak with the delicious final entrée, baby pear glazed with Hennessy sabayon, white chocolate mousse topped with passion fruit and raspberry on apple jelly.

It was paired off with the astounding Hennessy creation blended with several hundred eaux-de-vie, some of which date back to more than a century, kept in the Founder’s Cellar.

It was a fantastic way to end the one-of-a-kind gastronomic dinner. And Monsieur Mirey said it all, “Hennessy, the more you know, the more you appreciate.” Amen, sir.

CWC bazaar

Can you believe it, palanggas? The prestigious Catholic Women’s Club (CWC) was founded in 1921!

Well, these women have never stopped caring and helping the less fortunate. Now, for its last fundraising activity, it is again organizing “Clothes for a Cause,” at the Glorietta, Ayala Center, Nov. 14-16, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The activity is in cooperation with Ayala Land Inc. through the generosity of Bea Zobel de Ayala, a member of the CWC.

Slightly used branded clothes, bags, belts and shoes, donated by celebrities, famous personalities and CWC members, will be sold at very low prices, palanggas.

Proceeds will go to the profoundly disturbed children of Elsie Gaches Village, one of Bea Z’s pet project, palanggas.

CWC president Chloe Romulo Periquet and the event co-chairs, Mimi Valerio and Terry Tambunting, lead a hardworking committee to ensure the success of this one-of-a-kind bazaar.

Check it out! See you there, palanggas.