(Thumbs down)WHILE the rest of Manila is in a tizzy over the “pepper-spray” incident, the two women involved, socialites Patricia Panlilio and Neny Montinola, have both clammed up, refusing any public comment.
In a brief phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Panlilio declined to elaborate on the much-talked-about incident at Embassy Bar or discuss the possible reasons for it. She said she now wants to focus on her loved ones and doesn’t want to dwell on what people say.
While there is talk that Montinola has consulted lawyers on a possible legal move, nothing has been heard from her side. And while text messages stream in—for or against the parties— various high-placed people, friends of both women, are said to be engaged in high-stakes mediation efforts to resolve the issue and try to contain the damage.
The latest high-profile dust-up to roil Manila, after all, involves not your usual attention-seeking starlets, but two high-society women for whom words like elegance, class and refinement are the more usual descriptions.
On Nov. 19, around 2:30 a.m., at Embassy Bar in Taguig, former model Panlilio, daughter of the late jeweler Fe Panlilio, reportedly used pepper spray against stockbroker Montinola. The latter was said to be leaving the club when Panlilio came up to her, gave her a hug—and then sprayed something directly in her face, twice.
Outside the club, Montinola got violently ill, screaming she couldn’t see or breathe. She was rushed to the Makati Medical Center by one of her companions, actress Angelu de Leon, who, while not having witnessed the actual incident, attested to Montinola’s distress. Maricar de Mesa, another actress who was with Montinola’s group, also corroborated the story.
Strong denials have come from Panlilio’s side—offered not by Panlilio herself, but by her companion and escort that evening, businessman Ricardo Po. Po has said he was behind Panlilio when she encountered Montinola inside Embassy, and that no such “pepper-spray” incident occurred.
Montinola herself may not be talking, but some of her friends are. One of them supplies a possible reason: jealousy.
“A year ago, Patricia called Neny on her cell phone in the middle of the night and screamed at her to stay away from Ricardo,” says the friend who wants to remain anonymous.
“That’s why when Patricia first embraced her inside Embassy, Neny felt weird. They have not spoken to each other for a year. Then Patricia sprayed her with pepper spray twice, all the while saying, ‘Oh my God, Oh my God,’ making it appear like it was an accident.”
The damage from the social fracas may extend not only to the two women, but also to Embassy, the exclusive, upscale club at the Fort that has hosted yet another very public brawl in its premises.
Last June, Embassy was closed by the Taguig Mayor’s office after a string of incidents involving altercations between patrons. Allegations of drug use and disruptive behavior have also been leveled at the club.
Whatever the outcome, and even as the two women hunker down with their friends and loved ones, one thing is sure: Manila’s tongues are on overdrive—and will be for months to come.
We can, too
(Thumbs up) The campaign of United States President-elect Barack Obama started small but with big ideas and worked, inexorably, to make them reality.
Inspired by Obama’s march to victory, Atalyer (the design studio of Design Initiative Philippines, Inc.) comes up with Bento Box 2009 aka Bento9.
A gift of encouragement, hope and change, Bento9 contains a stationery set, including three values cards Believe, Why Not? and Passion & Purpose; 19 full-color Filipino stickers; 12 full-color Filipino Flair notecards with envelopes; 12-full color Ermita coasters; 12 full-color Sticky Match Pad; four Chief notepads; calendar of 12 Reasons Why Life in the Philippines is Great; and notebook.
Call 8174850, 489-2912, 0918-9246504 or 0920-5100946; e-mail info@atalyerdesign.com.
Atalyer has sent Obama the Bento9 to let him know that the Filipinos can, too.
Noble mission
(Thumbs up) Sonia M. Roco, in the past, has been involved in theater activities after taking up a Drama course in England. She successfully mounted the nostalgic “Ginintuang Gunita ng 50 Taong Pag-awit Ng Mabuhay Singers” at the Philamlife auditorium.
Playing to full houses in two performances, the show relieved the beautiful music composed by the country’s leading maestros and emotionally rendered by the original group. Roco has thus started a noble mission, which is to encourage the young generation to appreciate beautiful and meaningful Filipino music and artists. More should come.
