(Thumbs down)DON?T BITE THE hands that feed you, especially if you are purportedly a messenger of God.

This young church in the suburbs has recently been the subject of talk among privileged society.

The church, a born-again Christian group run by a business couple, is allegedly ripping off moneyed members of their hard-earned money. Located in a building leased by the couple, the church is said to have convinced some members of its flock to transfer or open businesses in their building.

A salon reportedly lost millions after the group persuaded the salon owner to move into the building?as ?part of God?s plan.? The salon also gave money gullibly to the group leaders.

The group heads then used the money to set up their own businesses. The salon owner is now in debt, millions of pesos.

Food industry taps fashion designers

(Thumbs up)It was a long wait, but the time has finally come. Fashion designers are being tapped not only by restaurants but also by fast-food chains to design their staff uniforms. The latest is Greenwich Pizza which signed up Randy Ortiz to design its staff uniforms. It didn?t stop there. Greenwich even held an in-store fashion show where its staff modeled Ortiz?s designs?with Ortiz doing a curtain call at the end of the show. It was morale-boosting not only for Ortiz but also for the staff that went through such a glamorous exercise.

Like Remedios Circle

(Thumbs up)As Remedios Circle in Manila becomes seedier, its concept of sidewalk cafés and specialty restaurants is gradually, perhaps unwittingly, shaping up at Bonifacio Global City?particularly on 29th street in the vicinity of Rizal Drive. Restaurants are fast sprouting at The Fort.

But 29th street is gaining not only restaurants, but also the type of restos with already popular identity and loyal clientele. Opening branches there are the good old Café Juanita (the favorite destination of foodies off Shaw Boulevard in Pasig), Cantinetta, Rastro, Melo?s and Jozu-kin, the fusion Japanese restaurant that?s become the specialty of VJ Villavicencio, the eldest of Vicvic Villavicencio of Kamayan-Saisaki-Dad?s fame, the restaurateur who smartly cooked up the no-leftover buffet. While his dad went for heft and grand resto ideas, the son is going for innovative and niche Japanese cuisine at reasonable prices.

What adds character to this resto row is the park facing it, amid the high-rise condos. This patch of greenery is called Burgos Park. Indeed it?s like Malate?but of the steel-and-glass 21st century.

Cosmetic surgeon branding

(Thumbs down)A catty and perhaps bored guest in a recent A-list event did some guessing game as he watched the bejeweled and face-lifted and botoxed matrons walk past his table. ?You don?t need to guess who wore whom anymore. Guessing their fashion designers is a bore. What?s more exciting is guessing who face-lifted or botoxed whom. Their lumpy faces all looked alike that you knew they went to the same clinics.? Talk about ?wearing? your cosmetic surgeon.