Category: Columns

This article is long overdue! Food blogging in Metro-Iloilo is not complete without the company of these wonderful friends who appreciate good food and fun company more than anything else!

Their critique set the pace for discriminating Ilonggos in patronizing a café, resto, bar or fastfood outlet.

May it be an opening, anniversary or menu/product launch, their presence is most appreciated. In short nothing happens in Metro-Iloilo without them!

So, yours truly dedicate this article to these foodies, gourmets, gourmands and gluttons!

Ted Ong and Raymart Escopel

Ray Tabafunda, Jorry Palada and Zedrick Señeres

Rosmar and Kathy Villalon

Amid food appreciation, and sips and spills of fine wine, their laughter and jokes resonates and reverberates across the room. Talks ranges from wild to sublime, colourful to tame, and historical to hysterical! Most of the time, their antics are freeze framed on FB, IG, twitter and snapchats.

In between openings and launches, one can see them hanging around, where else, in cafés, restos, bars and fast food outlets here, there and everywhere. Their bubbly and bouncing personas are hard to miss!

Yours truly look forward to more work and twerk with these wonderful people who always see the bright side of life!

Cosmo-Manille’s most fashionable and sociable personas came to see and be seen at Glorietta 5 in Makati City for the unveiling of the Portrait Exhibit of Philippines Best Dressed Women of 2016!

Now on its 13^th year, it is a charity event by Philippine Cancer Society and spearheaded by Event Chair, Angola Honorary Consul HELEN ONG.

Tedrick Yau with 2016 Best Dressed awardee Dr. Cecilia Ramos Bernad and daughter May Bernad

2016 Best Dressed awardees Judy Miranda Abalos and Sheilla Marie Golez Tiongco

2016 Woman of Influence and Style Rosario “Inday” Castaños Salientes and husband Oscar

Established more than 50 years ago, the Philippine Cancer Society is a non-profit organization. It focuses its resources in anti-cancer advocacy, education and information programs, the population-based cancer registry and patient services to carry out its mission statement “to enhance knowledge about cancer, combat the spread of the disease and bring relief to those afflicted with cancer.”

2016 Men of Extraordinary Influence awardee David Zuellig

This year’s awardees for the much coveted title of Best Dressed Women of the Philippines 2016 include JUDY MIRANDA-ABALOS, CECILIA RAMOS-BERNAD, SHEILA DIZON-CARLOS, INGGA CABANGON-CHUA, ALTA REDOR-LYTTLE, RICHELLE LOUIS SINGSON-MICHAEL, IMELDA PACHERA, JERRAINE EJERCITO-PEÑA, BUENA CASTAÑEDA-SARMIENTO, JUDITH TAN, CHARISSE SANTILLAN-TINIO and our very own SHEILLA MARIE GOLEZ-TIONGCO!

The awards night will be held on September 22, 2016 at Makati Shangrila’s Rizal Ballroom.

“The dinner, awarding and fund raising event has been a top drawer soiree to the country’s most generous personalities,” enthused Philippine Tatler Iloilo correspondent NONOI YBIERNAS!

Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava, Mia Van, dr. Gold T. Gonzalez, Dr. Pacita Trinidad-Gonzalez and Atty. Dan Cartagena

The late Raul M. Gonzalez

Businesswoman/cosmetic surgeon Dr. PACITA TRINIDAD-GONZALEZ and her children commemorated the second death anniversary of her husband, former Representative of the Lone District of Iloilo City and former DOJ Secretary RAUL M. GONZALEZ, with a Holy Mass and dinner party at the RMG Museum at Petalsville Subdivision in Tabuc suba, Jaro.

Loyalists hobnobbed with businessmen, socialites, media personas and politicians.

In orange: Iloilo City Councilors Plaridel Nava and Joshua Alim with Joe Marie Agriam

Yours truly with Alfonso Tan

Après dinner, an audio-visual presentation was shown. Lovingly made by Dr. GOLD T. GONZALEZ, it chronicled the life, time and legacy of her father with sidelights on family members.

Amid 80s dance music, guests exchanged conversations on politics, current events and social weather!

RMG Museum houses the memorabilia of the late statesman. Adjacent to it is the Medical Service Annex where indigent patients can avail of ECG, ultrasound and X-ray machines. Other services include dental and medical check-ups. And these are all for free! The building is PWD- and elderly-friendly!

The Molo Mansion (formerly the Yusay-Consing Mansion)

The Weekend Market organizers – siblings Amanda and Quito Treñas and Katrina Loring

Iloilo City Councilor Jay Treñas

Not even the heavy monsoon rains kept the organizers – siblings QUITO and AMANDA TREÑAS and pretty heiress KATRINA LORING — of The Weekend Market at Molo Mansion from staging it.

The original plan was for the participating stalls, kiosks, pop-up stores and booths to be laid out on the sprawling lawn of the Molo Mansion. However, the inclement weather necessitated at least half of them to be transferred to the second floor of the mansion.

But the fun continued! Food was abundant and various novelle items were on display. The atmosphere was festive. Stalls and booths competed with one another on the variety and specialty of their products while diners, food lovers and the curious vied for space and attention! “Indeed, it was a street to gourmet weekend market,” enthused a blogger!

Moving around, the organizers were seen beaming with smile of success. They promised a bigger, better and more Weekend Markets at the Mansion in the coming months! (Photos by Ray Tabafunda)

Armi Piamonte, Nono Palmos and Rafael Kiefer

Fashion designer NONO PALMOS, top model RAPHAEL KIEFER and songstress ARMI PIAMONTE combined their creative forces to come up with Kalye.

According to NONO PALMOS, who champions hablon from Miag-ao where he hails, Kalye “is the new collective of Panay’s premier artisans and their products.” Hablon is a handcrafted textile known for its colors and design. It has become a big industry in Panay and has attained international fame.

Joemarie and Mafelou Agriam

Sheilla and JM Tiongco

Jaki Peñalosa, Ria Bolivar and Bo Parcon

Vicky Sian and Wena Tesoro

Indeed, at Kalye, there is varied array of fashion items, handicrafts and decors, all designed by NONO PALMOS!

Kalye Showroom is on the 2^nd floor of B and C Square Building, Corner Iznart and Solis Streets, Iloilo City.

Best dressed SUSAN CAPERONCE-FLORETE led the special guests to its opening. Also seen on the scene were Mayor Dr. MACARIO N. NAPULAN and Vice Mayor Engr. LEONARDO N. NALDOZA of Miag-ao, Iloilo.

The formalities were followed by fun cocktails where fashion designers, models and socialites hobnobbed with each other.

While NONO PALMOS is the createur, RAPHAEL KIEFER handles the promotions and ARMI PIAMONTE designed the showroom.

The colourful and creative display

From the list of Iloilo Women of Style 2011, SHEILLA MARIE GOLEZ-TIONGCO is now one of the Philippine Best Dressed Women for 2016! The Ilongga businesswoman and philanthropist is the wife of top eye doctor, NAPOLEON L. TIONGCO Jr., and mother to four lovely children – JUDITH MARIE, MARY MAY, MARIA CECILIA and cutesie NAPOLEON JESUS III. The TIONGCO famille is into banking, construction, leasing and real estates.

She joins prominent Ilonggas who made it to the List these past years – EMILY RELUCIO-LOPEZ, ALLANA LOPEZ MONTELIBANO, FAITH OCAMPO-CLERO, SUSAN CAPERONCE-FLORETE, JOY GENGOS-ONGLATCO and MARISSA FLORETE-GORRICETA.

This year’s List also includes JUDY MIRANDA-ABALOS, CECILIA RAMOS-BERNAD, SHEILA DIZON-CARLOS, INGGA CABANGON-CHUA, ALTA REDOR-LYTTLE, RICHELLE LOUIS SINGSON-MICHAEL, IMELDA PACHERA, JERRAINE EJERCITO-PEÑA, BUENA CASTAÑEDA-SARMIENTO, JUDITH TAN and CHARISSE SANTILLAN-TINIO.

The awards night will be held on September 22, 2016 at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangrila. SHEILLA MARIE GOLEZ-TIONGCO will be wearing gown by Iloilo;s Bad Boy of Fashion BO PARCON who also did her blue and fuchsia gowns for the photoshoot.

Sheilla Marie Golez-Tiongco, wearing a Bo Parcon, at the Philippine Best Dressed 2016 photoshoot

Yours truly with Babes Rivera

Vivacious BABES RIVERA introduced the latest offerings of her family-owned Spa Riviera and Mrs. Wharton Pastries with a late-morning tea party at Mrs. Wharton Pastries at Spa Riviera Gen. Luna Branch.

The sweet treats included scones, muffins, cakes, cupcakes and baked lasagna complemented with English tea and brewed coffee.

Scones, muffins, cakes and cupcakes of Mrs. Wharton

Coffee and lasagna for me

In Gen. Luna (2^nd Floor of Jabez Building) and Jaro (2^nd Floor of Doña Maria Building on castilla-Burgos Sts.) branches, Spa Riviera now pampers its valued clients with its latest promo – the Kalipay Foot Massage! It will surely soothe you after a hard, stressful day of work!

Mrs. Wharton Pastries is located at the lobby of Spa Riviera Gen. Luna Branch. Its variety of pastries will be a perfect treat to bridal or baby showers. It is open from 3pm to 8pm, Mondays to Saturdays.

Spa Riviera and Mrs. Wharton’s offerings

For details and inquiries on Spa Riviera, please call (033) 509-0209 (Gen. Luna) or (033) 329-4171 (Jaro), and Mrs. Wharton at (033) 338-2332.

VIP Shopping at Eye Society host Rainer Pacis

Farrah Rodriguez, Mikko Araneta, Tim Dueñas and Patricia Canton

For stylish and trendy Ilonggos, the long wait is over! Eye Society is now in Metro-Iloilo and, no less, at SM City Iloilo North Wing!

Eye Society is the country’s premier eyewear and optical boutique. Not only it offers signature eyewear brands, such as Coach, Versace, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Michael Kors, Ray Ban, Bulgari, Guess, Pepe Jeans and Elle, it also provides eye care and consultation and trendy frames.

It has a spacious and organized interior, gracious staffers who can help each customer choose perfect frames based on one’s face shape, skin tone, eye color, lifestyle and personality, and professional optometrists who conduct a 12-step eye exam using advance technology and equipment. Needless to say, Eye Society makes your eye health a top priority while customizing your lifestyle.

Versace and Coach; and Prada and Dolce and Gabbana

Michael Kors and Ray Ban

Bulgari; and Guess and Pepe Jeans

It recently held a VIP Shopping with eventologist RAINER PACIS as host. His guest list included bloggers, lifestyle columnists, society mavens and professionals. The merienda cena was catered by Tonino’s.

FARRAH RODRIGUEZ, Marketing Head of Eye Society Inc.; MIKKO ARANETA, Brand Manager of Eye Society; and PATRICIA CANTON, Regional Manager (VISMIN) of Eye Society jetted in from Cosmo-Manille for the occasion. They were joined by TIM DUEÑAS, Brand Manager of Vision Express.

Yumminess from Tonino’s

Yumminess from Tonino’s

These executives also introduced Dinner in the Dark. An exclusive, limited-runs-only partnership between Eye Society and Cru Steakhouse, it is a unique sensorial dining experience where diners eat their meal in a dark setting and blindfolded. For a single receipt transaction of at least P10,000.00 at any Eye Society Boutique nationwide, one can avail of Dinner in the Dark for two at Cru Steakhouse of Marriot Hotel Manila at Resorts World Manila. It will serve a three-course meal worth P9,600,00! The event benefits Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines.

For more details and information on Eye Society and Dinner in the Dark, please visit its website — eyesociety.com.ph; Facebook – eyesocietyph; and Instagram — @eyesocietyph.

Dinner in the Dark

Metro-Iloilo’s nightscape was a perfect backdrop for a Seda Hotel Atria experience at the Straight Up Bar! The cozy bar is on the 7^th floor of the hotel.

The management, led by its Head Chef SHAHAB HESNI and Communications Officers ANGLEA TAN, introduced the latest in its menu and promos.

Four promos are lined up for the fun months of August, September and October. Apricena is a complimentary buffet of pica-pica for any order of alcoholic drink, 6;00 pm to 8:00 pm. It is complemented by Beer Blast, with 40% discount on all beers. Both are happening at Straight Up Bar.

Brew lovers can treat themselves to Coffee Indulgence at Misto. For Php 250, they can enjoy on unlimited choices of cafe latte, latte, macchiato, cappuccino, brewed coffee and espresso with complimentary pastries and use of E-Lounge and Wifi!

The Dish of the Month is Seafood Laksa at Misto. Savor the winning dish of Chef ALBERT LEDESMA, the Champion of the Elite Chef Challenge 2016. With a taste of victory, the Asian fusion creamy and spicy vermicelli (rice) noodle broth is loaded with tender pieces of squid, shrimp, squid ball and fish cake, jazzed up with coconut cream, laksa paste and the chef’s secret ingredients, and given the Ilonggo flavor!

Chef Albert Ledesma, Champion of the Elite Chef Challenge 2016

Seafood Laksa, Chef Albert Ledesma’s winning dish

So, spiced up your August, September and October with these indulgences at Seda Hotel Atria. For inquiries and reservations, please call (033) 506-8888 and (033) 330755 or email sales.ilo@sedahotels.com.

Robinsons Place Iloilo, through its Group Marketing Communications Manager ROFEL JOHN PARREÑO and his prized marketing assets STEPHEN VON JERUTA and STELLA MAE HEMBRA, hosted lunch for me at the swanky DoVa Brunch Café. It was to celebrate my 28th anniversary in newspaper writing! My first column came out on Aug. 8, 1988!

In attendance were eventologist JANE JAVELLANA, Philippine Tatler‘s NONOI YBIERNAS who made it time from Bacolod City, Iloilo’s Bad Boy of Fashion BO PARCON, supermodel and Iloilo’s very own RIA BOLIVAR and society chronicler ZEDRICK SEÑERES.
Also there were Metro-Iloilo dynamic ladies ROVEA ONGLATCO, MARITESS LIM and TWEETIE TUPAS-BALLEZA.

Located at Megaworld Iloilo Business Park, DoVa Brunch Café is owned by MIGUEL CORDOVA who prepared an array of sumptuous dishes that made us enjoy till cake, coffee and tea time!
Hot topics were politics and current events with a dash of fashion! Needless to say, it was a fun celebration made even better with messages and greetings from friends, and good company!

Rightfully so, I’m looking forward to many more anniversaries to celebrate! Thank you, RLC! (Photos by Ray Tabafunda)