A Tatler Christmas

Trust the Philippine Tatler to give its weary staff a party to remember this Christmas season. I was actually just shopping in Imperial Manille when High Society high priest and Philippine Tatler Lifestyle and Social editor Maurice Arcache called and invited me over to the annual staff party of the magazine.

It was held in the Dusit Hotel Nikko. As in most special occasions in the city of Man (sounds Imeldific, right?) I was picked up by Tatler's "Bon Vivant" award-winner at the last Tatler Ball-Vicky Zubiri in her Jaguar limo, together with Maurice. Just being together, cruising to our party through the magical lights of Makati, we were already high on giggles.

The hotel lobby was sparkling with the season's holiday décor. We headed pronto to the Dusit's Vietnamese restaurant "Phien Duong" where a lavish dinner buffet was laid out for us. Greeting us were Philippine Tatler's managing director Irene Martel Francisco, editor Anton San Diego and senior editor Chit Macapagal Lijauco. The staff was all in holiday mood and the festivities began immediately with an opening prayer.

It was all systems go as everyone attacked the delicious buffet that had all of us agog with the goodies. There was so much food that I can only remember what I ate, starting with a mushroom ratatouille, a salad of fried spinach with mandarin oranges, succulent prime rib topped with a sauce forestiere. For dessert, I overindulged with their St. Honoré crème puffs that made me think of Paris once again.

High on our conversation agenda was the latest 50 Top Hostesses issue of Philippine Tatler that made the whole nation buzzing on the top social scene. If you didn't get to read that issue, the local list included Doña Gloria Araneta-Esteban, Doña Luisa Diaz-Lacson, Doña Nena Lacson-Garcia, Lyn Besa-Gamboa, Heny Rojas-Escay, Anna Balcells, Nelly Jison-Ledesma, Miren Lopez-Zayco, Analu Lizares-Trebol, Yoly Kilayko and Lily Sy.

Surprising us was top show-biz impresario Joji Dingcong and good-looking hunk Dieter Ocampo who made the whole staff giddy by posing with each department. The hotel resident manager Frank Grassman dropped by to say hello and made sure that everything was perfectly laid out for the partying staff, which made a lot of passers-by stop and tried to get in, but the whole restaurant was reserved only for the Tatler groupie. Top photographers Alex van Hagen, Wig Tysman and Dindo Gutierrez completed the Tatler staff. After the gourmet meal, a raffle with fabulous prizes and a most hilarious program followed. Darlings, if this is what an office party is all about, I would include it in my social agenda "musts" for the year!

MY PRAYER Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!*