Early Easter treat

We were three very lucky friends of Monte Carlo-based private banker Eduardo “Nene” Lacson — national palanggâ Maurice Arcache, Malate real estate tycoon Freddie Olbes and me, whom he treated to a Manila-Boracay-Hongkong-Manila holiday.

Going to the new Bacolod-Silay airport was a waste of precious time, but I thoroughly enjoyed the view of the sugar plantations and the majestic mountain range from the departure lounge.Everything looked pristine and tourism friendly.Nene booked me at the Peninsula where I had a preview to the Makati rally that was going on just outside the hotel.I really didn’t care about the consequences because I was enjoying my cocktails at the bar and was preparing myself for Nene’s dinner party given by the Zobels—blue-eyed Iñigo and his drop-dead gorgeous wife Maricris.

After a hearty late breakfast at the business lounge of the Pen, we limo’ed to the Cebu Pacific airport to jump into our flight for Caticlan-Boracay.

Joining us were jetsetter-beauty Minnie Osmeña and Paris-Manila socialite Annie Carmona. We took off with cloudy skies over Imperial Manille but the moment we started our decline over Boracay, the clouds disappeared and showed us a peek to the beautiful sunny weather we were able to enjoy during our whole stay in this island paradise.

We each had a room in Nene’s Mediterranean villa perched on top of a hill overlooking the whole island. He reigned supreme in his Bali hut by the pool, organizing pink champagne cocktails and gourmet dinners as we lounged and enjoyed the unseasonably cool breeze. I only set foot once on the beach for dinner at Dos Mestizos and more champagne at Juice Bar, although we had a stretch golf cart at our disposal all the time for shopping and fun.

The view from the top of Boracay and the lapis lazuli pool was enough for me to detox from all the cares of the world. Besides, Paris Fashion Week was on Fashion TV!

MY PRAYER

Your grace is overwhelming, Lord, and not deserved at all, and You’re always there to catch us when we begin to fall.*