Early Easter treat-2

In a tribute for its student Cheska Torres who recently passed away, a night of Dances by the Garcia-Sanchez School of Dance will take place at the Agape House at Carmel of Bacolod on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. Featured with the advance students will be Georgette and Gianne Sanchez.  Proceeds will be for the expenses of the school’s scholars—Matel Dofitas and Camille Lopez for this year’s Cultural Center of the Philippines’ summer workshop.

Flying from Bacolod-Manila-Caticlan-Manille-Hong Kong-Manila-Bacolod, compliments of Monte Carlo private banker Eduardo “Nene” Lacson, our select groupie of national palanggâ Maurice Arcache, Freddie Olbés and I jumped from Boracay’s airport straight to Hong Kong in the blink of an eye! Upon arrival, we were whisked again by a golf cart to our waiting limo straight to the royal service of Hotel Intercontinental Hong Kong.  Greeting us grandly was the staff of  Director of Public Relations and Communications charming lady, Carole Klein, who toured us over the hotel herself, but that’s another story altogether. 

It was Hong Kong reminiscent of the glory days of Negros, and the Philippines, with lunches and dinners at the grandest restaurants, shopping in the poshiest signature stores, tea and cocktails at the hotel with well-heeled guests wondering which country we came from.  Our first dinner was hosted by Nene L. at the hip and trendy Causeway Bay Jia Hotel’s “Opia” restaurant, both designed by Philippe Starck.   After a caviar hors d’ouevre, I had foie gras on lamb accompanied by vintage French wines from the Loire Valley.  Next day was lunch at the Peak’s top Italian “Deco” restaurant while viewing the skyline of Hong Kong and looking amusedly at a group of Shaolin monks climbing up the observation deck.  Shopping at Prada and Dior followed at the Landmark followed by a surprise dinner at gourmet temple L’Atelier of premiere French chef—Reblouchon. We were led into a private dining salon and behold our hosts for the evening — Rep. Bongbong Marcos and his wife brilliant lawyer Lisa Araneta, restaurateur-top entrepreneur Al Tengco with beauteous wife Carla Reyes and top architect George Yulo.  I never dreamt of dining at Rebouchon’s L’Atelier, even in Paris, and here I was biting delicate slivers of foie gras, again! This time, garnished with the darkest black truffles… 

Après diner, we proceeded to the exclusive Dragon Eye Club where squeals were elicited at the sight of Hong Kong’s New Guard society belles—glamorous Audrey Puckett Chui and Reyna Harinella with sister Shirley. Pink champagne at hand, we sat back-to-back with delicious David Beckham and his entire Los Angeles Soccer Team downing three bottles of Platinum Patron Tequila.  The next night, after more shopping, we were treated by Lisa Marcos to a rock concert of Santana at the World Expo Center.  We jumped to the tunes of “Black Magic Woman” and “Smooth” joined by global businesswoman Joanne de Asis Benitez who treated us to drinks at the Conrad after the event.   Jetting back to Imperial Manille the next day, we had dinner at Louis Ysmael’s Nuvo resto with more pink champagne only to wake up for lunch with jet-setting Minnie Osmeña at the Pen before heading home to Bacolod.  How’s that for an early Easter treat?

MY PRAYER

O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips.*