Manila Wears A Smile

We called it Manila Night. To celebrate our new optimism and renewed patriotism, twenty Filipino designers presented fashion accessories and resort wear at the SMDC showroom in the Mall of Asia complex by the bay. Gino Gonzales transformed the humongous place into to a modern tropical rainforest with a huge block of tropical foliage as centerpiece. A band played festive music as models moved from one platform to another. Waiters went around with trays of wine and Manila Mojito. Cebu lechon, roast beef and Tinola rice by Chef Laudico was hard to resist even for many of those denizens maintaining size zeros.

Manila Wear is a baby in the world's fashion stage, one born of love and promise. And like a baby, it brings a smile at first sight.

The SMDC showroom was given a tropical forest feel by Gino Gonzales.

Five lamp-like installations were used as settings for the fashion tableaux.

My collection of citrus colored Cotton Abaca from Catanduanes.

Jojie Lloren's cool palette of Pina Silk from Aklan.

Inno Sotto's Mindanao silk mixed with French lace.

Cesar Gaupo's Pina and chiffon resort line.

Beautiful table setting for the fashion accessories.

Necklace by Gerry Sunga.

'Fairy wings' earrings by Patrice Ramos-Diaz.

Shoe designer Maco Custodio.

Mons Romulo and Patrice Diaz.

Kenneth Cobonpue and Josie Natori.

Vic Barba, Tonichi Nocom and James Reyes.

Jay Khan and Randy Ortiz.

Tonichi Nocom, Mike de la Rosa, Rusty Lopez and Royal Pineda.

Ageless Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales.

Model Ralph Joseph.

Michelle Tomacruz and Len Lopez.

Always a joy to see, James Reyes.

Jia Estrella and I enjoying the white wine.

Michelle Tomacruz and I enjoying more white wine.

And more for Jojie Lloren, Inno Sotto, Gia Estrella, Dennis Lustico, Michelle Tomacruz and me.

Fashion Family!

Bong & Lumen Teves, moi, John Cuenco, Eve Maduma, Dinny Lazo and Dayang Teves.

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The House Of Dr. Luis Santos

Our tour of Malolos continues, from the Cojuangco ancestral house http://myrefrigeratordoor.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-cojuangco-ancestral-house.html , our gracious host Melecio Cojuangco brought us to the house of Dr. Luis Santos. Mel arranged the visit with one of the heirs of Dr. Santos, George Imperial . From the outside, one would already be in awe of the sheer size of the house. The house was built in 1933, according to the marker by the gate. Upon entering, you will marvel at the grand staircase, the expansive receiving room and the foyer filled with hard bound medical books and mementos of Dr. Santos' career as a well loved doctor in this town. The second floor was something else, as our group slowly ascended the magnificent staircase, my heart literally skipped a beat at the sight of the ceiling mural and Art Deco details. We found out later that the mural was painted by the great Fernando Amorsolo himself. There was a private chapel in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes

Bespoke Dining At Denlim's Kitchen

I first heard of Denlim's Kitchen from my friend Boboy Consunji . Boboy posted photos of the Denlim's pugon liempo (pork belly roasted in a brick stove) on Facebook, and it caused me a couple of sleepless nights. Dennis Lim , the chef and owner serves only one group a night, and dinner is booked nine months in advance. One day, I got a call from Boboy, there was a booking cancelation and he was lucky to get the slot. Excited for the big feast, I walked Mega Mall from end to end, and ate in small portions three days before our appointed day. Denlim's is in San Fernando, Pampanga, a two hour drive from the metro. Boboy, a Kapampangan was our living Waze and historian, we didn't have trouble looking for the place. Free of corkage, we each brought a bottle of red wine, my good friend James Reyes , and Noel Orosa . We were a happy group of twelve, Boboy's friends. Each dish personally served by Dennis were wiped out in minutes. I especially loved the bread ser

The Cojuangco Ancestral House

Our next journey takes us to a historic town in Bulacan, thirty minutes north of Manila. My road trip buddies, my college friends who all share with me the same fascination for heritage houses were privileged by an invitation from Melecio Cojuangco to visit their ancestral house in Malolos. Mel, his cousin in law Marissa Lopa, Rima Datuin and Evelyn Bautista and I discovered each other's funny bone because of our love for the ice cream served in a huge bowl at Peninsula Manila's lobby. One evening, to justify our appetite, we pretended it was my birthday and we had the string quartet play happy birthday for me, from then on, we became good friends. Mel's grandfather, Jose Cojuangco was born at the Malolos house, very near the Barasoain Church. Jose's mother traded rice from Nueva Ecija, sacks transported by boat via the river at the back of the kamalig to Binondo, Manila. Like most turn of the century houses, the Cojuangco house uses piedra china stones f

My Refrigerator Door

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