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Lunchtime action sizzled with spicy food and even spicier party
prattle when lady-restaurateur Kathy Park threw a birthday luncheon
for my darling friend, society columnist and PR-man Donnie Ramirez
at her Tony Korean resto Kaya at Bel-Air, Makati. Kathy, who was an
actress and beauty queen in Korea before she and her husband David
relocated to the Philippines to put up their own restaurant
business, rolled out a hot and sumptuous lunch fare of authentic
Korean dishes that kept Donnie and his friends at full-pitched
eating mode.
The lively gathering sparkled with Donnie’s
style-savvy pals like Cory Quirino, Pitoy Moreno, architect Gerry
Contreras, Fe Rodriguez, top lady-designers Lulu Tan Gan and
Criselda Lontok, best buddies Sonny Tanchanco and John Gaddi, and a
bevy of namedroppables from Manila’ luncheon circuit like Chit
Salud, Letty Syquia, Milo Bondoc, Offie Recto, Tessie Castro, nini
Layug, Mabel Abaño, Myrna Borromeo, Evie Costa and Fe Ng. Providing
extra dazzle were raw food advocate Cheloy Ignacio, Lulu Boon
vivacious Carminia Pavia, Geena Zablan, Lehn Obles, Yolly Ayson,
Marian Ong, Anna Ledesma de Dios, Toni Gregory, Anna Ringor, Ethel
Timbol and TraveLife’s Christine Cunanan and Liza Ilarde.
That same evening, dinner with political analyst
and a very dear friend, Ramon Orosa, at Bellini’s Restorante
beside the Araneta Coliseum was vibrantly alive with political,
social and cultural exchange of insights from guests like DBP
chairman Rey David, Mayor Sonny Belmonte, anti-piracy king-pin Edu
Manzano, top PR person Reli Herman with vivacious wife Bunny who we
shared a table with.
Animated tete-a-tete was also audible from
another side of the room with columnist and lawyer Linda Jimeno,
Batangas Second district Representative Cong. Mandanas, banker
Eduardo Go and another well-respected columnist Jarius Bondoc. In
another corner Allyson David, Helen Mirasol and Duchie Go were
clearly engrossed in female talk.
Ramon’s children, lawyer Patrick and beautiful
Liza with son Anotonio also came to celebrate with their
multitalented, many-faceted and well-respected banker, father and
grandfather.
I took the opportunity that evening to let Amb.
Robert brinks of the Netherlands know how delighted I was to be
living half-of-my time in his beautiful country with my wonderful
George S, not to be mistaken for the George S (Sison) in my life,
who is my guru and whom Ramon considers family. How fortunate I am
to have both Georges in my world.
Two celebrations with two of my favorite people
gave my day a different high. Old friends truly make one feel new.
Happiest birthday guys. Love you lots!
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