Saturday, August 01, 2009

Inquirer Lifestyle Series: Fitness.Fashion with Samsung 1st Anniversary (2009)

A year after the fashion show was held at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila in Makati City when it drew guests who cut across the fields of fashion, business and commerce, arts, media and entertainment.

With the support of HSBC and Peninsula, the show had 12 sought-after designers melding their creations with the latest brand collections: Kipling with Vic Barba; Fila with Lulu Tan-Gan; Nike Golf with Anthony Nocom; Speedo with Louis Claparols; Adidas with Patrice Ramos-Diaz and Rhett Eala; Marks & Spencer with Arcy Gayatin; Aigle and Oxbow with Rajo Laurel; Bench with Joey Samson; and Puma with Ivarluski Aseron and Randy Ortiz.

On her 76th birthday, former president Corazon Aquino, who was battling late stage colon cancer, was the picture of serenity.

“I have lived a full life, I cannot complain,” she calmly told her children Ballsy Cruz, Pinky Abellada, then Sen. Noynoy Aquino, Viel Dee and Kris Aquino. They heard mass in the chapel of a convent along Estrella Street in Makati and then had lunch of pan-fried goose liver salad and spinach mushroom souffle at Chef Jessie’s in Rockwell. For dessert, Cory had a special birthday treat: her favorite dessert White Chocolate Grand Marnier Mousse.

Her daughter Viel believes the spiritual backbone of their mother, who passed away seven months after her 76th birthday, was the source of her serenity. “Of all of us, I’d say that I’m the calmest. I believe I got this from Mom, maybe because I saw in her that with faith, we are able to overcome our trials,” says Viel.

This is echoed by her son, now President, who says that when faced with tough times, he just thinks of what his mother Cory and his father Ninoy underwent.

On its first anniversary — held at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila on July 31, 2009 — their major guest stars were Bianca Araneta; Julia Clarete; Cheryl Cosim; Daphne Osena; Pia Guanio; Kenji Marquez; Derek Ramsey; JM Rodriguez; and Audrey Tan-Zubiri. But they managed to give away prizes to the live audience — mostly refrigerators. The high point of the event was when the cast members released doves — plenty of them.

Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the guest of honor in the occasion, gave her greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with First Gentlemen Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos; several senators led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; several congressmen led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles; and friends of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde of El Shaddai from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector.

The country’s first woman president, died on August 1 at 3:18 a.m. at the Makati Medical Center after an 18-month battle with colon cancer. She was 76.