Luau Christmas Party

I’ve been missing in action in the past two years’ meetings and events organized by the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines. I was always either out of the country or indisposed. When I received the invitation for our Luau Christmas Party, I marked my calendar right away.  The date looked good,  I was hoping there wouldn’t be any conflict of schedule so I could join. As December 7 drew near, my schedule became busier but I didn’t want to miss the party. So even if I was running around like crazy that morning, I managed to get to Ayala Alabang where the party was being held, even if an hour and a half late.

As I entered Maymay’s party house, my colleagues said “ohhh”. “Uy”. They were surprised and happy to see me.

The host decorated her living room and the dining tables with authentic luau props.

Fried Rice was hidden inside this tiny pineapple fruit

A make-shift huge square table good for 12 was set up in the middle of the living room.

Three towering crystal vases  with birds of paradise provided the table’s centerpieces.

Atty. Lorna Kapunan, Evelyn Singson, WBCP secretary, Russel Rivera.

Pacita “Chit” Juan (coffee magnate), Yoling Sevilla (president of Leather Collection) Aurora “Boots” Geotina-Garcia (president of CIBA Capital Philippines and chairperson of Bases Conversion and Development Authority). Boots said we are neighbors but we don’t see each other. We live in the same subdivision kasi.

Tax-expert Atty. Benedicta “Dick” Du-Balabad, Chit, Yoling, Boots

The super host, Maymay Liechtenstein serenaded us.

Ohmybuhay with another super-woman, Mylene Abiva, CEO of Felta Multi-Media Inc. She wore a cute dress made of abaca fibers.

The shockingly impressive buffet was decorated  in the true Maymay fashion, fabulous and extravagant.

I couldn’t carry the real shell plate.

Hindi na daw uso ngayon ang lechon Cebu or cuchinillo sabi ni Efren, the head waiter.

eto na daw uso. Either with black truffle or pesto.

Yoling Sevilla

Bagnet

Maymay prepared several kinds of salad.

Cheese corner beside this metal sculpture by Gabriel “Gabby” Barredo. May’s formal dining table is also an installation by Gabby Barredo with moving parts.

Party host par excellence. Maymay’s parties are not only about good food using unique ingredients imported from all over the world, but they are complete feasts for the senses,  a true fine dining experience, better than any Michelin stars restaurant.

Bone-in ham

Steamed fish

Sushi

Reddish- orange caviar

There were 14 guests but food was good for 220 people.

Dessert

I ate two pieces of this suman

I didn’t taste every dish or dessert, sobrang overwhelming kasi.

I didn’t try this white cake although the waiter told me “mam masarap yan i-try nyo”.

I buy small cans or sachets of walnut and almonds. I think Maymay buys them by the sack.

Left—–Lally Aldeguer (half of the famous Aldeguer sisters, not an officer of the Women’s Business Council but she’s a good friend of Maymay).

Center——— Team Asia president Monette Iturralde-Hamlin,

Right ———– CEO of Felta Multi-Media Inc. Mylene Abiva,

Womenbiz secretariat

Lorna gave us cute card or bill holders

Chit and Boots presented to Maymay a trophy in recognition of her contribution to the WBCP. (left to right) Atty. Benedicta Du-Balabad, Evelyn Singson, Booth Garcia, Pacita Juan, Maymay,

Maymay, Boots, Lorna, Evelyn, sing Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok nila

(left to right) Lally Aldeguer, Atty. Dick Du-Balabad, Kathleen Liechtenstein, Chiqui Escareal-Go, Yoling Sevilla, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, Monette Hamlin, Jeannie Javelosa, Boots Garcia (seated)

Monette, Maymay, Lally, Boots, Dick, Lorna, OMB, Mylene, Chit, Yoling, Jeannie, Chiqui and Evelyn Singson.

I got this gifts

I arrived late so I didn’t want to be the first to leave. Plus I wasn’t done yet eating. (Chit with Florencia Gozon – Tarriela, Chairman of Philippine National Bank). Flor gave us Our Daily Bread booklets.

Uwian na, dami kong gifts, wala akong supot

I left Maymay’s house at 3:20 pm. My driver couldn’t figure out at which gate he left his driver’s license. I was putting on make up when we entered the village so I didn’t know either. We wasted half hour and maybe two liters of gasoline trying to find our way out. I used waze but the driver didn’t want to follow it.

Kaya ayan, we hit the rush hour traffic na along EDSA.

Instead of going to EDSA, driver went straight to Amorsolo, that decision cost us an additional two hours in traffic.

Sabi sa waze pass thru EDSA, ayaw nya, sa Amorsolo exit daw kami kaya ayun, it took us 3.5 hours to reach our house. With regular traffic, travel time from this point to our house is only 15 minutes.

Despite the 3.5 hours sitting in the traffic going home, I enjoyed the 1 hour and 45 minutes get together with my colleagues at the Women’s Business Council or womenbiz Luau Christmas Party. It was time well spent. Thank you ladies. I truly had fun. Na relax ako.

Pearly Shells is my childhood favorite song. When I was little, this is the song that I sing when I am in the toilet. Not in the shower. In the toilet talaga. Ewan kung bakit. No joke, True. #nostalgic