2017 fourth quarter special edition first part

IMAGESASIA Volume 3 Number 5 2017 Fourth Quarter Special Edition Php 300.00 | US$13.50

the expressions of art, life and style

2016 BEST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 2017ASIA’S BEST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

A BEAUTIFUL PERSONIFICATION OF SUCCESS IN LIFE, LOVE AND FAMILY

Malou Martinez

6 Publisher/Editor-At-Large ERNEST GONZAGA Editor –In-Chief ALEXIS CRUZ Managing Director/Head of Photography VOLTAIRE DOMINGO Columnist AGILE ABASTILLAS ZAMORA Styling & Fashion YAMANI CALIWARA HOUSE OF YAMANI Advertising/Marketing ADVISION ASIA Graphic/Layout Director JOHN ERNEST GREGORY Photographers HENRY FERRER RONIN URBINA EJ AGUMBAY U.S.A. /Europe Photo Correspondents JAQUELINE ANDREA Las Vegas, NV IRVIN RIVERA Los Angeles, CA MJ CACHERO Geneva, Switzerland

6 16

IMAGESASIA is published by IMAGES ASIA PUBLISHING 6/F Raha Sulayman Building Benavides St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines SMS 0937 2170133 | 0998 8698622 and the PHILIPPINE AMERICAN PRATTLER 1000 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel. No. 209 9148539 www.images-asia.com

20

2017 Copyright IMAGES ASIA PUBLISHING. All rights reserved. Printed in the Republic of the Philippines.

No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher.

Visit https://issuu.com/imagesasia

26

32

40 24 16

22

16

26

42

IMAGESASIA 6

MALOU MARTINEZ A BEAUTIFUL PERSONIFICATION OF SUCCESS IN LIFE, LOVE AND FAMILY When one is asked to describe Malou Martinez in one word, so many words come to mind that to choose just one is an impossible task. Beautiful, successful, kind, generous, enterprising, achiever, loving, caring are just a few. She is all this and more, and her life is the epitome of success through hard work and dedication.

Photographed by EJ AGUMBAY

IMAGESASIA 7

Make-up by BAMBBI FUENTES Wardrobes by FRANCIS LIBIRAN NICOLE MILLER TADASHI SHOJI PETER LIM ZARA

IMAGESASIA 8

Describing herself as a very business minded person, Malou started honing her business acumen at the age of 18 during her summer break.

She went door to door selling encyclopedias, a job that was both demanding and required a strong will to overcome disappointments. After all, selling encyclopedias is much harder than selling insurance. But she persisted, displaying a strong work ethic that she carries to this day. She also sold blouses and pants to her friends making that summer a most lucrative one indeed.

Once she ignited that entrepreneurial streak, there was no stopping her. After college, she started working in a hotel and a reputable travel agency. She was quick to see business opportunities and promptly started selling jewelries to her co-workers. She would buy the jewelries in cash and sell them on an installment basis making her items very saleable. You would think that with a job and a jewelry business she would be contented. But there was no stopping her, because when Christmas came around, she bought boxes of chocolates and sold them by the piece, making excellent profits in the process.

Sensing even more opportunities, she went into selling fireworks to her neighbors for New Year. So when she got married at age 21, she had an impressive amount of savings in the bank for someone so young.

Cover Photo Location at ONE ROCKWELL WEST MAKATI LULJETTA’S HANGING GARDENS AND SPA

IMAGESASIA 9

Speaking of marriage, to this day, despite being married at a relatively early age, Malou and her husband, Attorney Willie Martinez, are like newlyweds. Very sweet to each other, she fondly recalls an incident in Brazil where she and her hubby had a photo shoot at the Iguazo Falls. They had a photo while kissing each other and they were greeted with smiles and applause from the other tourists. Her husband also loves to surprise her with body hugging, sexy and elegant outfits that accentuate her figure. It’s clear to see that the beauty of Malou melts Attorney Willie's heart. These two lovebirds love spending time with each other and had very numerous travels together. One of the most special for them was their Alaskan cruise where they cherished each moment that they were together, and look back fondly at that magical Captain’s night during which they were all dressed up in formal evening wear and had an unforgettable dining experience.

Despite being quite the workaholic, Malou still manages to spend a lot of quality time with her children and grandchildren. You got that right folks, this vivacious and glamorous lady is not only a mother of 4, but she is also the grandmother of 5. She considers as her most enjoyable and exciting vacation the trip to the US with all 4 of her children, their spouses and her 5 grandchildren. She recounts that she and her husband flew ahead to Vancouver and after a week, they met up at Vancouver airport and proceeded to New York.

Being quite well-traveled, Malou had been to New York a number of times, but this time with her complete brood was quite incomparable and is among her happiest moments in life. After New York, they went to Florida for a Disney cruise that took them to the Bahamas and Caribbean. She was so elated to see her grandchildren so happy at being able to hang out and have photo shoots with their favorite Disney characters.

IMAGESASIA 10

But that was not all for this epic vacation because after the weeklong cruise, they went to Disneyworld Florida for the rides, then it was on to the West Coast to have even more rides at Universal Studios. Among the other awesome things they did together were enjoying the snow in Lake Tahoe and going around San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco. It was truly a trip of a lifetime for all of them.

Malou lives by several phrases and this one explains why this vacation was the one she cherishes the most. “Cherish things while they are still in our hands. Cherish people while they are still with us in our life. Cherish all the good moments in our existence. Appreciate and be grateful for them.

When time flies & flows away, it will never return again. Live a life fully lived. Have a Christ centered life.�

IMAGESASIA 11

Family comes first for Malou, and her greatest achievement, the thing she is most proud of, is being able to raise four children, all of whom have graduated and are either accomplished professionals or business owners. As the saying goes, the fruit does not fall that far from the tree so it comes as no surprise that all her children, like their parents, are God fearing, generous, respectful, hardworking and responsible individuals.

Eldest daughter, Marinelli, is a practicing lawyer, and along with her lawyer husband, they work as partners in Attorney Willie’s law firm. Her two sons, Wei and Marc, helped out in the Multi Marz, their car dealership, while on vacation from school and during weekends. Now they have their own car dealerships as well as other investments. Her youngest daughter, Ice, is a well-respected anchor in PTV4 and has been quite the achiever. She was the first runner up in the recent Miss Great Bodies and has garnered several awards as a practical shooter. She is also a Reserve Officer in the Philippine Air Force.

IMAGESASIA 12

On the business side, Malou is most proud of being able to generate enough revenue to buy a commercial lot to serve as the permanent showroom of Multi Marz Cars. This success is due largely in part to how Malou and Attorney Willie conduct business. They are a refreshing counterpoint to the typical pre-owned car sales person. They are very respectful and show kindness to their sellers. They offer a fair price and leave it to the seller to make a decision, minus the pressure that typically accompanies such transactions. One only needs to check the listings of Multi Marz to see just how reasonably priced their vehicles are. Trustworthy pre-owned car dealers are very rare indeed, and Multi Marz, which Malou now runs, is a shining example of this.

IMAGESASIA 13

As far as leisure is concerned, Malou has a grand piano that she loves playing to relax. She also loves to collect art such as paintings by Lamarozza and Ivan Acuna, and sculpture by Castrillo. She is also a very keen collector of Swarovski, Ahura, Lladro, Nao and Murano items. She also makes it a point to collect glasses and mugs while travelling so that she has souvenirs that bring back the special memories they made on their trips.

Currently, Malou is into Zumba and she just loves dancing, fashion and hanging out with likeminded friends. Shopping and travelling are also high on her list of current interests.

Despite her globe-trotting ways, for Malou, there is no place like home. In anticipation of retirement, she has invested in cold places in the Philippines such as Baguio and Tagaytay. She also loved travelling to other beautiful spots in the country like Bohol, Boracay, Davao, Gen Santos and Subic.

IMAGESASIA 14 While travels with her complete brood are her best travel moments, she also recounts her unforgettable experiences enjoying the scenery and food in Santorini, Greece. Her travel to Spain though was unforgettable for a different reason. She watched a bullfight, and Malou, being a pet lover, was traumatized at the cruelty inflicted on bulls during the bullfight. So it would not be surprising if Malou would one day head a movement to stop bullfighting altogether.

For Malou, it is her relationship with the Lord that balances her life. With God in the center of her life, she looks to Him always, to see and pray for guidance and enlightenment. Being religious persons, Malou and her hubby are members of Couples for Christ, and they always pray the rosary as a family. To this day, she practices this with her children and grandchildren whenever they have dinner, which is done on a rotation basis in their respective homes.

IMAGESASIA 15

As a family, they visited Baclaran Church every Wednesday, a tradition which she and her children still practice separately so they end up seeing each other there. Visiting Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan is a regular practice as well. With all these practices well entrenched in her children, it is certain that her grandchildren will grow up to religious and God fearing individuals.

There is a saying which goes, “tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are”. In Malou’s case, it’s “tell me who you admire and I’ll tell you who you are”. She looks up to Mother Teresa and Queen Elizabeth, and that says a lot about who Malou is. She admires Mother Teresa for her lifelong dedication to taking care of and serving other people; while Queen Elizabeth is admired for her dignity, majesty, sense of duty and devotion to a life of service. Going back to the fruit falling from the tree, her mother, Paulita Jimenez Tamayo, who was once a pharmacist and ran a rice mill business in Nueva Ecjia, is now a Franciscan sister who serves the church daily, rendering assistance to the community and feeding the poor. Her late father, Sergio A. Tamayo, who was a businessman from Hagonoy, Bulacan, owned and operated fishponds and fishing boats, eventually retired as a Lay Minister in their parish church in Quezon City. Like her parents and only sister, Marlie Limjoco, who is presently active in church services in their community in Ayala Heights, Malou looks forward to being able to help people in need via her own charitable foundation.

IMAGESASIA 16

ASEAN GALA DINNER

Photos by KARL NORMAN ALONZO KING RODRIGUEZ ACE MORANDANTE NPPA IMAGES

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his partner Honeylet pose for a photo with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and dialogue partners prior to the start of the gala dinner hosted by the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City

IMAGESASIA 17 President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with US President Donald Trump during the gala dinner hosted by the Philippines for the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and dialogue partners

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives the thumbs up while witnessing the program proper during the dinner he hosted for the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and dialogue partners

IMAGESASIA 18

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his partner Honeylet welcome guests prior to the start of the gala dinner the Philippine President hosted for the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and dialogue partners at the SMX Convention Center

US President Donald Trump

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

People's Republic of China Premier Li Keqiang

Russian Federation Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

IMAGESASIA 19

Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussala Hassanal Bolkiah

Indonesia President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and US President Donald Trump

A performer serenades President Rodrigo Roa Duterte the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states

IMAGESASIA 20

Balesin Island Club:

An Epitome Of Tropical Paradise

By SAM AZUREL

Located off the eastern coast of Luzon , Philippines is the Balesin Island Club, the club is a five hundred hectare tropical paradise with over seven kilometers of pristine sandy beaches with turquoise blue waters . The club is 25 minutes away by plane from the capital Manila, Alphaland Balesin Club is one of a kind with private leisure getaway, members only and modern vacations destination. Members of the club are given two weeks in any of the themed villages, which are inspired by the excellent beaches such as Toscana, Bali, Balesin, Phuket, Costa del Sol, St. Tropez, and Mykonos. The members can enjoy authentic restaurants and landscape pools while enjoying the ocean breeze. The island is masterfully planned by a Florida based company EcoPlan Miami, the club was designed with the environment in mind, the architects wanted to incorporate the natural surroundings to the club while giving it an elegant look. 80 % is water recycling, water harvesting, on site eco friendly transportation, reverse osmosis plant, alternative energy sources, and reduction in waste disposal has ensured the island remains beautiful with top-notch facilities.

IMAGESASIA 21

IMAGESASIA 22

Balesin Island is the new hotspot tourism destination in the Asian continent, drawing local and foreign tourist, the five hundred hectare island is an epitome of tropical paradise. The dĂŠcor and architecture of the villas in each village maintains the origin of their name. The temple roofs of Phuket, white and blue structures of Mykonos, Wayans and masks of Bali, warmth of Filipino homes in Balesin and vibrant colors of St. Tropez are some of the exceptional amenities available for tourist visiting the destination. The restaurants in the villages serve food from local cuisine to international cuisine catering for the needs of every visitor. The developers were committed to natural sustainability and transport is by electric cart, the reverse osmosis plant desalinates the water while the recycling plant generates water that is used in watering the lush green plants in the environs. Balesin is a high-end property that is designed with six thousand member shares sold internationally and locally. Since its launch the property has gained value and reputation making share price to triple in price, the price is worth it because the services and facilities therein are top notch and from different parts of the globe.

There are two new Cessna Grand Caravans that have powerful turbo jet engines , these are essential in ferrying passengers from manila airport to Balesin in less than 25 minutes.

During weekends, there is an increased demand and the club has purchased two more Jetstreams from Britain, the jet has twin turbo high-speed engine with a capacity of 19 passengers, flying time to the club averages 20 minutes. Members of Balesin Island club are entitled to personal luxury terminal and lounge Via Personal Arrangements.

IMAGESASIA 23

Sports and Recreation

Some of the outdoor activities include archery , boating , fishing , golf , kayaking , horse racing , hiking , scuba diving , surfing , snorkeling , sailing , swimming , water skiing , tennis , tanning , windsurfing among others. On the other hand, indoor activities include billiards, basketball, boxing, dancing, gym, table tennis, reading, Wii among others.

A visit to Balesin Island club is not complete without a visit to the spa and wellness center; there are numerous massage parlors in the area covering all kinds of massage. Moreover, the beauty center and business centers are all equipped with essential products that people require during their vacations.

For religious people there is Balesin Chapel, which offers regular masses and is open all day for private prayers, weddings and other occasions. The mode of transport in the Island is through Jeepney rides, cycling, and Golf cart rides.

Sustainability

IMAGESASIA 24

Balesin Island is one of the best ecofriendly man made facility, the island thrives with its sustainable platforms that ensure the landscape is not tampered with while the services remain world class. The island is home to amazing fauna and flora such as the Philippine Scops owl, bougainvillea plants, and yellow oriole among others. Reverse osmosis water recycling, organic gardens, electric transport, and preservations of the ocean among other initiatives ensure that visitors have a memorable travel experience that cannot be found elsewhere.

Balesin Island is a breathing pocket of the Asian continent with a tranquil topography, which includes lakes, ponds, beach, cliffs, forests, organic farms, and submerged islands covered with coral reefs. The area is rich in marine and tropical life, which includes lobsters, deep-sea crabs, coral fish, parrotfish, octopus, tabon birds, blue jays, yellow orioles, monitor lizards, forest doves among others. Moreover, Balesin is a butterfly sanctuary with birds that migrate into the area each time of the year.

IMAGESASIA 26

JACQUELINE CUEVAS Jack of All Trades, Mastered them All

There is a popular saying that goes “Jack of all trades, Master of none.” Many see it as more of a warning; old wisdom that advises we decide what to focus on, and really get very, very good at that one thing.

Because being great at one thing is better than being okay at many things. But what if someone told you there was more to the often-quoted idiom? A missing fragment almost always left out, changing the meaning of the quotation entirely: “Jack of all trades, Master of none… Though oftentimes better than Master of one.”

IMAGESASIA 27

Photographed by RONIN URBINA

IMAGESASIA 28

Now an established Legal Operations generalist, Jacqueline isn’t content with just being successful in the corporate paradigm, her plethora of talents also includes being a competitive urban hip-hop dancer, comprising part of a theater and film troupe.

Activities that, like her work, entail working well with people; colleagues and clients alike. In the world of competitive dance, however, it is different in the sense that the client in question isn’t a corporate magnate who needs something done. It’s an audience; a screaming crowd. That and a row of stringent judges. Good thing, then, that natural-leader Jacqueline is remarkably equally good at making a team (or a dance crew) work with slick efficiency, and making a crowd roar for her. Theater, though a completely different metaphorical and literal stage, demands a similar set of skill. One must be able to convincingly present a sense of suspended disbelief through skilled acting plus teamwork, and really connect with an audience’s emotions and thought. Not everyone can do all that. It takes hard work, dedication, commitment, flexibility, and confidence. When asked about what kind of attitude one needs when going through life, especially with so much going on, “you can make it possible, or you can try,” said the ever-aspiring Jacqueline..

Though there are many people unaware of its complete form, California-born Jacqueline Cuevas seems to have taken it to heart a long time ago… And utterly excelled in the process. Starting from simple professional beginnings as administrative support for her assigned work group, Jacqueline began going above and beyond her call of duty and took it upon herself to personally improve the systems and processes she was originally tasked with simply assisting with. Not long after this, she became the owner of several company projects as well as a prominent pioneer of operational initiatives for her entire department. “I‟ve consistently created value beyond my initial or expected role,” she explains. “I was able to do so despite not having any prior experience, despite this field being fairly new in the professional world. . . I took the initiative to research a lot and take every opportunity to learn anything that contributed to my role – which can encompass a wide range of subjects, from financial analysis to people or change management.” A statement that firmly showcases her drive, and the fire that has propelled her so far in such a short amount of time.

IMAGESASIA 29 “It took me a while to learn how to persevere.” And persevere, she did. To great success. Look no further than her very own fashion sense to see that it reflects her determined-but-flexible approach to life. “I usually go for a simple design - I appreciate the flexibility of it. Comfort is also usually a priority when I choose clothes. The outfits I enjoy range from an urban streetwear nature to a clean, classic nature.” Ready for any situation, and rearing to tackle any challenge.

She doesn’t handle all this alone, of course. Having no siblings, Jacqueline feels herself blessed with two wonderful parents. Her mother and father are both working individuals, obvious influences of her hardworking nature.

Her mother Madeline Cuevas, aside from being an aficionado of all things culinary, is a businesswoman in the optical sales trade and various other business avenues. According to Jacqueline, she is “stubbornly and impressively persistent about it,” clearly resonating with her mother. Her father Florante Cuevas, on the other hand, is a civil engineer. The “most intelligent and resourceful person in [her] life” during her youth. She fondly mentioned that he may also be the reason she loves math.

IMAGESASIA 30

Jacqueline has a strong sense of family, being immensely proud of her being able to achieve financial self-sufficiency, and thus gaining the ability to assist her parents through that avenue when they’ve needed it.

With such solid motivations and foundation, it’s comes as no surprise that Jacqueline holds an impressive educational background as well. A graduate of the University of California Berkeley, she majored in an Interdisciplinary field called “Rhetoric.” From this, she is fully equipped with a learned arsenal comprised of multiple disciplines. “It‟s probably a cross between English and Philosophy. Sometimes I like to call it English for aspiring lawyers,” she explained about her course. “It focuses on the „how‟ - how language/words are used, how environment or history may inform a choice in words and framework, etc.. . . Lots of reading, lots of writing, and lots of really interested discussions. I loved how the field made you think deeply about the underlying complexity across so many different topics - from classic philosophy, to film, to law, to social issues, and more.” Taking this passion to the home, Jacqueline is a through-and-through lover of books and movies; and he keeps has an impressive collection of each in her home.

Showcasing beauty and breams, Jacqueline has made this trend of broad excellence evident as early as her undergraduate years and continues it very strongly to this day

IMAGESASIA 31

The road to this point has not always been easy for her, however.

Without going into much detail, she simply states that her family “has gone through some difficult times, and they have definitely shaped who I am today.” The constant thing all throughout the multitudes of challenges that have come, and do come, to Jacqueline is her mindset. It is not one of cold, hard, inflexibility. Rather, it is one that she has been able to apply to nearly everything that has come her way. It is one of versatility, of learning, and of implementation. “I used to be afraid of being a „jack of all trades, and master of none,‟ but now I look at it as versatility. . . [it] has served me very well in life thus far.” One must only look at what she has overcome, and what she has been able to accomplish, to see the truth in her words.

She also jokingly gave special mention to her hair when asked what she’s most proud of in life. Though a single look may compel one to see that there is, in fact, beauty to behold.

The way Jacqueline jests about herself reveals an intriguing side of her: Contrary to what many people may think about the fiery woman, she sees herself as quite an introverted person, needing some time to fully open up, but giving her all to whoever is willing to be patient.

“People wouldn‟t necessarily find me fascinating at first, or even second, impression - in fact, I often get anxious about being boring to others.” This reserved side of her soon gives way to that trademark electric confidence she so easily exudes: “I know that if they give me a chance, once they get to know me, we‟ll get along well, and they‟ll come to like me.” Only someone like Jacqueline could put forth such sureness and initiative, while remaining humble to the core.

And one can see this in how her aspirations still go back to family and those who support. She greatly wishes to be able to travel the world with her parents, friends, as well as on her own. Staying true to her curious nature and insatiable thirst for knowledge, skills, and applying that to her life, Jacqueline fully intends to read every book she’s ever found interesting and become a part of something bigger. The example she gave was a social movement that she firmly believes in. All of this showcases a breathtaking combination of humility, social-awareness, and constant inwardimprovement, something she seems to exhibit as naturally as she does breathe.

Jacqueline Cuevas: Young, phenomenal, invincible. Jack of all Trades, Master of none, definitely better than Master of one.

Location: Baguio Country Club Baguio City, Philippines

IMAGESASIA 32

Ode to Raisin Bread Baguio Country Club’s Signature Bread Raisin bread, You’ve risen from flour, Water, raisin, cinnamon and fire.

Dense not light, flattened and round.

You duplicate the mother’s rounded womb, And and earth’s.

Twice yearly, swelling, how simple You areand how profound.

With apologies to Pablo Neruda

IMAGESASIA 33

Banana Cake

Carrot Cake

Baguio Country Club’s

The Raisin Bread Shop The reputation of Baguio Country Club’s raisin bread precedes it’s delightful presence during breakfast or afternoon snack in homes or offices. It’s the legendary patisserie gift that previously only members of the exclusive Baguio Country Club (BCC) or friends of BCC members can bring to their loved ones back in the city, after a summer vacation.

Nowadays, the famed soft and moist bread loaded with raisins and spiced with the sweet aroma of cinnamon. It’s good to pair it with freshly brewed coffee or tea.

In 1993, the Pastry Shop was built with a sitting capacity of 20 people and was renovated in July 2006. It was inaugurated last November 16, 2006 and was named the “Raisin Bread Shop”.

The Raisin Bread Shop now offers a wide variety of homemade cakes and pastries.

Going back, the Raisin Bread is an old home recipe of the late Mrs. Kate Reed Crosby, formerly the general manager of the Baguio Country Club year 1955-1968. She presented the Raisin Bread during “merienda” time to some members at the Verandah who were having coffee and often wishing that there was something to eat with their coffee. It made everyone’s day and went on to become a staple for the coffee drinker. From a “merienda” which is staple of old, it evolved through the decades into a trademark loaf. Anyone who visits the Club or City of Baguio has to have as “pasalubong”. This is one of the reason why people visit Baguio.

IMAGESASIA 34

IMAGESASIA 35

IMAGESASIA 36

Friends, Agile here again to document some of the great and memorable events I attended lately.

Rustans Sapphire Ball – Celebrating its 65th anniversary celebration, Rustan’s held a gala night featuring masterpieces by renowned designer Tadashi Shoji on the red carpet.

Highlighting pieces crafted specifically for Rustan’s, Tadashi Shoji delighted the fashion elite of Manila during the showcase of his latest fashion collection at the Sapphire Ball.

Tadashi Shoji and Rustan’s Zenaida Tantoco, McKinzie Huang and Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez

Well-regarded guests, members of the press, and partners were invited by the Tantoco family to gather at The Peninsula Manila as a way of celebrating the successful run of Rustan’s 65th anniversary campaign.

Rustan Commercial Corp. president Donnie Tantoco, as well as SSI Group Inc. president Anton Huang, thanked the guests for joining and taking part in the celebration of such an important milestone for the whole Rustan Group of Companies.

The grand finale and highlight of the evening was Tadashi’s Fall collection featuring a 44-pc 1970s Jimi Hendrix-inspired collection.

Part of Tadashi Shoji’s Fall Collection

Hosts Tessa Prieto Valdes and Tim Yap

Tadashi Shoji, Diana Jeanne Lopez and Helen Ong.

IMAGESASIA 37

With Diana Jeanne Lopez, Tadashi Shoji, Connie Haw and Nedy Tantoco

With Tara and Joy Rustia

Lilibeth Campos, Victoria Vazquez and Carlo Rojas

Jean Sabirit, Serla Russell and Ping Valencia

With Tessa Valdes, Lilibeth Campos and Helen Ong

With Josephine Venturina Yu, Roi Phillips and Nini Licaros

IMAGESASIA 38

Connie Haw’s Birthday Bash - One of my best friend’s, Connie Haw celebrated anew another milestone in a full of fun attended birthday bash attended by her closest friends and family. Guests were requested to come in pastel color outfits.

Connie’s guests relished the sumptuous food specially prepared by Chef Jessie while enjoying the continuous flow of pricey wines and good cool music provided by an acoustic band.

My entire Blackbirdviber family came in full force for a dear friend’s birthday dinner-party. The remarkable dinner party was held at Chef Jessie, Rockwell Club.

Birthday girl Connie Haw

Connie Haw and her family

Connie Haw, Kim Haw-Perkins and Hera Geriene.

Chris Badiola, Helen Ong, Connie Haw, Richard Tiu, Marian Ong, Helen Ong and Evie Costa.

With Nikki Tang, Connie Haw and Joy Rustia

IMAGESASIA 39

With Czarina Ablaza- Syquia, Glecy Mojares and Sandie Castro-Poblador.

With Len Olbes, Czarina Ablaza- Syquia, Helen Ong, Marian Ong Nuguid and Shelly Lazaro.

With Mabel Abano, Helen Ong and Johnny Litton.

With Bob Miller, Connie Haw, Fortune Ledesma and Ito Curata.

LetLet Go Cocabo, Connie Haw, Ayna Ong and Julie Choa.

With Mabel Abano, Connie Haw, Joy Rustia and Greggy Vera Cruz.

IMAGESASIA 40

THE LIST THE BUCKET BUCKET LIST By: ALEXIS CRUZ By: ALEXIS CRUZ

Volvo XC40

Christmas is fast approaching and for many people it is also the time to gift oneself or a loved one with a new car or maybe go on that cruise of a lifetime. If you are one of these people, then read on because this edition of the bucket list is just for you.

Now we have featured cars in this column before but most of them were full sized SUVs and sedans. Given the inexorable increase in traffic congestion with no end or relief in sight, it might be time to rethink the size of our cars. Daily gridlock brings with it the realization that bigger is not better in this situation.

The problem of traffic and bad roads is a universal one so it comes as no surprise that major automakers are ramping up development in the small SUV department. All major Japanese car makers have their small SUVs like the RAV 4, CRV, Xtrail, and CX5 to address the growing demand in this segment. But the moneyed segment were not part of this growth because of they were more into the luxury European brands. So not too long ago, Volvo released their compact SUV, the XC40 and BMW announced their X2 which is a compact SUV contender as well.

As you will see below, it is clear that both brands are worthy of a place in one’s bucket list this Xmas season.

Let’s begin with the Volvo XC40. This is a very stylish model that manages to distinguish itself in the sea of compact SUVs. It has a distinctive look that is unmistakably Volvo.

Obviously Volvo is trying to achieve a certain look that began with their S90 / V90 and has filtered down to the XC40 as well.

IMAGESASIA 41

The rear styling also manages to convey that Volvo look. The car looks both stylish and solid.

The interior is where buyers are able to connect most with the car. Volvo interiors have always been attractive, luxurious and functional. The XC40 is no exception either and if the past models are any indication, then those seats are among the most comfortable ones you will find in the automotive market.

IMAGESASIA 42

There are many color combinations available for Volvo cars though availability varies by region. But whether you have a ton of options or a select few, the fact is, all of them are classy and done superbly.

Picture yourself in here and feel all that traffic induced stress just melt away. Aside from comfort, Volvo automotive sound systems are among the best in the industry as well.

A very competent addition to the Volvo lineup, the XC40 will be a force to reckon with in the compact SUV.

IMAGESASIA 43 Let’s now look at the upcoming BMW X2 which from the getgo appears to aiming directly at the compact SUV market as well.

Like the Volvo, BMW has also applied styling cues to its models that makes them look unmistakably like a BMW and like each other. One look at the current 7 series and you will see the resemblance.

The exterior of the car is both sporty and aggressive. Great styling on this car. While the Volvo exudes an image of restrained power, the BMW is downright inyour-face aggresiveness. In fact, this is one of the meanest looking compact SUVs on the market.

The exterior of the car is both sporty and aggressive. Great styling on this car. While the Volvo exudes an image of restrained power, the BMW is downright inyour-face aggresiveness. In fact, this is one of the meanest looking compact SUVs on the market.

The interior of the X2 is typically Teutonic.

Functional, no nonsense and a bit devoid of warmth. In true BMW fashion, its setup to be an efficient cockpit not much else.

IMAGESASIA 44

The backseats, the fronts. look very supportive for the kind of aggressive cornering that BMWs invite their drivers to do.

Without going into the details, suffice it to say that both these cars have excellent power and handling. Because they are European brands, they tend to be very close in specs since they need to be competent in the same environment. They differ a but in terms of corporate philosophy with the Volvo capitalizing on safety and BMW on being the ultimate driving machine.

Two different executions of the compact SUV. They do have some similarities being in the same vehicle class, but both have their unique traits that give them totally different personalities. Given these differences, it is not inconceivable that they find their way to the same household. After all, they do offer 2 very distinct kinds of driving experience. I know I wouldn’t mind having both the Volvo and BMW in my garage.

IMAGESASIA 46

Spectacular Activities at The Piccolo Show

Circus carnival like no other Halloween was made fun with tricks and treats as guests celebrated the much anticipated kiddie event of the year with Piccolo Kids Club’s The Piccolo Show.

Celebrated last Halloween at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s ballroom, all little guests were given their very own Piccolo Kids Club passports that they can use to avail of the freebies that were in stored for them, including an extraordinary face painting, complimentary fresh fruit juices, and a fun photobooth with their photos printed in mugs. The program started with a spectacular magic show that kept the kids amazed. The little tots also participated in the show. Fun games, such as Bring Me and Shoot That Ball, were also played. The parents were not left out, as there were games wherein their participation was included to bond with their kids.

Relays together with their kids and Guess That Song were greatly enjoyed. All winners got amazing prizes from the event sponsors.

With these activities, the participants were treated to a snack buffet, together with other treats such as sweet cotton candies, fresh fruit juices, and delicious slushies. After then, they marched their ways to do trick or treat in the designated stations around the hotel. With bags filled with sweet candies, these little kids truly had a wonderful Halloween.

Open every weekends and holidays from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Piccolo Kids Club is for all the children of the hotel’s in-house guests and restaurant diners. It is a perfect venue for kids to interact with other children in a fun and wholesome environment. With playing toys, coloring items, and exciting movies, children will not miss out on a fun and playful day. The young ones will be encouraged to explore their creative and fun side from experimenting with arts and crafts, and socializing with new friends. The Piccolo Kids Club also offers complimentary refreshments for kids only and participating children must be accompanied by respective guardians.