Monday, May 23, 2011

PRINCESS DR BECKY LEOGARDO'S BIRTHDAY BASH AT GRAND MILLENNIUM

kee@fswmag.com

PRINCESS DR BECKY LEOGARDO CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY ON 20 MAY 2011 AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM BALLROOM
L1230264.JPG

It was the TIARA BALL OF THE YEAR!
L1230264.JPG
Kee Hua Chee and Princess Dr Becky Leogardo on the glittering, golden hued stage.
L1230264.JPG
His Excellency Mr Paul Jones, Ambassador of United States of America and Mr Michael Mantz, top criminal lawyer from The Hague, Holland
L1230264.JPG
Nilou de Luca Gabrielli with spectacular pearl tiara from Elegance Club and His Excellency Mr Folco de Luca Gabrielli the Italian Ambassador
L1230264.JPG
HE Madame Lyndmila Vorobyera and her husband Mr Theodor Ozakenov
L1230264.JPG
His Excellency Mr Victoriano Lecaros Ambassador of Philippines, Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and Madame Melissa Lecaros
L1230264.JPG
Elizabeth Lemay and Colonel Jacques Lemay the Defence Adviser from British High Commission




Since the last few years it has become the tradition for this generous, kind-hearted and beautiful Filipina princess to celebrate her birthday with a tiara themed ball and this year followed the same tradition.
L1230264.JPG
Florence Cho, Tracy Ong of Elegance Club, The Birthday Girl, Datin Maylene and Kee Hua Chee
L1230264.JPG
I wore my tiara on my waist and had an entire chandelier on my shirt!
L1230264.JPG
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, heavier still is the body that had to carry this 3 kg chandelier shirt!
L1230264.JPG
I did a workout each time I lifted my arms!
L1230264.JPG
Ladies glittering in tiaras
L1230264.JPG
Jeremy and Isabelita Figgins, Puan Sri Sylvia and Tan Sri Othman Marican
L1230264.JPG
Even small, dainty tiaras make a big difference
L1230264.JPG
Jenny and Kenny Loh of Lord's Tailor, Malaysia's finest made to measure tailor at Bangsar Shopping Centre and AmpWalk KL
L1230264.JPG
Mrs Catherine Jones, wife of the American Ambassador Mr Paul Jones and Rozita Shuib
L1230264.JPG
Tracy Ong, owner of Elegance Club Jewellers at Bangsar Shopping Centre and Vivian.
L1230264.JPG
Danny Siew and Ace Tang
L1230264.JPG
The KLM contingent headed by Estee Ng (centre)
L1230264.JPG
Suguna Madhavan and Jeroen Rieners
L1230264.JPG
Princess Dr Becky Leogardo with her Filipina friends
L1230264.JPG
Tracy Ong of Elegance Club showing off her mini tiara pinned to the side.
L1230264.JPG
Datin Maylene and Princess Dr Becky Leogardo
L1230264.JPG
Tiara-ed titans
L1230264.JPG
Two well matched couples
L1230264.JPG
Gorgeous even from the back!
L1230264.JPG
Zeny Ladores, Virgie Lim and Raquel Ladores


Society ladies seldom get a chance to wear tiaras since the days of European-style coronation balls are long gone hence many Malaysian ladies look forward to receiving her invite that stipulated 'Tiaras to be Worn'.

Finally, a golden opportunity to dust the dust off your tiara and wear it!

Alas, very often even the richest and most sociable of titled ladies do not own tiaras since one hardly gets a chance to wear one these days. Even if you are rolling in cash, you may be peeved if requested to go commission a tiara just to attend an event. In these egalitarian days, one safely assumes even if one turns up without a tiara, one would not be thrown down the stairs and kicked into Jalan Bukit Bintang for breach of protocol.

As usual, Princess Dr Becky Leogardo set the rule and applied it by supplying the tiaras! Any guest who did not own nor wish to buy a tiara from her favourite jeweller Tracy Ong of Elegance Club would be given one!

Alas, the tiaras given by Princess Dr Becky were not of platinum set with diamonds and precious stones. She bought them from Manila on her last trip and were faux tiaras composed of gilt and crystals. Mind you, they were not cheap as I believe each cost under RM 100.


Around 80 fortunate guests turned up dressed in ballgowns as befitted the tiaras. Said many, "It is so much fun to wear tiaras even if they are costume versions. Ladies always feel like a princess or queen when wearing one."

Tiaras are not to be confused with crowns worn by European kings and queens which can weigh a few kilos which is great if you are seated all the time on elevated thrones. Tiaras are light, elegant and feminine, rendering the wearer a fairytale quality.

Since you cannot really don a tiara amid a mop of wild curls, a sleek, combed chignon or bun is required which instantly makes any woman look regal and elegant!

Many invitees made the effort to get their tiaras in advance from Princess Dr Becky Leogardo. A few did their hair and then came early to Grand Millennium Ballroom to install their tiaras.

Princess Dr Becky Leogardo looked ravishing and princessy in a stunning black and white gown made for the occasion by Malaysia's top designer Michael Ong who arrived with a cape, making him look like a cross between Batman and one of the Three Musketeers.

Michael Mantz, top criminal lawyer from The Hague, flew in just a day earlier from Schipol, Amsterdam to celebrate his wife's birthday. Despite the long flight and jetlag, he was his usual jolly, fun self.

Four sexy, scantily clad ladies wearing enough sequins, feathers and beads to rival me were also waving, smiling and posing with guests. Since they looked sexier, had better bodies and bigger boobs and were more curvaceous than most women I know, they had to be dancers from Ika Fancy, Malaysia's ultimate paperdoll revue! The cleavages of these ladies made the female guests sigh and their husbands could hardly keep their eyes off such delightful distractions.
L1230264.JPG
These ladies were so busty and beautiful with such big boobs they simply had to be men don't you think?
L1230264.JPG
Here we go again


Of course also on hand to welcome guests though they were unaware of their duties were the Birthday Girl's children, Daniel Mantz, nearly 4 and the new twins Gloria and Raphael Mantz, now nearly 1. They are my god children, all three of them! Can you believe NO ONE has ever asked me to be godfather to their kids? How bizarre considering I have millions of friends and admirers! Alas, a few (who have no children of course) told me to consider the possibility I was never asked to be godfather as I am not listed as a millionaire who can be counted upon to dish out expensive presents or fat angpows to their kids on birthdays and at Christmas! Sad but true, this is the way of the world and dear Princess Dr Becky Leogardo is the only one who chose me based on true friendship with no expectation! When I was in university, my lecturer told me in life you can count the number of real friends with one hand. Of course I laughed at him and said no way, I was bound to have hundreds if not thousands of adoring friends. So now I retreat in defeat!
L1230264.JPG
The darling twins, Gloria and Raphael Mantz! My godtwins!
L1230264.JPG
Gloria Mantz, Berta and Daniel Mantz
L1230264.JPG
Daniel adjusting his brother's head for my camera!
L1230264.JPG
Raphael's hair seems practically blonde! Well, he is half mat salleh!
L1230197.JPG
Raphael Mantz tried to escape..
L1230197.JPG
But it was Gloria who succeeded! Note her cute mini tiara!


After cocktails in the foyer, guests glided into the Ballroom and admired the arrangement of the table setting which was in the form of an X instead of the usual separate round tables. It was such a clever, pleasing idea that for sure it will set a new trend and from now on, small parties will flaunt such seatings.
L1230264.JPG

While everyone was considered a VIP, there were 4 ambassadors; HE Mr Paul Jones the Ambassador of United States of America and his wife Mrs Catherine Jones, HE Mrs Lyndmila Vorobyera the Ambassador of Russia and her husband Mr Theodor Ozakenov, HE Mr Folco de Luca Gabrielli the Ambassador of Italy and his wife Nilou de Luca Gabrielli and of course HE Mr Victoriano Lecraos the Ambassador of Philippines and his wife Mrs Melissa Lecaros. Also present were Colonel Jacques Lemay, Defence Adviser from British High Commission and his wife Elizabeth.

By the way, I was the Master of Ceremony as usual. I welcomed one and all on behalf of Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and invited Michael Mantz to make his usual speech. Then came the cake cutting ceremony with two cakes as one came from Rosemarie Wee, PR regional director for Asia Pacific for ShangriLa hotel.
L1230264.JPG
Cutting her birthday cake as her children and husband looked on
L1230264.JPG
This cake was from Mrs Rosemarie Wee, regional PR director of ShangriLa
L1230264.JPG
The second cake
L1230264.JPG
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRINCESS DR BECKY LEOGARDO!
L1230264.JPG

Ika Fancy Dancers did a short opening act and dinner was served.

Of course as per tradition, all parties hosted by Princess Dr Becky Leogardo come with lucky draws. This was her birthday but she was also giving away presents! The guests who came to pick the lucky numbers were the Russian ambassador, Catherine Jones, Puan Sri Sylvia Marican, Isabelita Figgins and Nilou de Luca. For the first time, I did not win anything! But each guest received a goody bag containing inonic toothbrushes and Alexa 24k Gold Body Shampoo so it was a win win situation.
L1230264.JPG
Gloria came to wish her mother Happy Birthday


The highlight was the Tiara Parade when 8 ladies wearing precious and exquisite tiaras went on stage to model. The tiaras were from Tracy Ong, owner of Elegance Club at Bangsar Shopping Centre who specialises in tiaras. Many of Malaysia's crowned heads and princesses have commissioned tiaras from her and the reason is obvious! Kate Middleton aka Duchess of Cambridge will do well to consider ordering a made to measure tiara from Tracy Ong who wore a discreet, small tiara at the back of her bun as she is not the showy type, preferring her clients to bask in the limelight.

The Exciting Eight who modelled their tiaras were Datin Maylene Yong, Puan Sri Sylvia Marican, Isabelita Figgins, Nilou de Luca, Lim Meng Hong, Florence Cho, Aileen Chan and Nadia Abdullah.
L1230264.JPG
The 8 tiara-ed beauties with Princess Dr Becky Leogardo in middle
L1230264.JPG
Doing the royal wave!

L1230264.JPG
Lim Meng Hong
L1230264.JPG
Datin Maylene Yong
L1230264.JPG
Florence Cho
L1230264.JPG
Nadia Abdullah
L1230264.JPG
Datin Su Day, Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and Datuk Steve Day
L1230264.JPG
Michael Mantz is sandwiched between two lovelies.
L1230264.JPG
Rozita Shuib and friend
L1230264.JPG
Shamsuria Abdullah and friend



Then it was the turn of the gentlemen to give awards to the Best Dressed Ladies. The men who trotted on stage included the Philippines and Italian ambassadors, Tan Sri Othman Marican, Datuk Steve Day, Kenny Loh, Dato' Peter Yong, Jeremy Figgins and Jeroen Rieners. The 10 Best Dressed Ladies were the Exciting Eight plus Rozita Shuib and Helen.
L1230244.JPG
The 10 Best Dressed!
L1230264.JPG
Aileen Chan with her Best Dressed award
L1230264.JPG
Nilou de Luca
L1230264.JPG
Puan Sri Sylvia Marican
L1230264.JPG
Rozita Shuib
L1230264.JPG
Helen
L1230264.JPG
3 Beauties; Nadia, Datin Maylene and Rozita
L1230264.JPG
Datin Maylene Yong
L1230264.JPG
Rozita looking voluptuous
L1230264.JPG
Nadia looking triumphant


And so ended another memorable birthday party as guests slowly drifted home around midnight. Most took the opportunity to go on stage to pose amid the dreamy. frothy curtains and buntings so glamorous it could have been a wedding dias.

THE END

2 comments:

Maylene "Heart 2Heart" said...

Great writer.....Kee hua Chee

Maylene "Heart 2Heart" said...

Great party....great writer....great MC and great host! Cheers