It was a feast of beauty and achievement as PeopleAsia gathered its “Women of Style & Substance” awardees for a sumptuous power lunch at the Pavilion of the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila.
Hosted by famed Swiss watch and jewelry brand, Charriol, the affair was a gathering of the country’s most stylish and successful women. Over a sumptuous Peruvian lunch, the women gamely shared their stories, struggles and their sources of inspiration.
(Standing: Philippine Airlines’ Ria Domingo, Laurence Ligier of CAMELEON, PeopleAsia publisher Babe Romualdez, Geoselle Dela Cruz, Chef Jessie Sincioco and FINO’s Rose Ann Bautista; Seated: Asia’s Next Top Model (Cycle 5) winner Maureen Wroblewitz, Generation Hope’s Nanette Medved Po, Undersecretary Berna Romulo Puyat and Joy Wambangco Rustia)
SSI marketing communications head Mitch Suarez and Charriol merchandise manager Shirene Abel welcomed this year’s awardees to the intimate affair, which also marked the brand’s second year of partnership with PeopleAsia for the highly anticipated list.
Also present was PeopleAsia publisher and newly appointed Ambassador to the US, Babe Romualdez, and editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez. Speaking to the attendees, Joanne noted that “words aren’t needed to know what a woman of style and substance is. All you have to do is look to the lady beside you and you will know for sure.”
(PeopleAsia editor-in-chief, Laurence Ligier and Nanette Medved Po)
(Binibining Pilipinas International Mariel de Leon and Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters)
(Maureen Wroblewitz meets Babe Romualdez)
Later that day, the women were glammed up for a photo shoot that followed a “Power & Beauty” theme. In between shots, as the women chatted with the writers and among themselves, those around the, got a glimpse of a new set of role models for younger girls — women who are beautiful on the outside, strong on the inside and inimitable all throughout.
Leading this year’s “Women of Style & Substance” are two queens – Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters and Binibining Pilipinas International Mariel de Leon — who will both represent the Philippines in the world stage later this year in their respective beauty pageants.
(Chef Jessie Sincioco with PeopleAsia publisher Babe Romualdez)
(Rose Ann Bautista poses with Undersecretary Berna Romulo Puyat)
(Behind the scenes at the awardee’s cover shoot)
World-renowned advocates also take their rightful place in this year’s list. They are Generation Hope’s Nanette Medved Po, who was earlier recognized as one of Forbes’ Asian Heroes of Philanthropy in 2017 for her successful “Hope in a Bottle” campaign, and French human rights advocate Laurence Ligier, founder of Association Cameleon, which supports sexually abused girls from the Philippines by means of legal support, rehabilitation and social re-integration.
Public servants who epitomize sincere and effective government work are also recognized as “Women of Style & Substance.” They are Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo Puyat, who scours far-flung regions in the country to promote agricultural innovations, and Joy Belmonte, who promotes culture and the arts, along with her other duties as the vice mayor of Quezon City.
(Geoselle Dela Cruz)
(Joy Wambangco Rustia)
(Mariel de Leon)
Business acumen and hard work have also paid off for awardees such as Florence Ko, founder of luxury furniture store Furnitalia, Rose Ann Bautista who established homegrown leather goods company FINO which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, Joy Wambangco Rustia, the owner of Madison Galeries who also heads her own packaging business and fashion entrepreneur Alou Koa, the woman who brought luxury brands such as Escada to the Philippines.
Rounding up this year’s “Women of Style & Substance” awardees are Philippine Airlines vice president for marketing Ria Carrion Domingo, who was instrumental in forming PAL’s “Heart of the Filipino” campaign for its 75th anniversary, renowned Chef Jessie Sincioco, who has had the privilege of serving prominent personalities such as Pope Francis himself during his visit to the Philippines, and inspiring youth Geoselle Dela Cruz, who took on eight jobs to graduate cum laude at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Asia’s Next Top Model Maureen Wroblewitz.
(The awardees and representatives from SSI share toast at the lunch)
PeopleAsia‘s “Women of Style and Substance” August-September issue is now available in your favorite bookstores and newsstands. For inquiries and reservations, call Bong at (02) 892 1854, or text (0922) 877 6556.
