Grandeur reigned supreme at the recent Viennese Ball hosted by the Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines (JSSP) at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La, Manila in Makati City — an enchanting celebration of music, culture, and diplomacy.
In partnership with the City of Vienna and attended by deputy mayor and president of the Vienna State Parliament Ernst Woller, the splendid affair paid tribute to the 200th birth anniversary of Johann Strauss II, with a majestic performance of the Philippine Philharmonnic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of Austrian maestro Rainer Roos. Operatic luminaries Rachelle Gerodias and Byeong In Park captivated the audience while a cotillion of elegant debutantes evoked the timeless charm of Viennese Balls.
JSSP board of advisers Gerry Lane, Tingting Cojuangco, Doris Ho, AJ Violago
Spearheaded by JSSP chairman Monaco Consul General Dr. Fortune Ledesma, president and event chairperson Olga Severino Martel and assisted by co-chairs JSSP treasurer Virginia Lane and Marissa Fenton, the glittering night welcomed diplomats, music aficionados, and Manila’s finest in their evening best, a fitting tribute to a legacy of cultural exchange, refinement, and musical excellence.
Soprano Rachelle Gerodias, Fanny Blanco, baritone Byeong In Park
A substantial donation to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) was also handed to its president Kaye Tinga. Other beneficiaries included music scholars and several cultural and charitable organizations. The success of the evening was also made possible by the support of major sponsors AJ Violago, Shella Marie “Shy” Tan, and Gerry and Virginia Lane, along with gracious donors Nene Leonor and Bobby Alvarez.
Now in its 27th year, the society consistently pursues its vision of a cultured and peaceful nation where music is cherished and loved.
Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig looks resplendent in Jewelmer’s La Mer en Majesté collection.
Icons of elegance by the sea
A radiant celebration of beauty and nature, Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig stunned in La Mer en Majesté, Jewelmer’s breathtaking tribute to the ocean’s magic.
Adorned with golden South Sea pearls, resplendent colored stones, and brilliant diamonds, she moved with quiet strength and timeless grace, echoing the splendor of Palawan’s crystal waters.
The La Mer en Majesté earrings are a cascade of golden South Sea pearls and diamonds echoing the shimmer of ocean foam.
A fusion of Mother Nature’s wonder and exquisite Filipino craftsmanship, the collection captures the elegance of tides, the shimmer of sea foam, and the mystery of the deep. Truly, a dazzling ode to the poetry of the sea.
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You may email me at jjlitton@indanet.com. Follow me on Facebook and YouTube: Johnny Litton by Jayelles PH and on Instagram: @jayellesph.
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