Collage: Benny Uy; Sthanlee Mirador & John Salangsang; Bradford Adkins & Richard Lao
LOS ANGELES—A dazzling tableau of high fashion, gourmet food, fine wines, elegantly attired celebrities, VIP guests and flashing cameras marked the launch party of ABS-CBN International’s Lifestyle Network at the Legendary Park Plaza Hotel, host to Hollywood’s elite in the 1920s.
Time Warner Cable carries Lifestyle Network in Los Angeles, San Diego and Hawaii.
A panoramic scan of the courtyard and red carpet showed many familiar faces among the 500 invited guests. Social media were inundated with real time image uploads of on-goings and lots of kudos.
Among the celebrities spotted were Apl.de.ap of Black-Eyed Peas; vintage intelligence extraordinaire Doris Raymond; designers Alan del Rosario, Carlyn Calloway and Alexis Phifer; Fritz Friedman of Sony Pictures; Kaya Jones of the Pussycat Dolls; TV host and model Vanessa Minnillo; celebrity stylist Kyle Blackmon,
Also seen were chef Cecilia de Castro, head of the Academy of Culinary Education in Los Angeles who has worked with Wolfgang Puck and restaurateur Patrick Terrail; Filipino local stars including actor-director Bernardo Bernardo, legendary pop-jazz singers Louie Reyes and Joannie Feliciano of ABS-CBN Foundation International, former Adobo Nation co-host and commercial model Jaja Bolivar, news anchors Maria Quiban and Bob de Castro of Fox11.
Cher Calvin of KTLA5 hosted the fashion show that featured the designs of celebrated Filipino designers Jay Nicolas Sario of Project Runway and Alexis Monsanto, founder of West Hollywood-based fashion design studio, Alexis Monsanto Atelier.
Providing stellar entertainment on the runway were Cheesa of The Voice Season 2 and YouTube violinist sensation CryWolffs! Directing the show was ABS-CBN North America’s Head of Production & Global Head of Theatricals John-D Lazatin.
Leading the numerous Filipino community leaders who were present were Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Maria Hellen Barber de la Vega and husband Joveno “Bing” de la Vega.
Trays of marinated filet mignon satay, bottom mushroom adobo, ancho pork tenderloin, smoked salmon pastrami rolls and the like were served by the dynamic teams of chef Rudy Janeo Jr. of Zagat-rated Ventano Italian Grill in Las Vegas and restaurateur Lem Balagot of the very famous food landmark L.A. Rose Café Hollywood.
With the unprecedented success of its flagship product, The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Filipino on Demand, its video on demand service on cable, ABS-CBN International expanded its content coverage to Filipinos in the US by offering Lifestyle Network back in April.
In an onsite interview with TFC’s “Balitang Showbiz” host Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN North America Managing Director & Global Content Head Olivia de Jesus said, “The programs that you will find in Lifestyle Network are very much aligned to the passions of Filipinos living in America. We’re out to fulfill your passions and make you realize your dreams. This is a major milestone in our 20 years of service to the Filipinos here in the US.”
“We are very pleased to have Time Warner Cable as our partner in bringing Lifestyle Network to the Filipino community in Southern California and Hawaii,” said ABS-CBN North America Regional Marketing Head & Senior Director Jun Del Rosario. “We hope to see Lifestyle Network as a true destination channel to as many viewers as possible who are interested in its four pillars of Self, Food, Home and Travel.”
Lifestyle Network’s launch party was sponsored by Peroni, VuQo, Standing Sun Wines, LA Colors, Lierac Paris, Phyto Paris, MUD: Make-Up Designory and Sweet 9.
Lifestyle Network is available on Channel 683 in Los Angeles, Channel 691 in San Diego and Channel 683 in Hawaii for no additional charge to Time Warner Cable digital customers with a subscription to The Filipino Channel on the Los Angeles, San Diego and Hawaii systems.
For more information, visit www.twc.com.