Arenas spreads charity wings

THE staff at the Island Shangri-La greet her like a long lost friend. And the maitre 'd at the tony Petrus Restaurant which affords one of the best views in town is more than happy to accommodate her wish for bird's nest soup to be brought up from the Chinese restaurant 50 floors below.

It's lunch a deux with wealthy and well-connected Filipina socialite, Rosemary ''Baby'' Arenas (pictured right), who tells Keeping Posted that she is here to arrange the visit of Gorbachev to Manila.

''Mikhail?'' we inquire. ''No, no, his artist nephew Yuri,'' she replies. ''I am meeting his people here to talk about an exhibition he will hold in Manila and at which we hope to auction one of his paintings for the Padre Pio Lend-a-Hand Foundation which helps street children.'' Any mention of the name ''Arenas'' in the Philippines is usually prefaced by the word ''controversial'' - the label stemming from a romantic liaison she is believed to have had with President Fidel Ramos.

But the elegant lady herself offers a glancingly wounded look when the matter is delicately broached.

''This is something I cannot understand,'' she says. ''I'm only trying to help people and bring a little happiness to their lives - and there is nothing controversial about that. So it must be put down to jealousy and envy, mostly politically inspired.

''In fact, that is why I like coming to Hong Kong. To get away from all that negative sniping and relax with close friends here.'' Friends like industrialist and philanthropist Eric Hotung and his wife Patricia, who have contributed generously to her charitable foundation.