TIME was when no high-society event in Manila would be complete without the presence of Imelda Marcos.
But not even the fact that Imelda was one of Piaget's best customers during the days when she and her husband ran Philippines Inc could get her one of the sought-after gilt-edged invitations to the weekend bash that managing director Daniel Perel threw in Manila.
Keeping Posted was invited along to maintain a watchful eye on the proceedings. But when we asked dapper Frenchman Perel why Imelda wasn't among the bejewelled throng either at the private showing of the fabulous Piaget collection in the luxury Mandarin Oriental or at the gala dinner in a Forbes Park mansion, he chose to pass on it with a knowing smile.
Incidentally, one of the sweet young things at the dinner told us that her boyfriend brought her often to Hong Kong. 'I love it because he always buys me expensive jewellery when we are there,' she gushed.
We have to admit that she didn't quite know what to make of our assertion about it being a well-researched fact that love blossoms best in cities that have a Piaget or Cartier boutique.
