Zola Gonzalez-Macarambon
Five hundred and fifty guests walked the red carpet, on 9 October 2015, at the Plenty Valley Arts and Convention Centre, South Morang, Melbourne for the Le’ Oscars Charity Gala. The event was co-organised by Willy De Joya of Wil de Joya Entertainment and Vicki Popovski of Vicoola Fashionista in support of the Kids with Cancer Foundation, Australia.
Guests arrived in elegant fashion and escorted from stretch limousines into the grand entrance bedecked with product and service exhibitions of sponsoring companies and organisations. Various canapes on silver platters floated through the crowd under the flash of lights from the photo wall. People were directed to their tables through a digital seating chart suspended on the ballroom entrance.
The program started with a precision dance number by Eternal Dance Studio. This was followed shortly by the Little Stars Runway Fashion Parade where kids and teens modelled the latest spring trends. Next, models for Vicoola Fashionista strutted the walkway with provocative evening wear. The stunning collection featured gowns in neutral blacks and ivories, deep jewel tones, and pastels in lace and diaphanous material. Styles varied from cut-outs and slits, to patterns that drape and flatter a woman’s curves.
Entrees were served to bossa nova in the pink and yellow lights that filled the venue. The three-course fine dining featured delectable ravioli and peas, salmon with arancini, and lamb. The desert plate was of smooth custard and chocolate spring rolls. Special numbers punctuated the dining and dancing backed by live five-piece band music by Karacruz band. A special routine was presented by Lion Hearts Martial Arts as well as a song number by Ms. Christine Signe. A highlight of the late evening was the Sambasita Brazilian Dancers in full gold and feathered samba regalia. A final number, the Moulin Rouge dance production capped the night’s performances.
Georgina Loukos was Mz. Le Oscars 2015; Jojo Cablinda Tobar, Mz. Charity Le’ Oscars runner-up; Salma Hayek lookalike Alina Ceruba, Mz. Le’ Oscars Celebrity Lookalike; and Mz. Charity Le Oscars 2015, Liza Di Blasio.
Six Le Oscars Fundraising raffle winners also received a dinner for four prepared by Adobo Kitchen celebrity chef John Carasig, $500 Vicoola Fashionista Hiring and Styling Gift Voucher, $500 RubySTAR Sexy Designer Wear Glamour Photoshoot gift voucher, $800 Tacitic Photography Gift Voucher, $1000 Down Under Makeup Gift Box, and $2000 Vicoola Fashionista Gowns Off-the-Rack.
Australian TV host Celeste Billinge and Philippine actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith graced the charity event as special guests.
The event was sponsored by Alliance Global, Wil D’Joya Entertainment, Vicoola Fashionista, Downunder makeup, Project 628 Film Media Photography, E and E Events Management, Western Union, ERC Ezy Repairs Caravans, Tacitic, A Pros Light and Sound, Plenty Ranges Art and Convention Center, Ms. Latina Australia, RubyStar, Little Stars Runway, Boutique Cake Designs by Jojo, Mia Sophia’s Dressing Room, 92.3 ZZZ Melbourne Ethnic Community Radio, MHB Photgraphy, The Philippine Times, Adobo Kitchen, Mystic Boutique, Nisha’s Glamorous Jewels, Dalls Poles, Julia M Makup Art, Liz Honey, NS Global, Lion Heart Mixed Martial Arts, Alia Milano, Dennie’s Makup, Makeup by Mishel, Sambasita, Skin deep, Bride Zilla Events, Celeste, Eternal Dance Studio, Glitz and Glamour, Diva’s Glamour and Diamontees, Academy of Makeup, Maurice Rinaldi, Chantique Makeup, and Vicisa Makeup 101.
Damage Control
The evening’s performances did not go without a few hitches. A dance number from the Moulin Rouge was to be performed by Rub Vee Enriquez and company but ended up becoming a solo act with just Enriquez on the dance floor. According to de Joya, the dancers chose not perform after waiting for their turn in the program went longer than expected. An earlier segment – the Little Stars Runway fashion show – went over and above their time which affected the program. Adjustments had to be made in the program after this.
Further complaints included guests not getting served until over an hour after service started. De Joya admitted that there were delays and dinner service on the event was substandard. However, he clarified that the ‘over-an-hour’ wait is an exaggeration since the organisers addressed the matter with the venue supervisor as soon as it came up that evening.
Finally, guests also complained about getting tables in the back or far corners when they booked for VIP seats. De Joya explained how these limited seats were on a first paid-first served basis and that this was made known in announcements months before the event. Also, the fact that VIP tables were allotted to four VIP categories (candidates and their guests, 3 tables; major sponsors; organisers’ immediate family; and general paying public who paid early) made it “impossible to pit everyone on the front tables,” De Joya said.
De Joya hopes that addressing these issues would clear the air and while it may not excuse the event for causing some displeasure, it could explain causes to its imperfections.
