Halloween live set - Elian at HADES: The Black Party (Episode 26)

The Night We Partied in HADES (As published in the Manila Standard Today, Nov 13, 2010) [H]alloween was a night full of madness and mayhem in Manila, with every hot night spot throwing their own themed parties. Without a doubt, one of the definite places to be that night was HADES: The Black Party thrown at Martinis in the Mandarin Oriental Manila. As guests approached the entrance to Martinis, they were greeting with flaming cauldrons and statues of ancient Griffins. The interior of the bar was draped in black cloth as hot models roamed around dressed in their darkest Greek godliness. Firma team Markus Schmitt and Richard Danao dressed up the space with beautiful sculptures and designer lamps. A large slab of decadent Jamon Serrano was propped up on the bar, and all night long guests were treated to ghoulish blood red cocktails and amputated finger candy treats. The waitresses in Martinis donned goddess gowns especially provided by designer Pia Gladys Perey, who was the event’s official wardrobe stylist. The special bar menu for the evening was designed by Martinis manager Javier Berenguer-Testa, and was sponsored by Belvedere vodka and San Miguel Beer.             The music was dark and pumping, as DJs Elian Habayeb and Cocoy Puyat kept the partygoers dancing on the floor till the wee hours of the morning. Some notable costumes included Angelo Villanueva as a black swanned masquerader, Jon Herrera as a glamorous 17th century princess, Erika Aquino and Cheryl Tiu as matching Greek Goddesses Persephone, Frank Shrope and Jens Behrend as The Super Mario Brothers, Elian Habayeb  and Ines Cabarrus as Perseus and Medusa, Tessa Dragon as a 60’s Swinger, and Arrun Bhavnani as an air flight controller. Other notable guests included Star columnist Pepper Teehankee, fashion writer Jujin Samonte, JR Isaac, the lovely Sigrid Villamil, Lucas Raven, ANC’s Boyet Sison, Events Specialist Cacay Moras, Illac Diaz, Mandarin GM Mark Bradford, Mandarin Food and Beverage Director Chico Angeles, F.A.S.H’s Ferdi Salvador, Moet-Henessey’s Olga Azarcon, glam girls Kate Moynihan, Gerri Giles, Amy Alvarez and Sarah Rosser, and SeaAir’s Nikos Gitsis. It was definitely a night that will live long in our memories—and there certainly was nothing like it in the city! Talk about one wild and crazy Halloween!                      (Subscribe with iTunes to get this and future episodes of our critically acclaimed podcast directly into your iPod, iPhone, or computer)