Every year, Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdi-nand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. hosts the Governor’s Ball not out of capricho but to raise funds for a cause. This year’s beneficiary was the Gameng Museo Iloco Norte in Laoag, a special project of his wife Atty. Liza Araneta Marcos and the Gameng Foundation Inc. headed by Araceli Drake.
In his welcome toast at the ball held at the Sierra Madre ballroom of Fort Ilocandia, Gov. Bongbong said:
"As you wine and dine this evening, think that you are not only having a rather fancy dinner but also that you are helping us celebrate the traditions, the culture, the history of Ilocos Norte."
Gracing the ball were former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Spanish Amb. Ignacio Sagaz and wife Aurora, former Belgian Amb. Christian Tanghe and wife Gul, Italian Amb. Rubens Fiedele, Ilocos Norte Cong. Imee Marcos, Vice Gov. Windell Chua and provincial board member Michael Marcos Keon… ditto, Paoay Mayor Bobby Clemente, Batangas provincial board member Mark Leviste, GSIS vice president Eric Zerrudo.
Seen also were Irene Marcos Araneta, Museo Ilocos Norte curator Al Valenciano, Nedy Tantoco, Mike and Maryann Luis, Golden and Bernice Ocampo, Pilar Franco, Ester Bonoan, Bonito Singson of Plaza Maestro complex, Alfredo Roca of Punta Fuego, model/ VJ Mark San Diego, historian/ author Ricky Jose, the Chua clan of Batac … ditto, the inseparables – Maurice Arcache, Pepper Teehankee, Christine Dayrit, Butch Bonsol, Arnel Patawaran, Glenn Gale, Hemma Garcia, et al.
Cocktails were truly GI (genuine Ilocano) — duhat wine and cornicks.
Dinner started with the famous Pasuquin bread, the biscocho served with Superior soup of shrimp dumpling and bokchoy followed by lumpia with jimaca and carrots. Tangigue ceviche salad preceded the main entree, roast pork with garlic rosemary and san nicolas molasses. Dessert was buko pandan with coconut cream and mango compote with chocolate sauce which the guests followed with a choice of salabat and tanlad tea or Adam’s arabica blend.
The governor and his wife led the ballroom dancing which lasted through the night.
