To the glorious cacophony of the soaring music of Handel, interspersed by fireworks lighting up the sky with sparkling colors, the annual New Year’s Eve party was hosted by Rustan’s Commercial Corporation and Stores Specialists Inc. president Nedy Tantoco at her Forbes Park residence.

The guests — sporting party hats and adding to the joyous babble of merry-making with hooters, whistles and rattles — wished each other the very best of 2009.

Earlier in the evening, guests had assembled at the Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel on the Tantoco compound for a time of reflection at a Mass officiated by Fr. Rey Reyes.

Then followed cocktails on the lawn, after which everyone repaired to the comfort (because by now a slight drizzle was beginning to sprinkle down) of a marquee tent beautifully decorated in festive lights and elegant adornments where they were treated to a sumptuous six-course dinner prepared by the culinary masters of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza — and served by its immaculate team of waiters under the management of Janine de Padua.

Over dinner a program of live entertainment was emceed in breezy style by dance queen Becky Garcia and John Gaddi, who introduced soulful songstress Anna Tirol (with businessman beau Alex Ledesma looking on fondly) who rendered popular Filipino and Western numbers. Balladeer Bo Cerrudo’s operatic voice soared as he sang classical and popular standards.

The Music Genre Band provided the sounds for the energetic rounds of dancing that the guests indulged in, while at the same time building up an appetite for the yummy breakfast spread that awaited.

The guest list to this annual party — now in its 18th year or so, according to Nedy — and with Nedy’s close friend DJ Lopez being acknowledged as having been present every year — is an occasion for Nedy’s old and new friends to bond in a spirit of fun and goodwill, and renew hopes for the year ahead.

Guests this year around included Italian Ambassador Rubens and Cosetta Fedele with their children Mahael and Shahana who were visiting from Italy, Canadian Ambassador Robert and Beverley Desjardins with their Ontario-based student daughter Jasmine and teenage son Maximilian (who showed particular delight when he won a table prize at the raffle) and Dutch Ambassador Robert Brinks.

Among the other guests were the family of Mario Katigbak, the family of Bal and Tessie Endriga, the family of Sonny Tanchanco, of course, the family of Nedy: Anton and Nina Huang, with daughters Nikki and Isabelle, Catherine Huang, newlyweds Michael and Kathy Huang, and Gerome and Sheryl Padilla. Friends who attended were Peter Jentes and his son Mark, Ping Valencia and daughter Renee, Nestor Jardin with close friends Jeremy Barns, and David and Mai Kaufmann, Ado Escudero, Mari Borao from Spain, Aurora Pijuan, Roi Philips and Rosemary Lopez. Coming just in time for the New Year fireworks was the group of Marilen and Victor Valbuena and three-year-old daughter Annica, who arrived with Diether Ocampo and Rima Oshuani.

Also joining the year end merriment was a quartet of Dutch guests from the Netherlands, namely Dr. Wim Van der Torre and his teenage sons Dirk, Bourke and Jaap who were the holiday season guests of Becky Garcia and her Greek/German husband Dr. George Sarakinis, who himself was in Manila for the festive season from Rotterdam where he is now based.