Golfers, leisure enthusiasts and sports aficionados turned up in their comfy yet stylish outfits bearing the iconic Pete the Penguin logo for the launch, on 18 September, of Original Penguin’s latest golf collection. Nine pairs of guests participated in a friendly mini golf competition at the event called Pete’s Par-Tee and held at the North Court of the Power Plant Mall in Makati City.
Sam Godinez-Valenciano, a photographer and graphic designer, won the grand prize with her brother Mikel Godinez by what seems like pure luck and a bit of strategy. “I’ve tried mini golf for fun, but I have, like, no golfing skills,” she told DAILY TRIBUNE. “It’s my brother who started playing golf recently. We chose simple holes first then worked our way through the rest.”
“I’m here for the brand,” she explained on her attendance. She went on describing the shirt she’s wearing by the brand that’s officially called Original Penguin Golf by Munsingwear and known as a division of the Perry Ellis International fashion empire. “It’s light, it’s Dri-Fit [material].”
“I’d probably wear this playing football. I actually play more football,” Godinez-Valenciano said, adding that the shirt is perfect for running mommy errands. She and her husband Paolo Valenciano, a popular director of concerts, have two children. “So, I’ll actually rush there now to breastfeed.”
The first runner-up spot went to sports anchor Andrei Felix and his fiancée Pauline Verzosa, a sports reporter. They are likewise non-golfers, but they’ve been wanting to learn how to play the sport. “She wants,” Felix said of Verzosa. “She’ll be a better player.”
ANTHEM Group CEO Cheryl Lao and chairman Ericson Lee awarded the grand prize to siblings Sam Godinez-Valenciano and Mikel Godinez for winning the friendly mini golf competition.
He then explained, “I come from a family who plays golf. I went with my dad so many times to take us through the driving range. I feel I don’t have the patience for it. Because I always feel to go right away. But it’s something that we’re always looking forward to play eventually.”
“The main reason why we’re here is I’ve been a believer of Penguin,” he pointed out. “I have a couple of shirts. I like the fabric. I like the design. It’s very classic and classy. You can wear it anywhere.”
Among the celebrity guests was sportscaster and golfer Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, who came with her son Paul Hizon. GMA-7 actor Benjamin Aves and his model-girlfriend Chelsea Robato also joined the friendly mini golf competition. They were joined by model Gita Gumabao and content creator Stevie Eigenmann, who’s the youngest daughter of the late actor Mark Gil.
Other attendees included filmmaker Robbie Dinglasan, fashion designer Sari Lazaro Tiu, sports anchor Charles Tiu, news anchor Rizza Diaz and basketball player Nick Demusis.