Once again, Rupert Jacinto, photographer to the “Faaabvlous,” brings to the most luxurious and rarefied of homes his masterpiece-quality portraits of the country’s cream, achievers, philanthropists, and leaders.

This year’s edition, the 11th of his Faaabvlous series, brings together personalities that, of the last few years, have been visible in the socio-civic scene, men and women who make a difference in the fields of commerce, industry, lifestyle, culture, and politics.

In national governance, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos, are the key subjects of Rupert, who has captured in their portrait the couple’s youthfulness, charm, and warmth, reflective of their popularity and the people’s admiration that they enjoy.

Leading the power and privileged set is Rustan’s chair and chief executive officer Nedy Tantoco whose accomplishments in luxury retail and the promotion of Philippine-Italian relations, as well as her support for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, are legendary and trail-blazing.

Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, who leads the gentlemen subjects of Rupert, is a game changer of Philippine politics, a distinction that he has kept through the years from the 1970s when he defeated in his home province the strongman of local politics, to the 21st century, as he figured prominently in a political struggle from which he emerged as the victor. He went on to achieve more success in local governance and business, especially in tourism in northern Luzon where his estate, Baluarte, with its zoo of tamed wild animals and a museum of the gentleman’s prizes from his international hunting expeditions, is a popular destination for local and international visitors.

On the double covers of Rupert’s latest tome are society mavens Evelyn Fraser and Shirley Sobremente. A highlight of the book is a section aptly named Faaab Faces XI, which features the beautiful ladies of the post-pandemic socially active crowd, or Party People, as DAILY TRIBUNE Social Set columnist Agile Zamora describes her ilk. Along with Agile in these exclusive pages are philanthropist environmentalist Mache Torres Ackerman, charity worker and model mother Maru Go, car entrepreneur and best-dressed lady Malou Martinez and cabinet member and leading light of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Katrina Ponce Enrile.

In his introduction, Rupert explains that the title Faaabvlous XI “is beautifully borrowed from the Washington Post’s headline/interview which appeared on the front page of the Lifestyle section: “Rupert Jacinto: Photographer to the Faaabvlous. Soft opening his way into high society… a disco version of Lord Snowdon, who has been snapping his way into the parlors of some of America’s most socially prominent women.”

Each of the Faaabvlous XI portraits, without a doubt, will occupy a place of honor in each of the homes of the subjects, carefully selected by Rupert for their charm, eminent social standing, the good work they do for society, and their effervescent personalities.

I must mention here, with due humility, that I wrote the “Notes on the Artist,” which he generously described as “treasured words that I shall always cherish, as it beautifully embodies my career as an artist-photographer.”