Call her the 'Filipiñiana godmother.' First Lady Marie Louise 'Liza' Araneta-Marcos thoughtfully solved at least 14 'Cinderella' problems in the lead-up to the country's 125th Independence Day on June 12.

To be more specific, and albeit sans a wand, she vanished any fashion apprehension any of the top female diplomats to the Philippines may have had upon receiving an invitation to the Independence Day Vin d' Honneur. The affair is also known as the traditional reception hosted by the President in Malacañang Palace to cap the most important national holiday.