The Season Of Hope

I have beautiful memories of Intramuros, I remember the first time I walked its cobbled streets on a field trip in Grade School. My college best friend got married in San Agustin Church wearing my first Maria Clara design. Always, I am transported back in time when Manilenos were dressed in white suits and Panama hats. They say Manila was much cooler then, the breeze of Manila bay wafting inland up to Marikina.

When I learned that Gawad Kalinga was taking charge of building homes for the walled city's informal settlers, I was more than willing to do my share in helping raise awareness in restoring Intramuros to its full glory. The Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP) which I currently head will be presenting a fashion show at the GK Hope Ball on November 9th. Gawad Kalinga Champions will be modeling modern Filipiniana creations by the council members, a chunk of the cost of their gowns and barongs will go to the housing fund.

On the same night, there will be an auction to raise more funds for Kalinga Intramuros, some of the items for bid are Bencab's Soldier and Activist pencil drawings, an Anita Magsaysay-Ho tapestry, Abdulmari Imao's Sarimanok, Arturo Luz's Juggler, and a Toby Guggenheimer - Ed Yrazabal chair. A truly 'feel good' event to start the most beautiful season of all.

San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila

The GK Hope Ball press launch was held at Barbaras.

Barbaras' 18th Century charm

Meluchi Rivera

Hope Ball 2012 chair Pinky Antonio, and Rose Cabrera

Miss Philippines Water 2012, Samantha Purvor

Bryan McClelland

Bamboo bow tie by Bryan McClelland, made by GK communities.

With fellow designers Randy Ortiz and Tonichi Nocom

Caring for the past, sharing for the future.

To purchase tickets, please contact Cat Turingan +63917 891 7109 / +632 215 9152 / gkhopeball@gk1world.com

Comments

The House Of Dr. Luis Santos

Our tour of Malolos continues, from the Cojuangco ancestral house http://myrefrigeratordoor.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-cojuangco-ancestral-house.html , our gracious host Melecio Cojuangco brought us to the house of Dr. Luis Santos. Mel arranged the visit with one of the heirs of Dr. Santos, George Imperial . From the outside, one would already be in awe of the sheer size of the house. The house was built in 1933, according to the marker by the gate. Upon entering, you will marvel at the grand staircase, the expansive receiving room and the foyer filled with hard bound medical books and mementos of Dr. Santos' career as a well loved doctor in this town. The second floor was something else, as our group slowly ascended the magnificent staircase, my heart literally skipped a beat at the sight of the ceiling mural and Art Deco details. We found out later that the mural was painted by the great Fernando Amorsolo himself. There was a private chapel in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes

Bespoke Dining At Denlim's Kitchen

I first heard of Denlim's Kitchen from my friend Boboy Consunji . Boboy posted photos of the Denlim's pugon liempo (pork belly roasted in a brick stove) on Facebook, and it caused me a couple of sleepless nights. Dennis Lim , the chef and owner serves only one group a night, and dinner is booked nine months in advance. One day, I got a call from Boboy, there was a booking cancelation and he was lucky to get the slot. Excited for the big feast, I walked Mega Mall from end to end, and ate in small portions three days before our appointed day. Denlim's is in San Fernando, Pampanga, a two hour drive from the metro. Boboy, a Kapampangan was our living Waze and historian, we didn't have trouble looking for the place. Free of corkage, we each brought a bottle of red wine, my good friend James Reyes , and Noel Orosa . We were a happy group of twelve, Boboy's friends. Each dish personally served by Dennis were wiped out in minutes. I especially loved the bread ser

The Cojuangco Ancestral House

Our next journey takes us to a historic town in Bulacan, thirty minutes north of Manila. My road trip buddies, my college friends who all share with me the same fascination for heritage houses were privileged by an invitation from Melecio Cojuangco to visit their ancestral house in Malolos. Mel, his cousin in law Marissa Lopa, Rima Datuin and Evelyn Bautista and I discovered each other's funny bone because of our love for the ice cream served in a huge bowl at Peninsula Manila's lobby. One evening, to justify our appetite, we pretended it was my birthday and we had the string quartet play happy birthday for me, from then on, we became good friends. Mel's grandfather, Jose Cojuangco was born at the Malolos house, very near the Barasoain Church. Jose's mother traded rice from Nueva Ecija, sacks transported by boat via the river at the back of the kamalig to Binondo, Manila. Like most turn of the century houses, the Cojuangco house uses piedra china stones f

My Refrigerator Door

Search This Blog