The launching of the Balay Ni Tana Dicang and the K Gallery had all the ingredients of a superb recipe that's why weeks after the event, the hype is still ongoing and the droves of visitors to the ancestral house turned lifestyle museum are still coming!
What is a party without the food? Dah...Diba? Cousin chef Mia Lizares Gonzaga had finger-licking party food ready for everyone perched on cocktail tables spread everywhere in elegant black cloth topped with brown mantel that gave such a dramatic feel and look so fitting for the occasion!
To down the cocktail food was red wine flown in from Manila courtesy of Rene Barbier! One hundred twenty five bottles of red wine! Woo! Thank you so much!
The plants for the evening were sooooo lush and large compliments of greens whiz Francis Te! Patis Tesoro went home to Manila carrying one which she couldn't part with.
To give the greens a hint and a flash of color, hybrid hibiscus were strewn everywhere and it gave a truly refreshing charming balance to the grand ambience.
Paul Lizares was precious as he helped Adjie with the many nitty-gritty!
With the place, the food, the wine, the music all playing in perfect pitch and harmony, the presence of beautiful people made the lovely difference.
The ladies came in their Filipinianas and the men dapper in barongs while the younger ones opted to be smartly casual.
The uncles and the titas who can still remember Tana Dicang were basking in pride and glory of the house where most had warm recollections of many good days gone by! The eldest of the descendants is Tito Louie who arrived with his family plus Tita Aida, and Tita Laura (of the Antonio clan) then Tito Meling, Tita Inday Nonata and Tita Teresing (of the Simplicios and Maria contingent) who, true to the Lizares genre of that generation, came way ahead of the appointed time! There was Tita Baby, Analu Trebol and brood, Tony and wife Emily (of the Nicolas and Encarnacion family). Tita Celiang Lacson (of the Enrique branch), who came with some of her 17 children, still has vivid recollections of Lola Dicang. Tita Charito Mendoza (who is an heir of Efigenia and Felisa) was present from the blessing at four and onwards. So many cousins were all so excited about this occasion that bonded us once again!
Millie of the Lola Celsa Kilayko branch, JB Mapa of Lola Adela Mapa, Toti and Gerry Ledesma of the Emiliano clan and so many really that I fill the whole newspaper pages for the day!
Friends came in hordes too and the common comment was: Finally...we can see the house! The Balay Ni Tana Dicang was indeed the star of the night but a star is lackluster when you don't have minions of fans!
That night, the guests were awed and star struck! Kudos to all who have prepared and came to share beautiful company. You have our eternal gratitude.
