Philippine Heritage Society hosts Tertulia Flores de Mayo

In celebration of National Heritage Month last May, the Philippine Heritage Society held the “Tertulia Flores de Mayo: A Celebration of Fashion, Arts & Music” at Casa Blanca, Intramuros last May 30 with the support of Manila Hotel and the Intramuros Administration.

Tertulia is a Spanish word for social gathering. It can also refer to the group of people who meet informally on a regular basis to chat about current affairs, the arts, or other worthwhile topics.

For this tertulia, the Philippine Heritage Society gathered to celebrate the religious-historical-cultural festival Flores de Mayo. The festivities were headed by this year's appointed hermana, Mache Torres-Ackerman.

This cozy colorful & nostalgic soiree, held at the historic Intramuros was packed with fashion, music and arts to delight all present in the event.

Highlight of the evening is the Flores de Mayo Fashion Walk as models Mache Ackerman, Chanel Sun, Sophia Yara, Jennifer Tipton Angeles, Minerva Racuya, Isabel Tiqui Dunn, Maria Charo Calalo, Charo Laude, Ruby Chua, Loubelle Gardiola, Isabel Dennise Garcia, Aileen Geralde, and Rose Tolentino Santiago create their version of Santacruzan wearing glamorous gowns designed by Oskar Peralta, Lito Perez, Frankie de Leon, Peri Diaz, Ole Morabe, Ronaldo Arnaldo, and Shiela Apostol, and jewelry provided by Gerry Sunga.

Gerry Sunga, Georgette Wilson, Sue Santa Maria and Raymond Villanueva

Charo Calalo, Ruby Chua, Loubelle Gardiola and Rose Santiago

Ronaldo Arnaldo, Frankie de Leon, Oscar Atendido, Oskie Peralta, Pando Magtipon and Nathan de Leon

Margareth Siytangco, Tess Castro, Jennifer Tipton and Sherwin Sozon

David, Mache (hermana) and Emilia Ackerman

Chanel Sun, Daryl Timbol,Kyle Sun, Pinky Mission, Cocoy Cordoba, Cel Sun and David Ackerman

Maru Go, Tiffany Cuna, Marivic Aquino and Nelia Sarcol

Frieda Hizon, Kate Bellosillo, Agile Zamora and Bong Prada Lim

Music filled the air as attendees were serenaded with nostalgic tunes from the Marcy Band and kundiman songs from LyrOpera of the Philippines singers Randy Gilongo, Ana Feleo, and Sherwin Sozon.

The arts came in the form of traditional dances from UP Filipiñiana Dance Group and entertaining poetry reading from comedian Prinsipe Makata.

With the Philippine Heritage Society's maxim: “we preserve the past to enrich the future” its founders Tess Castro, Nathan de Leon, and LyrOpera of the Philippines' Sherwin Sozon are unwilling to rest on their laurels and are already planning for a bigger and better Flores de Mayo celebration next year with their new hermana, Kate Bellosillo.

***

Meanwhile, Lulu Boon Beano active businesswoman celebrated her birthday at Bloom Cafe with family and close friends.

Among her guests, this time were the wives of the generals, Cecille Razon, Judy Gutierrez, Malou Noble, Chay Pagdilao former director of tourism Region 3, Carol Uy, sisters Rose and Aster with husband Jing Mendoza head of Loved Flock, nieces Annie and her sister Angela Trillo, friends like Ruth and Ivy, famous artist Dominic Rubio and Vivian Rubio, tuna exporters Jinky and Jerry Rabano, hotel owner and businesswoman Star Dimaculangan, importers Myrna Guasa and Bernee Lee. Chinese businessman and a masterdiver, good-looking Abell Zhang who came to surprise the celebrant with the most beautiful flowers that thrilled everyone.

After the dinner, the live band began to play and led them to dancing. It was truly a fun night to remember.

Happy birthday Lulu! More candles to blow!

Myrna Guasa, Judy Gutierrez, Malou Noble and Chay Pagdilao

Cecil Razon, Myrna Guasa Abell Zhang, Chay Pagdilao, Lulu Boon, Star Dimaculangan, Bernee Lee Carol Uy and Malou Noble

Angela Trillo Annamarie Trillo me Jinky Rabano and Judy Gutierrez

Lulu Boon

Dominic wife Vivian Rubio, Aster Mendoza and Jing Mendoza, Jinky and Jerry Rabano

Vivian and Dominic Rubio with Lulu Boon Beano