Oil and canvas came to life during the fashion gala hosted by the Society for Cultural Enrichment Inc. (SCEI) in cooperation with the Ayala Museum.
Some of the country’s noted couturiers came up with their creations, which were inspired by the works of celebrated artists Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Justiniano Asuncion and Fernando Zobel. These designs were paraded before an adoring crowd of art patrons and fashionistas alike. Indeed, the themes, colors, subjects and lines of masterpieces that hung on the walls of the museum, run privately by the Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI), stimulated couturiers to surpass themselves, thereby making the beautiful truly dazzling, the handsome irresistible.
The proceeds of the benefit dinner-dance event were earmarked for cultural literacy improvement and art appreciation among public school teachers and schoolchildren and for tangible cultural heritage conservation, which are ongoing and continuing advocacies of SCEI.
At some point in the program, several members of the audience thought they were watching a trailer of the forthcoming charitable event more popularly known as the Best Dressed of the Philippines. It was understandably a logical conclusion since most of the models that night were Best Dressed awardees and Style Icons dressed by their favorite designers such as Frederick Peralta, Paul Cabral, Jun Escario, Roy Gonzales and Amir Sali.
The affair was truly well managed by the committee headed by SCEI chairperson and president Angola Consul Helen Ong and the Ayala Museum team headed by AFI senior director of arts and culture Mariles Gustilo and museum senior curator and head of conservation Kenneth Esguerra.
Congratulations to all! A woman of beauty & ingenuity
It was definitely an evening to remember for the Philippine Cancer Society’s Best Dressed awardee Jacqueline Michelle Cañiza Lim, charming daughter of lawyer Gilda Lim, as she celebrated her natal day with loved ones aboard a 70-foot yacht for a three-hour sunset cruise along Manila Bay.
The masquerade-themed party doubled as a victory bash for the accomplished celebrator as she added two more achievements under her cap: passing the Real Estate Licensure Exam and being accepted as a scholar for a master’s degree at the prestigious University of Oxford in England.
She treated her guests to a mouthwatering selection of dishes and overflowing cocktails all throughout the night. Much to the delight of the endearing celebrator and her guests, the lovely evening ended with two spectacular firework displays.
Here’s to another blessed and magnificent year, Michelle!