Describe your entertaining style? How do you entertain at home?
I am a maximalist at heart. I love taking inspiration from nature and making my entertaining environment at home a nurturing one. I always make sure every detail of my family’s or loved one's needs is met. For me, it’s also a reflection of who I am on the inside. I like to pay attention to details. I love colour, layering textures and even making ordinary things like Coke bottles or buko juice have a touch of some fun and flair. It’s all about creativity, improvising and just having fun with it. I also have no rules ... I open my china cabinet of curiosities from all my travels, trinkets on my shelves and I just let my imagination do the work!
What is the theme of your set-up? What’s the ambience you want to achieve?
I just started my New Mama home and lifestyle venture called Perla Manila and I wanted it to be a reflection of my home and what I truly use on a daily basis. We have Iraca Palm placemats from Colombia that are handmade by skilled artisans. We have mother-of-pearl inlay handmade works from India. We even have wicker items that add more warmth and texture to any part or your home as well as abaca and nito placemats that are locally handmade too!
For my setup, I immediately thought of doing a Pinoy theme, with fun bukocktails, gin pomelo and of course, Coke rum with calamansi.
As for the canapés, I opted for Pinoy Pica Pica that would take you back to your childhood. Squid balls and fishballs were served as well as puto, sapin-sapin and even pitchi-pitchi!
Then as for dessert, I wanted mini chocolate and ube cupcakes with Filipino toppings. I served some palabok, isaw, puto bumbong to name a few and little cupcakes!
As for the ambience, there was a touch of Filipino and the tropics. By using birds of paradise, orchids and bougainvillea for my flowers, the table just became more vibrant. Topping it off with my fave wicker candlelit pagodas that I wrapped with sampaguita flowers all around, giving that wonderful aroma that is distinctly Pinoy! By far, this was the most beautiful improvisation I have put together for this setup.
See Also: Where To Buy Tropical Home Decor—Aranaz, Perla Manila, And More
What are your favourite tabletop accessories?
Anything and everything really! I love the unique things I collect when I shop locally and from my travels abroad. I used vintage Saint Louis Crystal wine glasses from the Les Puces antique markets in Paris. Local abaca fibre placemats from Kassa by Karen Santos. Bamboo frames and risers from Brazil.
For my place setting, I used both an Iraca Palm and abaca placemat to layer together and a selection of botanical and tropical merienda plates. My very own Goldie bamboo flatware was also a great accent as well as my obsession: fun monogram napkins. These are my buko Pie monogram linens from Cabbana Workshop.
Lastly, my ultimate fave are candelabras. There is just something about a well-lit table and in this set-up, I used my brass banana leaf candelabras for the bukocktails area and on the pica pica spread are little dining table lamps, which is soon to come to my Perla Manila home line with a very special collaboration with another local brand, Flora Magica.
What music do you play?
I love playing Alina Baranz during sunset and cocktail hour and some classics like Marvin Gaye... all on Spotify, FYI!
Read More: Have You Tried 'Only You' by Spotify? Discover Your Unique Streaming Patterns
What type of cocktails do you usually serve? What’s your favourite?
Personally, I like tequila, a good martini or an old-fashioned. But if something lighter, then it would be a glass of my fave Cote de Provence Rosé or a glass of Sancerre wine.
For this Pinoy-themed setup, I opted for my local faves like a refreshing gin pomelo or the classic Coke rum. Simple yet fun and yummy!