Cover The elegant tablescape prepared at the Manila House
The elegant tablescape prepared at the Manila House
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Inside the Gemini Blast at Manila House, where Tina Cuevas, Stanley Ng and Kirk Bondad marked their birthdays in style with music, laughter and gourmet dishes
Manila House filled up with light and laughter as friends gathered to celebrate the birthdays of good friends Tina Cuevas, Stanley Ng and Kirk Bondad. Aptly named Gemini Blast, the triple celebrations livened up with song and dance lasting until the wee hours.
Hosted by Honourary Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Jojie Dingcong, the evening was graced by familiar faces from their inner circles, such as Alice Eduardo, Dr Hayden Kho, Jr, Sheila Romero, Steven Tan and Carla Tengco, among many others. “The overall mood was upbeat and rocking. It was so much fun to see everyone enjoying themselves, and there was a great mix of guests ready and willing to sing. The best performance of the night was by the quadruplets Hayden, Kirk, Stanley and Brandon Espiritu; but the ladies—Alice, Agnes, Sharmila [Hiranand] and Techie [Hagedorn] put up a good fight as they rocked their own solid performance,” says Cuevas.
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Above The birthday celebrators Kirk Bondad, Tina Cuevas and Stanley Ng with their dearest friends
The birthday celebrators Kirk Bondad, Tina Cuevas and Stanley Ng with their dearest friends
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Above Tina Cuevas
Above AA Patawaran, Carla Tengco, Captain Stanley Ng
Tina Cuevas
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Adorning the tablescape were delicate floral arrangements with candlelight, setting the perfect scene for an intimate gathering. Paired with the Manila House’s signature menu—such as the 16-hour roasted beef belly and chicken biryani—and a few exclusive dishes for the evening, guests enjoyed a dining experience thoughtfully curated by Anton San Diego and prepared by chef Gilbert Pangilinan. “It took more or less a month to complete preparations, from saving the date to gentle reminders and finalisation of the menu,” Cuevas tells Tatler.
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Above AA Patawaran, Jojie Dingcong, Tina Cuevas, Cameron Christie, Anton San Diego, Doody Tuason, Michelle Tiangco
AA Patawaran, Jojie Dingcong, Tina Cuevas, Cameron Christie, Anton San Diego, Doody Tuason, Michelle Tiangco
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Demi Padua, Jonathan Matti, Derek Flores
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Wine flowed amidst heartfelt conversations, until it was time for the ceremonial birthday cakes. Cuevas, Ng and Bondad joyfully received their candlelit cakes, presented with the happy birthday song from a roomful of friends and well-wishers.
“The guests all sang and danced the night away! Everybody brought their singing voice, dancing shoes and their party hats!” shares Cuevas.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
