Cover Inside the Tatler Ball Philippines’ lasting impact
Inside the Tatler Ball Philippines’ lasting impact
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Over the years, the Tatler Ball Philippines has transformed from a glittering social gathering into an iconic celebration where philanthropy takes centre stage—setting it apart and defining its true brilliance
Always on high gear, the Tatler calendar ramps up the energy even more in November to celebrate the faces that graced its pages, the partners that stayed close, the community that remained loyal. Across the region, Tatler titles throw the now iconic Tatler Ball with its A-List crowd amid the highest level of glitz and glamour but also an event to share one’s blessings.
That wasn’t the case, however, when the first Tatler Ball was held in 1987 in Singapore. The Ball tradition began as a mere gathering of Tatler elites, held once every five years. It took 11 years for it to become a formal annual local gala tradition.
As the Tatler Asia family grew, its annual balls matured in layers. Black-tie galas assumed creative themes and became events to honour exemplary leaders and showcase bespoke designer gowns, as well as occasions for philanthropy.
Tatler introduced philanthropy as a feature of the Tatler Ball when it launched in the Philippines in September 2002; the Balls in the region soon adopted it but no other has done it as consistently as Tatler Philippines. The first Beneficiary of the Year was Bantay Kalikasan, the environmental flagship programme of ABS-CBN Foundation, which received PHP 300,000. Going up the stage to thank Tatler was Gina Lopez, its late founder.
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“When we held the first Ball in 2002, the country was going through dire financial times. It did not seem right to hold a celebratory Ball without having a charity component to it,” said Managing Director Irene Martel Francisco about her brainchild that grants the social event of the year purpose, meaning and substance.
It underlines the same spirit that inspires Tatler Philippines. The main magazine does not just chronicle the world of luxury 12 times a year; it also delves into generous hearts, giving equal importance to what a stature in society can accomplish in advancing amazing causes, changing lives and helping in nation-building.
Perhaps unbeknownst to many, everything raised by the Tatler Ball for its Beneficiary of the Year is donated, down to the last peso. No cost of holding the Ball is taken out of the donations. To ensure that this strict fiat from Martel Francisco is followed, all cheque donations are made payable to the beneficiary. Each donor, in turn, receives an official receipt from the beneficiary plus a certificate of donation. “We aim to do this within 40 days of the date of the Ball,” Martel Francisco adds. This practice has never been breached, thus building trust in the fundraiser year after year.
See also: Tatler Ball Philippines: get to know the beneficiaries through the years
Generosity does not really begin and end on the night of the Ball itself. Donations are given even before the event, especially if the donor would not be available to attend. The majority, of course, are collected at the Ball but the final total is not reached until a couple weeks after, as donations continue to be received.
In the early years, young girls with a smile that could melt a heart and open a wallet would go around carrying beribboned baskets for additional donations. This soon gave way to an auction, introduced 15 years ago. Regular persuasive auctioneers are Tim Yap, Stephanie Zubiri, Kim Atienza and occasionally, Small Laude.
The yardstick of philanthropy varies. When it started, the funds raised were below the PHP 10million mark. By 2015, it reached PHP 10.75 million for Operation Smile. After the pandemic when the Ball was put on hold, philanthropy returned with a vengeance, with PHP 40 million raised for women pursuing further studies and starting careers.
What inspires such generosity? Many reasons may be offered, but the truth may lie in the innate generosity of the Filipino, proven by surprising statistical data, boosting the Beneficiary of the Year concept and elevating the worth of the Ball itself. For where generosity flows, there is a lightness in the air, and guests find themselves uplifted enough to dance through the night.
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A journalist of more than 30 years, Chit has had varied exposures in this field, both in hard news as well as in soft news, and brings everything she has learnt to the production of the magazine. When not writing or editing, Chit is deeply involved in her chosen service organisation, Rotary International.
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