Anything Rachy Cuna touches — a stone, a twig, a dried leaf or flower — “comes alive,†so to speak. Those things become extraordinary works of art in Rachy’s Midas-like hands. After all, he lives by the sobriquet given him, “floral architect of the Philippines.â€
Anybody Rachy comes in close contact with becomes a happy recipient of his positive energy. He’s brimming with it. He is funny without trying to be. More than that, he is genuinely interested in the lives and lifestyles of people — most especially his friends. And he is sincerely happy in making his friends happy. After all, it’s Rachy’s nature to celebrate friendship.
For his friends, Rachy opens his “playground†called Casa Celestina, a century-old house in the heart of Manila, whose restoration he personally spearheaded about seven years ago. Well, Casa Celestina, home of Rachy’s late grandparents, Lolo Jose and Lola Celestina Zamora, was really his playground when he was growing up. This was the place where he experienced many a beautiful and spirited tertulia and merienda cena.
“I have many beautiful memories about this house. I always think of Casa Celestina as a venue for celebrations, more importantly, the celebration of friendship,†Rachy says.
When it comes to nurturing friendship, Rachy’s heart is as open as the sky. “My friends color my life,†he says, perhaps not realizing that he colors the lives of his friends so much more.
In a recent celebration, for example, Rachy welcomed to Casa Celestina Allure editor and PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez, gorgeous in her coral dress, in a very intimate post-birthday party that he and I tendered for her.
It was not the first time we all gathered again at Casa Celestina. However, no matter how many times one has been to this place, one’s every step inside this house always seems like the first time.
The nondescript yet imposing gate of the house belies what’s indoors. Once inside it, a magical experience starts to unravel, as if you are caught in a period mis-en-scene. The vastness of the living room is crowned by an antique araña, a chandelier made of chunks of crystals hanging by the ceiling, which is adorned with pineapple-designed cornice. The flooring, done in happy colors of Machuca tiles combined with wood parquet, is the resting ground for many a fixture in the house. All over, a number of over-sized ox blood vases and other Oriental pieces are found. And the gigantic 100-year-old turquoise incense burner is also a scene-stealer.
The sala alone of Casa Celestina is enough to satisfy a guest’s curiosity of the past. Look closely at the intricate design of the centuries-old matrimonial opium bed and you will be privy to the lives of the emperors of China. On the bedside wall is an imposing original hand-embroidered Ching Dynasty dragon robe in shades of red orange. This bed, strategically positioned at the elevated portion of the living room, has a solid jade goddess of mercy called Quan Yin from Shanghai as its permanent boarder.
Everywhere you look inside Casa Celestina will surely take your breath away. The staircase — all 24 steps that lead to the narra-planked rooms on the second floor — is very imposing. Each forward step is a move back in time. It is the oldest part of the house for the oversized narra planks of the staircase are more than 200 years old.
Another focal point of Casa Celestina is the dining room where Rachy sets up his buffet spread. The dining room — adorned with Rachy’s 24-piece 1872 collection of fern prints from London and gigantic jade Buddhas and bowls — is where Rachy serves heirloom dishes handed down to his generation by his grandparents. Any guest here will attest that dining at Casa Celestina is never second best. And a second trip to the buffet table is not a guarantee that one’s craving for the Casa Celestina “staples†will stop.
For Joanne’s party, the long antique narra table with brocade tablecloth was laden with mouthwatering dishes like sopa de Gallego, chicken pork adobo, sigarillas salad, crab omelette baked in a shell, prawn thermidor and roast turkey. An extension table had a big crispy lechon. The separate dessert table was loaded with all kinds of cakes and homemade gelato. To top it all, the buffet table was decorated with Rachy’s colorful installation artworks.
Rachy’s guests must have enjoyed themselves that it didn’t take too much prodding for Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras to suavely croon The Way You Look Tonight as he lovingly stared at his wife Marides. PAGCOR chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. promised to sing next time Sana’y Wala Ng Wakas, the courtship song he used to sing for his wife Tet. Many others followed to serenade the celebrant. But I’m under the impression that the sweetest music Joanne heard that night was the Iisa Pa Lamang song rendered to her by her husband Ed Ramirez.
As all these were happening at Casa Celestina, Rachy, the host with the most, was happily watching his friends enjoy the night. Sure, Rachy knows how to pamper his guests with good food and beautiful ambience. More than that, Rachy knows how to pamper his guests with sincere friendship.
As an artist, he has the hands of King Midas where every little thing his hands touch turns into a golden artwork. As a friend, he is Father Christmas because his kind heart makes people happy.
That’s Rachy’s signature touch.
(For your new beginnings, please e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)