Hip young entrepreneurs set up a happening venue

MANILA, Philippines - For a hip and happening venue like 55 Events Place, a place where the extraordinary happens, it’s no surprise that its young owners are likewise hip and extraordinary.

The venue is owned and run by young couple Dick Balajadia and Mars Abesamis, who are set to wed early next year. For the couple, running a business and juggling a hectic schedule is no sour matter. In fact, they have never been more passionate and inspired in their careers.

Dick Balajadia, a culinary arts graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, has a passion for food; hence his ownership of two restaurants — I Have 2 Eggs and Halfmoon Asian Café — and Mines View Park Hotel in Baguio.

Though Mars Abesamis, Dick’s fiancée, is a certified nurse, she has the task of managing 55 Events Place, as well as Dick’s two restaurants. In addition to their already-full schedules, the young couple plans to open a day spa soon.

According to Mars, “I think it was love at first sight for us.” Indeed, one could say that their match was made in heaven, since both come from entrepreneurial families and are budding entrepreneurs themselves. Among Dick’s family’s enterprises are construction and pharmaceutical companies. His eldest brother, Dennis, is responsible for such products as Beach Hut (sunscreen spray), Cycles (laundry detergent for babies), and Halo (artificial sweetener), while his other brother, Dr. Lloyd, who works for the family’s pharmaceutical firm, is responsible for the product Lesofat (Orlistat). Mars’ family owns two construction companies and a hotel in Palawan.

In spite of their hectic schedules, they enjoy their careers and often don’t feel like they’re working. “Dick loves to cook, and I am a people-oriented person so I find joy in doing events,” says Mars. “I also like transforming the events place into something wonderful and always look forward to how the place will look after I arrange the decorations and seating.”

Despite the heavy responsibility, entrepreneurship satisfies the couple since it enables them to help other people through employment. “It’s a challenge for us, since if our business fails, we fail. But if it prospers, so do we and our staff.”

As a result of Mars’ and Dick’s passion, 55 Events Place is known as a happening venue, where extraordinary parties come to life. In addition to a stage and backdrop, dance floor, wide-screen and projector, the venue also offers the use of KTV and a lighted dance floor. Themed parties that have been held at the venue include a black-and-white debutante party, a Disney-inspired party, and a Hello Kitty-themed party, which included a huge, inflatable slide and a parlor for kids, complete with nail polish, glitter, glitter tattoos, and a photo booth. In-house catering, as well as accredited caterers like Hizon’s, Tamayo’s, Josiah’s, Swan and VS&F, is also offered.

This young couple is never short of passion, doing what they love best and being in love. In fact, aside from running no less than four businesses, the young couple finds time to travel together and bring out the best in each other. “We are each other’s inspiration,” says Mars.