A night to remember

As a growing young boy, he called it home. And recently, as a grandfather, he has returned to the same place of his youth.

The man is Luis Rosas Alvarez. The place: the original Jesuit House. The reason for the sentimental journey was to celebrate his 86th birthday among family, close relatives and dear friends.

In 1730, the Jesuit monastery overlooked a spacious inner courtyard, walled high with strong limestone blocks built by Chinese artisans from Manila. Due to the expulsion of the religious order, the property changed hands several times until Don Luis Alvarez y Diaz, a wealthy haciendero with roots in Asturias, Spain took possession of the house. Together with his wife, the former Irene Rosas fondly called Niyang, the couple eventually had 12 children, one of whom was, Luis better known as Sitoy.

Angelita Gallego, Ditas Alvarez, Father John Iacono and Maribel Nable

In 1943, Don Luis died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of only 57. Eventually the Zulueta House, as it was fondly called, was sold by his heirs to a Chinese businessman Nicanor Sy, then owner of the Hotong Hardware Company, considered at one time the largest firm in Cebu. His son Jimmy Sy, working jointly with his wife the former Margarita Vaño, recently transformed one of the oldest buildings in the old part of early Cebu, the Parian, into a museum.

One evening not long ago, invited guests, all clad in various Filipiniana attire — ladies from the utilitarian baro’t saya to the elegant ternos and gentlemen in everything from the simple camisa chino to exquisitely embroidered barong tagalongs — wandered through the private quarters of the proud old mansion led by the former occupants. They proceeded into the public areas — the sala, comedor, balcon, y cucina — each learning much about the different sections of the home as the erstwhile residents of La Casa de Zulueta shared stories, reliving experiences of beautiful times past. It was certainly a walk through history.

Ato and Gigi Alvarez with Lui and Hazel Alvarez

The grand salon — with its massive dining table that could easily accommodate 40 guests — was beautifully decorated with antique candelabras and tropical flowers.

Merche Castro with daughters Therese and Kristine with her husband Adrian Florcrus

Daughters and only daughter-in-law of the celebrant Luis and his ever-supportive wife Ditas Borromeo Alvarez — such as the eldest, Manila-based Merche Castro, Marita, top honcho of the family-owned Costabella Resort whose husband is prize-winning photographer Raul Arambulo — took care of capturing the milestone with photos; Mariles Nable, gifted with the talent of organizing anything under the sun, put the event together; Marisse Sy, who consistently whips up delicious, mouth-watering desserts; and not to forget daughter-in-law Hazel, married to the youngest and only son Lui, who left nothing to chance in making the celebration something everyone will remember for a long, long time.