Celebri-Tea

Something is brewing in the heart of Manila – and it’s not coffee, beer, or the latest political gossip.

It’s tea, dear.

The Hotel Inter-Continental Manila has put out a charming exhibit called Celebrities – Tea for Two, showcasing the tea settings of 10 of the city’s cultural movers and shakers: Edith Oliveros, Margarita Fores, Lizzie Zobel, Mario Katigbak, Joe Salazar, Tina Maristela-Ocampo, Rachy Cuna, Impy Pilapil, Vicki Belo and Becky Garcia.

Right in the hotel’s cozy lobby one can view each tea setting’s unique theme and ambience, bridging Eastern and Western elements of the 5,000-year-old custom of tea drinking.

The romantic atmosphere evoked days of bygone eras, as well as contemporary takes on tea drinking.

Bulgari’s Mario Katigbak waxed sentimental over his boyhood days in England, where his father was once ambassador and where tea is taken very, very seriously. "My first tea party was in London at the house of an old English lady. It was kind of a culture shock. I was very nervous!"

His Zen-inspired, "serene celadon" concept reflected his love for Oriental tea, chrysanthemum tea being his favorite. All the pieces were from the home store Kish in Glorietta 4, while he had his clock-style pastries – made to reflect Bulgari watches – specially made for the occasion.

Mario also emphasized that tea should be accompanied by conversation centered around the good things in life, and not gossip, complaints or work problems. Tea is about calmness, and "Nervous tension is for coffee!"

Meanwhile, the drama of Indochina was elicited by Rachy Cuna’s exquisite tea setting. It had a strong Asian flavor: a Laotian table, a Filipino parasol, Chinese glass teaware, jade meditation beads and a rare Chinese fan tray in solid jade. All these reflected the stylist’s association of tea drinking with meditation, relaxation and solitude, perfect for a lanai or a bedroom balcony. A great tea aficionado, Rachy swears by Lung Ching, or Dragonwell tea, a green tea from China – but, unlike the others, his preferred tea mate would be himself, and him alone!

Edith Oliveros, on the other hand, shared her memorable tea moments as a student in Philadelphia, where she first learned the intricacies of a tea ceremony. Filipino ethnic was the interior design doyenne’s red, yellow and black theme for her tea setting. She used a black bulol as flower vase, as well as a floor-length tribal cloth to show off her bright red teaware. Salabat tea would be ideal for this setting, she said, while her ideal tea mate would be, with a twinkle in her eye, "Somebody dangerous!"

Also deeply sentimental were Lizzie Zobel’s heirloom tea pieces – all were handed down to her by her mother. Her invaluable tea cups, from different sets, were unified by a floral theme that evoked a quiet afternoon with a grand English dame, and each one even had the scientific name of the flora underneath. Also eye-catching were her intricately etched silver teapots, dainty tablecloth and glass pastry-holder, all pulled together by a pink rose arrangement in the center.

"This is me!" said Margarita Fores of her whimsical arrangement in orange, white and black. Though predominantly modern, the setting also reflected her heritage as she made use of tableware that her mother, Baby Fores, received as a wedding gift. "My first tea was with my mom," the restaurateur mused, "and it was in the Hong Kong Peninsula, when I was only nine years old." She dreams of having tea someday with her 11-year-old son–an event, she says, that would mark his coming of age.

Can she picture teatime as something romantic as well?

"Oh yes! The controlled atmosphere – the controlled feelings – the elegant ambience – definitely!"

Artist Impy Pilapil had a spectacular minimalist setting with an impressive whale sculpture of her own creation in the center. It was matched with a red Miro tea set she found at a flea market and – surprisingly – placemats fashioned out of packing foam! "The concept was completely spontaneous," she said, "and I thought of it just as soon as I was invited to join the exhibit."

Moroccan, Indian and Filipino elements were melded together beautifully by Joe Salazar. He recalled how tea once lifted his spirits when confronted with a personal problem. The fashion designer complemented a tea set provided by Lulu Tinio, jars and a Suamey tree from Ponce Verridiano with silk-satin cushions in fuchsia and celadon, mother-of-pearl plates, wooden chairs, an authentic sari and piña cloth over a richly embroidered table runner. Who did he picture sipping tea in this setting? "Audrey Hepburn and a lover!’" he quipped.

Tina Maristela-Ocampo pulled a conceptual feat with her setting by linking a Sixties theme with a Japanese motif – a red, orange and white carpet with colorful origami figures strewn all over it. The low ’60s-style table was adorned by Japanese tea cups and teapot she had bought in Japan recently. The style icon pictured a woman wearing a colorful Japanese-print kaftan in this backdrop, perhaps Rei Kawakubo or Yoko Ono!

Also interesting were Becky Garcia’s dance-inspired wooden dolls and Vicki Belo’s girly-girl French tea cups.

It was an eclectic showcase that brought together diverse personalities. But one thing bound them all: that the goodness of tea is about tranquility, good vibes, and a holistic outlook in life – all of which are quite a pleasure to find in Makati’s bustling business district.

The exhibit, as well as a sale of tea-themed paintings and celebrity-made teaware, is ongoing until May 19.