Night at the museum

MANILA, Philippines - The Night of One Thousand” at the museum was the second benefit dinner mounted by the women volunteers of the Philippine Business for Education and Lifestyle Asia. After the first successful collaboration, which benefited 70 scholars for PBEd’s 1,000-teacher program, chairman Ramon del Rosario knew that he could again count on the wives of the board members to generate more support to help the best and brightest high school students realize their goal of earning a college degree in education. 

“We understood that by improving the quality of teachers through quality education, there was a greater chance that their students would be better equipped to improve their stations in life,” says Marivic del Rosario, the de facto chairperson of the wife volunteers.

There was no shortage of ideas and enthusiasm on how to make the event better than the last. “We wanted to give the benefactors and sponsors something that would not only express appreciation for their generosity, but which would also be enjoyable for them,” committee member Lizzie Zobel said in one of the planning meetings.

It was fortuitous that Ramon del Rosario was also the chairman of the board of trustees of the National Museum. The ladies felt that holding the event at the country’s repository of art would not only make it a spectacular venue but might be opportunity to also invite support for the museum. Museum director Jeremy Barnes had been undertaking restoration work in the old Senate Hall designed by Juan Arellano. He committed to having the place ready in time for the gala dinner. 

Barnes kept his word. The red carpet rolled out from the steps of the former legislative building into the salons where Juan Lunas and Botong Franciscos were exhibited. Guests moved freely through the galleries during the cocktail hour, coming within close range of art by Filipino masters. The highlight of the experience was entering into the main section on the second floor where Isabelo Tampinco’s reliefs stood around the vast chamber. It was a throwback to the 1930s as live band music played from the balcony.

Margarita Forés was enlisted to prepare the Filipino-themed dinner served in plated courses for the 400 seated guests. Free-standing tables held long-time regional favorites harkening to a gracious time when milk pastilles were wrapped in paper lace works and sugar-coated cookies were enjoyed without thought of elevated sugar levels. It was a distinguished list of captains of industry, diplomats, government officials and luminaries from different sectors around the tables. Requests to buy seats had to be declined, as all were spoken for weeks before the event. “And to think we were concerned that there would be moderate attendance,” wife volunteer Ina Ayala says. “It was far from the usual places people go to on a Saturday night and there had been storm warnings for that weekend.”

People came despite the light rains and were greeted by the sight of a dramatically lit façade. Elegantly dressed men and women walked past the towering columns into the neo-classical building. The exhibition rooms had been kept open exclusively for the event and remained accessible throughout the night.

“More gratifying than being in such an august place of history was the reaffirmation of people’s goodness,” Lifestyle Asia editor in chief Anna Sobrepeña reflected. “People want to do good and supporting this education program was a venue for them to share.”

Sponsors including Pilipinas Shell, Smart Infinity, First Philippine Holdings, Pepsi and One Meralco Foundation contributed to what amounted to assistance for 80 more scholars.

“There were also persons interested in doing something for the museum, which was one of our objectives,” Sobrepeña adds. “By having the benefit there, we were also inviting attention to the cultural heritage repository in the hope that it would move people to do something to help the restoration efforts.”

It was a particularly special affair as the Old Senate Hall was opened to the public for the very first time that night since the painstaking work commenced. Museum officials were pleased that the coming out was paired with such a noble and elegant occasion. “It brought the kind of people who appreciate art and culture,” Barnes remarked. “It was also an enjoyable evening with some of the very best and brightest and most conscientious people around.”