Wine, design for a cause

MANILA, Philippines - The spirit of giving and sharing is very much alive in Ayala Malls with the launch of Pairings of Joy, their limited-edition wine sets designed by four influential personalities: young artist Leeroy New, master couturier Cary Santiago, chef and Philippine STAR columnist Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi and Philippine STAR Supreme editor and TV host Tim Yap. Crafted especially for the holiday season when celebrations are in order, the wine sets offer a special opportunity for giving and sharing with those close to you, while also extending much-needed assistance to those who have been affected by typhoon Yolanda because for every set purchased, P150 goes to the relief operations of Bulig Bisaya. Here, the four designers talk to STAR about the inspiration behind their designs, along with what the season of giving truly means to them.

Leeroy New

Twenty seven year-old artist Leeroy New has practically become a household name in the art world and in some circles in the fashion and publishing industries. Having spent his teenage years as a Visual Arts student in the Philippine High School for the Arts before moving on to the Fine Arts department of the University of the Philippines, Leeroy was well aware of the fact that his art education was sponsored by the Filipino people, and this taught him the value of giving. Today, he uses his art for a higher purpose by helping raise funds for Bulig Bisaya. “What seems like some abstract composition of lines and color is actually a tapestry of calligraphic wings,” Leeroy says of his plate designs included in his wine set. “When I was asked to do a design that would capture a sense of the season and at the same time respond to the recent events, I thought the image of a cluster of wings, a natural symbol for height, hope and positive aspirational energies, seemed timely and appropriate. The wings are locked in a lyrical embrace creating a weave of favorable forces.”

Tim Yap

Social events maverick and events and TV host Tim Yap knows a thing or two about creating something out of nothing. When he first appeared on everyone’s social radars, it was because he coined the term “eventologist” and made his trade on throwing the best parties in town and being involved in the places where people wanted to be seen. But his life didn’t always evolve around an events calendar — there was a time when a young Tim found himself having to stay strong when his family had lost everything. Shortly after his father suffered a stroke, Tim arrived at the family home in Binondo one day to find it engulfed in flames. It was during this time where he witnessed how his strong-willed mother struggled to support and shelter her family from the ground up. And so quite naturally, it was easy for Tim to relate and reach out to those affected by the typhoon. “The gold cage design was inspired by the recent super typhoon that devastated some of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines,” Tim says. “Each golden ball ornament symbolizes the different regions and places that were affected by typhoon Yolanda.”

Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi

Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi’s closely followed transition from the daughter of society dame Vicky Zubiri and Vice Governor Joe Zubiri to chef and food columnist is one that has fascinated many. After graduating from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary institute in Paris, she moved back to Manila and started her catering business, Modern Epicurean Kitchen. Eventually, she put up her own restaurant, Atelier 317, though that venture was short-lived. Still, the experience taught her the importance of being able to rely on others, whether it was her kitchen staff, fellow chefs offering her advice and, of course, the customers who gave her invaluable feedback. These experiences served to inspire her design for her own wine set: “Enjoying good wine with good food and good friends is a reminder of how wonderful life can be. To remember to take pleasure in the small things, to get lost in that moment, to cherish a fleeting experience,” she explains. “I’m so happy to be a part of such a great collaborative effort where people come together and give their talent and skills to help. I believe that this year, we should all truly remember what the spirit of Christmas is all about.”

Cary Santiago

Dubbed the master couturier of the Philippines, Cary Santiago knows all too well how a stroke of fate can change your entire life. Once a struggling designer in Cebu, his career changed drastically when he entertained a few visitors from the United Arab Emirates in his home and showed them his sketches and samples of his work. From there, he was brought to Dubai and later, Beirut and Paris where he honed and refined his talent. Having witnessed the unfortunate hand dealt to Filipinos living in the Visayas, Cary didn’t hesitate to exercise his creativity and craftsmanship for this project.  “I feel so glad that I am part of the distinguished few who were given the unique task of designing a wine set. I am a lover of wine myself, so it was both inspiring for me to do it and a welcome thing for me to be able to produce such wonderful pieces,” Cary shares. “The Doyle patterns that you see are a signature ‘Cary’ creation. That makes it more special because the moment you own one, you will be able to say that your wine collection is complete and grand.”