Brothers in art

Manila witnessed Dutch art at its finest when brothers Alex and Han Van Hagen held their exhibit called "Van Hagen & Van Hagen: Brothers in Art." The mezzanine of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel showcased Alex’s striking photographs and Han’s very detailed copper etchings.

Alex, Manila’s foremost society event photographer, has always had the eye for capturing the who’s who at events. He is in fact one of the reasons why I also dabbled into society event photography. For the exhibit, his subjects featured beautiful landscapes and still life that were captured from his travels in Europe and the Philippines.

Han, accompanied by his artist wife Lia, is one of Europe’s contemporary masters of copper etching. He is one of the founders of The Etch Club of The Hague and was schooled at the Royal Academy for Arts and Design at The Hague. His works showcased exquisitely detailed, almost photographic copper etchings of diverse subjects such as animals and landscapes.

Guests of honor were Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Robert Vornis and writer Jullie Yap-Daza, who gave Alex his first job in the Philippines. The exhibit was a first for the Van Hagen brothers together. Ambassador Vornis thanked the Dutch brothers — describing them as "remarkable" — for sharing their art with the Philippines.

Others seen at the event were National Artists Ben Cabrera and Arturo Luz, painter and printmaker Juvenal Sanso, Dutch Embassy’s cultural attaché Paula Schindeler, Kit Zobel, Mary Prieto, Dennis and Tessa Valdes, Mary Lou Lovina, Minnie Jentes, Mariel Santos, Patricia Panlilio, Northwest Airlines’ Gina Campos, Tonette Martel, Sinai and Sigalit Djemal, Tessa Dragon, celebrity doctor Vicki Belo, Robert and STAR Lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil, Inquirer’s Chelo Banal-Formoso, Bulletin’s Ethel Timbol, designer Pepito Albert, architect Anton R. Mendoza, Josephine Knox, Julius and Tin Tin Bersola-Babao, Kim and Fely Atienza, Carla Tengco, Maripi Muscat, Nena and Donnie Tantoco, Gigi Mabanta, KLM’s Bingo Braganza and Dindin Monserrat, Globe Asiatique’s Divine Lee, Asian Spirit’s Noel Oñate, Manila Jockey Club’s Patrick Reyno, MasterCard’s Anton Corro and Century Tuna’s Ricardo and Leo Po.

The event was sponsored by the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, KLM, Bench, ING Private Banking, GA Sky Suites, Belo Medical Group, Manila Jockey Club, Philippine Tatler, Dream 106.7, Century Tuna, Smart Infinity, Samsung and MasterCard for the benefit of Real Life Foundation.

HSBC and the Emperor’s court

Over 600 HSBC Premier and corporate customers rediscovered many of the royal Chinese Emperor’s court. The foyer of the Makati Shangri-La’s ballroom was lined up with scenes from the Emperor’s court including two photo galleries where guests had their photos taken with the emperor and empress and a small but intricate pagoda where tea ceremonies were conducted.

A spectacular nine-course Chinese lauriat was served with each dish carefully selected to bring fortune, prosperity and good health to all. To welcome the week-long Chinese New Year, the dragon dance was performed amidst a backdrop of red and gold. Actors also performed excerpts from traditional Chinese opera.

The earliest 20 guests were awarded prizes, as well as the 20 best dressed. HSBC also raffled off many fantastic prizes including a trip for 2 to China courtesy of our national carrier Philippine Airlines. Various giveaways like piggy bank with good luck coins and a year of the Pig key chains were given out to guests.

(E-mail me at [email protected])