A GATHERING OF GLOBAL PROPORTIONS
A cool classic, Consul Louie Ablaza celebrates his 81st birthday in style
We went on a trip down memory lane during the grand 81st birthday celebration of Louie Ablaza, the honorary consul of Zambia, when the Ablazas unveiled their private museum at Hacienda Amelia, their sprawling hideaway in Alfonso, Cavite. Dubbed as their "happy place", the imposing two-story edifice holds many of their prized possessions and mementos with rich and beautiful stories that are meant to be told and shared with people who became part of their lives.
The ground floor of the museum is occupied by Consul Louie's collection of thirty classic cars, each with its own story to tell. The second level houses two separate showrooms. One area is dedicated to Mellie Ablaza, the beautiful wife of Louie and the honorary consul of Guatemala. Her showroom displays her elegant gowns by Ben Farrales, Steve de Leon, and Cary Santiago matched by décors reminiscent of her themed parties, while the other room was for their second son Jun Jun Ablaza whose aweinspiring art-to-wear masterpieces are displayed.
Louie prefers to call his vast space as their garage and not a museum since all the cars are in mint condition. He pointed out that a car museum is where inoperable antique and pre-war vintage cars are kept for display, while a garage is where you keep vehicles in good running condition, whether they are restored well-maintained classic cars or modern top of the line cars.
Louie assured that the cars may be old but surely operational as each of those cars made it through the Tagaytay ridge on its way to Amelia. Half of those cars on display are original variants of the Volkswagen such as the Beetle, a cool classic launched in the same year when Louie was born, way back in 1938. It has become an important part of his life, such that, as he said so himself, he too has become a cool classic from the same vintage year.
That day's celebration started with a solemn mass at the hacienda chapel at ten in the morning followed by cocktails at the museum/garage. We enjoyed flutes of champagne and goblets of fine wine as we nibbled on an assortment of cheeses, meat and sweets from a sumptuous grazing table spread prepared by Chef Jessie Sincioco of the Rockwell Club, a constant favorite of the Ablazas for her excellent culinary expertise of course! Inspired by and reminiscent of the classic motor racing festivals as well as the genteel pre-war era fancy outdoor parties, the members of Manila's well-heeled society came in their classic best.
The men were clad in bespoke morning suits, while the ladies wore their finest cocktail dresses with hats and lovely fascinators to match. Marc, the eldest of Louie's children, looked dashing in a blue coat, Jun Jun who is the most fashionably adventurous grabbed attention in his stylized car racing outfit and quirky car headdress, while Czarina Ablaza-Syquia, their only daughter, opted to wear an ethereal chiffon dress reminiscent of glamorous actresses from Hollywood's golden age. Louie's grandsons Santi, Alfonso, Amanu, Agu, and Azi wore dapper outfits while the girls Rocio and Azia looked lovely in Sunday dresses. The sophisticated Mellie, looked every inch the grand society dame that she is in a floral printed dress and exquisite emeralds as she greeted arriving guests. Louie, on the other hand, looked like the young debonair bachelor that he once was, when some decades ago, in his youth, he smoothly drove those vintage cars displayed in his garage.
At lunchtime, we proceeded to the grand pavilion, a separate building located several meters away from the museum. Inside, the large space was wonderfully decorated with a whimsical car racing theme by Jun Jun. Fabrics with printed car plates cascaded from the high ceiling, enormous lampshades with banners served as table centerpieces, while checkered racing flag-inspired prints were generously used throughout the hall including table covers and curtains. To complete the feel, male models who welcomed and ushered guests were clad in stylized car racing outfits accessorized by Jun Jun.
Before we had another gastronomic indulgence, Consul Louie Ablaza gave a poignant speech that made us imagine his good old bachelor days. He talked about his love for cars and revealed how he was able to win 18 trophies from various drag races around the country. The 19th and the most important trophy of his life though was a tough one to earn. He revealed how he raced his own Love Bug, a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, for 200 kilometers from Manila to Dagupan, Pangasinan on weekends and back to get his grand prize—the heart of his beloved Amelia or Mellie which he was determined to win at all cost and in spite of all the competition that lasted in 1965. With a smile, he said, "My Amelia ended my last race and married me." That is how, today, Louie's Volkswagens and the other cool classic cars in their lives have earned a parking space in their estate called Amelia.
Another set of gastronomic indulgence for lunch inspired by car racing delights that fuel energy and sustenance was ingeniously prepared by Chef Jessie Sincioco. We had the most divine shrimp cocktails, seafood chowder in bread cups, fish and chips, tomato sorbet, a heavy steak and mushroom ragout pie with mashed potato, a luscious choco pyramid and brie with honey.
During lunch, we were entertained by world-class performances by WCOPA 5-time Champion of the World violinist Jake Juleous Gacang, a tenor, and the Marcy David Band. Among the important guests who greatly enjoyed the festivity were HE Guevara Alvarado (Panama), HE Lozano Arredondo and Mme. Mariza (Mexico), HE Villarroel Capdevila (Italy, Chile), Mme. Kieu Phung Christensen (Denmark), HE Ahmed Ezzat Hassan and Mme. Mervat (Egypt), HE Harald Fries and Mme Susan (Sweden), HE Rafael Harpaz and Mme. Shulamit Harpaz (Israel), HE Bjorn Jahnsen and
Mme. Sandra (Norway), HE Igor Khovaev(Russia), HE Jaideep Mazumdar and Mme. Parvati (India), HE Dr. Aman Rashid and Mme. Shamaila (Pakistan), HE Steven Robinson and Mme. Rhonda (Australia), HE Ly Quoc Tuan and Mme Dan (Vietnam), H.E.
Han Dong-man and Mme. Jang Soo-Kyung (Korea), H.E. Artemiz Sumer and Mr. Tanju Sumer(Turkey), and Atty. Rodolfo Robles (Philippine Ambassador-Designate to the United Nations).
After lunchtime, an assortment of pastries was served while we danced to non-stop music the whole afternoon. We truly had a great time celebrating with a "Cool Classic", who, just like his reliable Volkswagon Beetle, Louie has always been the reliable gentleman in all his business, social and personal dealings. At eighty-one, he is definitely one tough fully operational classic to beat. He had his fair share of victories and has all the good reasons to slow down a bit and sometimes shift away from the fast lane to party and celebrate a good and abundant life. Happy Birthday, Consul Louie!