Lifestyle Asia’s March cover girl Che Uy celebrates her birthday
Che Uy celebrates the blessings of her life with happy friends and family
“I love hosting parties because it makes me happy,” says Che Uy. “The sense of togetherness and happiness everyone feels in a party motivates me to step it up with every new party.” Lifestyle Asia’s March cover girl recently celebrated her birthday with treasured family and friends. An old hand at party hosting, Che says all the planning and fixating on details like caterers, playlists and venues go out the window once all the guests are in the room. “For me, it doesn’t matter if it’s simple or extravagant, but the people and the good memories motivate me to throw a great party.”
Guests are always Che’s first priority. “I want them to feel comfortable. There’s nothing worse than coming into a party with insufficient food and being hungry, or a party where it’s hot,” she says. “Little things, other than entertainment can really make or break the mood of your guests.” Living in today’s digital era, where sometimes people are more concerned with documenting rather than living in the moment, Che always makes sure her guests are happy and satisfied. “Nowadays, most of us have our phones glued to our hands, so I want my guests to live in the present and just enjoy themselves.”
The theme for this fête was floral. Che says she was inspired not by the look of flowers, but the meaning within them. “I love how flowers carry that special meaning, and that really inspired my whole setup because I wanted to keep it a bit simpler, but also with elegance.”
The three elements that made the setup of the party special was the photo wall, the walkway, and the dining area. The photo wall and walkway were designed to be memorable, but Che placed the most importance on the dining area. “I wanted it to be intimate so that people can freely mingle with each other, without being restricted or confined to their seating arrangements,” she says.
Equal to the focus on the dining area was the food. “For me, food is a non-negotiable. When I’m organizing a party, the first element I look at is the food, which depends on the intention of the party and the guests that are attending,” she says. “I believe that food is really important as it shows your level of hospitality, and also it really shapes the mood and impression your guests have of you.”
Che is always willing to try different caterers to make it exciting for her guests. “No one wants to go to the same
restaurant yearly, and eat the same food,” she says. With that in mind, she mostly sticks to two main spectrums of food: Asian and European. “I find that everyone has something that they like and it keeps my guests happy. “
For the design elements, Che first thinks of the event she is organizing and preparing for. Her trusted decorators are Gideon Hermosa or Rob Blancaflor for their timeless and elegant décor. “I usually meet with suppliers and decorators that I believe have the ability to really transform the space into what I want it to be,” she says.
Che’s preferred entertaining set-up is open spaces, with a simple, continuous layout that encourages her guests to mingle with each other and for her to be able to see and talk to everyone. “I think this works best, compared to a party with multiple spaces and rooms as people are segregated into their groups of friends when moving around, and it doesn’t really give anyone the chance to mingle and enjoy the company of others around them,” she says.
In the future, Che would like to do an indoor setup located in a high-rise building during dinner, with city lights illuminating the background through large windows. “I’ve
usually had my parties in more secluded areas,” she notes, “so I’d love to do something that incorporates the city view we have in Manila.”
Che’s life has been full of blessings due to her generosity of spirit and hard work. A meaningful life for this mother of three is spending time with people she loves the most. “I also believe that a meaningful life includes self-actualization, and having congruence in your life,” she shares. “Personally, I think that a meaningful life stems from whether you feel fulfilled with what you’ve accomplished in life; if you feel satisfied or not.”
As someone with a voracious appetite for knowledge, Che lives a meaningful life by being open to the future and appreciating everything that comes her way. “I take on anything that I want to do, and I try not to hesitate and hold myself back,” she says. “I feel that all experiences are worthwhile, whether good or bad, and I always remember to learn from everything.”