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Inside The Pre-Pandemic Party Of Our Dreams

A throwback to the magic Gara Dacanay created for Sara Velasco’s baptismal party

Article (news)

Metro.Style Team

<div><br/></div><p>Don’t we all miss the opulence of pre-pandemic parties?  There was indeed a time when social distancing wasn’t required, face masks were immaterial, and partygoers didn’t have to curtail their displays of <em>beso-beso</em>.  Not to mention the kilometric guest list that allowed one to see as many friends, family and acquaintances as one wished in just one event.  Well, here’s a throwback to a pre-pandemic celebration that was indeed one for the books!</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xdMDBn_0U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xdMDBn_0U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 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519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top:8px"> <div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xdMDBn_0U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Gary Abar Dacanay (@garydacanay_eventstylist)</a></div></div></blockquote> </div><div><br/></div><br/><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/living/entertaining/loi-ejercito-love-mommyla-birthday-and-book-launch/33125" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Former First Lady Loi Ejercito Marks A Major Milestone With An Elegant Merienda Cena</a></div><div><br/></div><p>September 22, 2019 was a big day for Sara Velasco, daughter of Lord Allan Jay Velasco, representative of Marinduque who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from October 2020- June 2022.  This day marked her baptismal, her official entry into the Christian world.  The politician and his wife, Rowena, pulled no stops in executing the opulent, floral-themed party to mark the occasion.</p><div><br/></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ab4e437e-3d42-414b-9bfb-ad113e4b5394_sara lazararo baptism_landscape.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8d62b769-2bb8-4c3e-a14a-64d2e6622285_70493515_10157895852419009_842469152349224960_o.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b38918d9-8dcd-41bf-bdd2-417f34791104_69785788_10157895851519009_605756926092902400_o (1).jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b6d44699-ba9a-4bfc-92be-21e7abeb60c6_70562770_10157895852074009_8267998592409534464_o.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/688b37b0-3cca-4136-8452-8714481215a6_70917369_458913641640131_2904662012640362496_n.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/50dc2afe-7886-4e10-b804-17fe64be63cf_71287995_10157895852279009_5341063489257472000_o.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/f36681fc-f2ca-4163-8346-d0c7aa55b06f_71371064_10157895851279009_6433935552860389376_o.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ad8413e3-d3a7-4304-8536-2b6acb63d358_71390797_10157895851574009_4014320517833031680_o.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/177b75a7-9c7b-4746-9af9-77fc9ae76935_ppp_1569.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5c60abc8-27b5-48c0-8d23-b66ae5da2b7a_sara velasco baptism.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br/></div><p>It took event stylist, Gary Dacanay and a staff of 300,  two days to festoon the Makati Shangri-La  with thousands of pink and white flowers.  Pink table cloths were draped onto the tables that played host to delicate arrangements made of roses, orchids and tulips.  The presidential table had a reflective surface that mirrored the flowers hanging from the ceiling, magically multiplying the sensorial experience.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a476efce-69fa-4e78-9d47-73bac34c6845_71390797_10157895851574009_4014320517833031680_o.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/living/entertaining/5-tips-for-choosing-the-right-dining-table/31808" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 Tips For Choosing The Right Dining Table</a></div><div><br/></div><p>This backdrop was befitting of a guest list that boasted a good mix of celebrities, including cabinet members and a total of 60 godparents.  No less than the former Philippine President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte was in attendance, making the occasion extra special and memorable.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a67353a4-7e74-4e5a-be00-a37c569a572c_20190922-val44.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives a message during the baptism of Sara Velasco at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on September 22, 2019. <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Valerie Escalera, Presidential Photo  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>True to the theme of “Opulence”, guests were given gift packs from Jo Malone as party favors (a total of 700!).  Lani Misalucha, Jed Madela, Gerphil Flores and Aicelle Santos played beautiful music, completing the experience.</p><div><br/></div><p>Suppliers:Event Styling- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/garydacanaystyling" target="_blank">Gary Dacanay</a></p><p>Coordinator: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/partystationphils/" target="_blank">Bing Madridejos</a></p><p>Photo-Video: <a href="http://niceprintphoto.com/" target="_blank">Nice Print Photo</a></p><p>Party Favors: <a href="https://www.jomalone.com/" target="_blank">Jo Malone</a></p><p>Venue: <a href="https://www.shangri-la.com/en/manila/makatishangrila/" target="_blank">Makati Shangri-La</a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Photographs by Nice Print Photo</strong></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>