Whether one refers to Helen Ong, art patroness, businesswoman and civic leader, or to her beautiful home in North Forbes Park, only one description comes to mind. Classic Beauty. Just one look at her and you know you are beholding a woman of ageless countenance. Her attractive physical looks, youthful and poised, reveal a woman who is equally beautiful inside. And then, one gets captivated by the architectural marvel that she calls home, one that always elicits superlative praises from her guests.
One does not wonder why Tita Helen, as she is called by friends and the many recipients of her beneficence, possesses all the charm and sophistication that make her stand out in the crowd. Even right at home, she is the quintessential epitome of elegance and grace. A hospitable lady, she entertained the Daily Tribune in her spanking abode, one that has seen the turn of seasons, welcomed the most illustrious of guests and provided a peaceful and happy haven for the lady of the house and her family.
“We were the first to build on this side of Forbes Park,” she told us. “And people thought it was the municipal hall.”
Indeed, for its sheer size and majestic features, this home can compare with the royal halls of Europe and the stately mansions of the Eastern seaboard in the United States. The interior is another conversation piece, if one beholds it in its entire vastness, or if one takes it corner by corner, room by room, from the grand salon to the entertainment area, from the music corner where a grand piano stands proudly, to the dining room that, at the time we visited, was all set, with exquisite oriental vases complementing the priceless China and silverware, for a forthcoming Chinese New Year dinner.
To say that this home is replete with treasures would be an understatement. It is a veritable museum-cum-gallery showing the best of international décor, including one-of-a-kind Lladro, Lalique and Meissen pieces as well as paintings by Filipino masters. All the while, the lady of the house moves around her surroundings like a swan gracefully floats on the surface of an inviting pool.
Equally prominent are portraits and picture frames of the lady of the house all by her elegant self and with her equally attractive family.
Reflective of the devoutness of our favorite grand dame, priceless religious icons are meticulously placed on top of immaculately polished antique tables.
A top hostess whose name appears regularly in the lists of Manila’s prestigious glossy magazines, Tita Helen is the kind of homemaker who would gladly do the honors of scooping ice cream from its crystal bowl into the individual goblets of her guests. She keeps a soft voice, firm and kind, as she speaks knowledgeably of her favorite topics, the Philippine Cancer Society for which she has raised unprecedented millions of pesos, the Philippine Society for Cultural Enrichment which she founded, her family, the country Angola of which she is the honorary consul in this part of the world, and her businesses that have flourished through hard work, persistence and commitment to good service.
Tita Helen, on a given day, exudes confidence and self-assuredness, yet sweetly and relaxed, whether engaging in pleasantries in a cocktail party, presiding over a committee meeting, or simply entertaining right in her home.
You know you’re not just with a woman of wealth when you are with her. You also realize as the conversation goes along and she gives you a guided tour, that this woman of substance is also a woman full of kindness, compassion and joy.
We are sharing with you photos taken by Rio Deluvio of Tita Helen’s masterpiece of a well-appointed home.