- 5/21/2025
From hosting gala nights 💃✨ to leading cultural institutions 🇵🇭🎭… paano nga ba nagagampanan ni Kaye Tinga ang lahat ng ito?
She is the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, co-founder of both W17 and the Red Charity Gala, a proud career woman, and a devoted Pinay mom. Kaye proves na puwedeng maging empowered, influential at elegant, hindi lang sa fashion, kundi pati sa buhay at propesyon!
Paano niya muling binibigyang-buhay ang sining sa bansa? At anong klaseng legacy ang nais niyang iwan para sa susunod na henerasyon—lalo na para sa kabataan at kababaihan?
Panoorin sa Power Talks with Pia Arcangel!
She is the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, co-founder of both W17 and the Red Charity Gala, a proud career woman, and a devoted Pinay mom. Kaye proves na puwedeng maging empowered, influential at elegant, hindi lang sa fashion, kundi pati sa buhay at propesyon!
Paano niya muling binibigyang-buhay ang sining sa bansa? At anong klaseng legacy ang nais niyang iwan para sa susunod na henerasyon—lalo na para sa kabataan at kababaihan?
Panoorin sa Power Talks with Pia Arcangel!
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NewsTranscript
00:00Many know her as the co-founder of the celebrated Red Charity Gala,
00:04a vital platform for Filipino designers and charitable causes for more than a decade now.
00:09She's also the co-founder of W17,
00:12a brand that champions Filipino artisans and sustainable design.
00:15And now as President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines,
00:18Kei Tinga is steering the institution towards a future where arts and culture are accessible to
00:24all with a keen focus on engaging the youth and fostering Filipino talent.
00:29Join us as we explore the journey and vision of Kei Tinga here on PowerTalks.
00:35Initially I thought it would just be like part of the board which really excited me a lot because
00:41of course growing up CCP was truly something that we all look up to and the Philippines in
00:50our the heyday of arts and culture was really a original hub of activity.
00:56I guess like a lot of people initially we really see the cultural center as a building,
01:02the main as the country's premier theater but the CCP is really more than that.
01:07W17 was with my partner Andy Vasquez Prada who's a complete genius who knows design,
01:15who understands fabric so we're very proud because it's locally designed,
01:21locally made but at par with amongst the best in the world.
01:26We also know you for it's the red charity.
01:28Yes, yes.
01:29It's actually quite a it's interesting story but I think if you had told me that very first year
01:36that I'm just going to do it for 14 years I don't know if I would have done it.
01:40It's like wow this sounds like a commitment.
01:42We're not gonna hire an artist just because they're Filipino that's not enough they have
01:46to be good and that is on us to make sure that we're able to promote them.
01:56Hi Kay, well first of all thank you so much for taking time out to be with us.
02:00We know you wear very many hats.
02:02You're a philanthropist, an entrepreneur and of course you're at the helm of CCP,
02:08of the cultural center of the Philippines.
02:10Style icon, mom, everything.
02:13When you think about yourself right now which one of these
02:17perhaps energizes you the most or keeps you most occupied?
02:21Keeps me the most occupied would be being here at the cultural center of the Philippines.
02:26It's a full-time job plus more because there's a plus more because of course a lot of it is
02:34administrative and managerial but more importantly we represent
02:39the country in terms of arts and cultural activities and we constantly produce new content
02:46and also like our mandate is really to promote the arts so that includes going everywhere all over
02:54to make sure that we engage our audiences and that means I have to be there.
02:59Well we've always known you to be very involved and very active in culture and the arts
03:05but I'm guessing it would be a very different thing to be actually president of the cultural
03:10center of the Philippines. Were you hesitant to accept the job at the beginning?
03:14Yes initially I thought it would just be like part of the board which really excited me a lot
03:20because of course growing up CCP was truly something that we all look up to and the
03:28Philippines in the heyday of arts and culture was really a original hub of activity so that was when
03:37I was growing up I remember going to school I would pass the CCP every day and every day I'd
03:43look at what's happening and I remember my very first day here I was really like just like realized
03:51that wow this is really happening because I was a little girl and looking at everything that was
03:57happening and it was all sorts of things and I would always wonder what is it today?
04:02You mean you'd see the signs? I didn't even actually start watching until I was in high
04:08school but even as a young girl I would always look at what's happening and be curious what is
04:14Ramahari? What is the Bolshoi? What is you know and we didn't have the internet then. So if in high
04:20school you're already intrigued by CCP the shows that they were holding inside CCP does this mean
04:27that at a very young age you were already very interested in arts and culture? Actually yes
04:33because we were lucky because I've been looking at the curriculum of schools now and back in the
04:41day you're much younger than me but arts and music was an integral part of the curriculum.
04:47You know I didn't see it then but now I realize the importance in terms of how it affects
04:54our thinking, our literacy and that's how we got interested whether it was high school in
05:00Saint Scholastica College Manila or UP when we studied humanities. At one point you're like how
05:06is this relevant? You know like I was studying economics I'm going to business I don't really
05:12need to know all the artists or all the movements or all the classical composers but now you see
05:19that it's all part of creating a person's identity. It's been a year. It's been a year okay so what
05:27are some of the biggest challenges that you've had that you've encountered so far? I guess like
05:33a lot of people initially we really see the cultural center as a building as the main as
05:39the country's premier theater but the CCP is really more than that. We're an institution
05:44that promotes the arts, develops audiences and when I entered it was with a lot of awe that I
05:52realized that includes arts education, cultural exchanges, creating cultural content and archiving
06:00so those are the things that surprised me at the same time realize how important the work of the
06:07CCP is. You mentioned that people think of it now as a venue or a building because I was telling
06:12our producers on the way here that I actually used to come here when I was a kid for acting
06:17lessons, for an acting workshop. The CCP before was really I mean that's how we knew it and then
06:23over time maybe things got a little muddled so now you're here to set the record straight
06:28and bring that back. I think it's always been this way but I think there's
06:36more of a push to increase awareness that the CCP is a living institution, it's not a building
06:43and the fact that we are under renovation really gives us an opportunity to flex our muscles,
06:50to expand our wings and to let people know that our job is really more than being a venue for
06:58film or plays or ballet but it's really the promotion of arts and culture, the very best
07:06of arts and culture in the country. Can you tell us a little bit about what to expect after the
07:10renovation when the CCP reopens its doors? The CCP was inaugurated in 1969
07:19so this is the first major renovation. Wow, since the 70s? Okay, so that's 50 or so years.
07:3155, 56 years so it will be a brand new CCP at the same time the same CCP. Of course, we're very
07:40proud of our building which was designed by national artist Leandro Luxin. It's a heritage
07:45building and we are really committed to maintain the building, the structure. It is perhaps the
07:53most iconic building in the whole of the Philippines and we are really motivated to
07:59make sure that no changes in terms of the facade and even the interiors that were designed by
08:07the national artists. At the same time, it needs to be more modern. Very different.
08:10Very different, I mean in terms of the requirements, our exits, lavatories, all these things.
08:19Even the seating, even the stage will be different because there's new technology
08:25that will be more friendly for dancers and the CCP, we are proud to have the best
08:33acoustics in the country but with new technology, it will even be better because
08:40we house, it's a mixed-use theater so it has to be good for the symphony,
08:47for plays, for dance, for concerts. It has to be good for everything so that's really
08:55something that we always keep in mind as we work through this whole rehabilitation and renovation.
09:02So no wonder it's really gonna take a bit of time so worth the wait once it reopens.
09:09It will be worth the wait. We know you as a style icon like I mentioned earlier and you're
09:14actually really very known for your sense of style, your interest in fashion as well
09:21and you mentioned, you had mentioned before that your mom was pivotal in your exposure to fashion.
09:28Can you tell us a bit about that? What was the dynamic? Actually, she's really my style
09:33inspiration. She always said even before that, you know, how we present ourselves and that's our,
09:39that's how important it is, how we present ourselves to the public. That's how you want
09:45to shape people's opinions and their opinion and also your, more importantly, how you see yourself
09:51and I like to think that fashion is maybe the most accessible form of art. Today, I'm feeling sad.
10:01I can use my, I can use my clothes to make me happier or to reflect my angst. So, you know, the
10:08same way a work of art, you look at it day to day, it can be different also because art is only as
10:15good as the audience. You know, it's two-part. It's just a school of thought which I
10:21adhere to that it's just one way. The piece of art is one part of it but the audience is
10:27the second part. So, even with fashion, I think it's no different. So, would your mom dress you up when
10:34you were kids? At what age did you let her dress you up? How many siblings do you have?
10:41We're six, so five girls. Wow, imagine that. It must have been so much fun also for her to dress
10:46all of you up. Yes, at one point, by the time my youngest sister, I'm the fifth in six. By the time
10:53my youngest sister got around, we all just had matching clothes and me being me, even at a young
11:01age, would be like, okay, we're all matching different colors but I want my hair to be different.
11:07I'd wear the belt as a headband. Wow, so you were really making waves already at that time.
11:14I don't know how it sat with my mom but that was me. And so, at what age did you say, well, I'm
11:20gonna dress myself up now? Maybe in high school by then, you know, teenagers, more difficult.
11:26Did you do the same with your kids? Because your kids are bigger now but when they were
11:30younger, would you do the same? Yes, oh my god, absolutely. They were literally my Barbie dolls
11:36and at one point, like me, they're also like, no, mom, nobody wears that anymore. I'm not 50.
11:44Of course, they're developing their own sense of style but it's also funny now, they like to,
11:51instead of buying new clothes, they just look at my closet. So, they'd rather wear my thing.
11:56They're like, it's vintage, ouch, but yes. I was gonna ask, isn't there a killing factor when
12:04your kids borrow your clothes? Yes, and you know, it's the same dress but they wear it differently
12:10because maybe it's a generation thing. It's the same dress. It's my dress that they're wearing now.
12:15They style it differently. Even the way they wear it is different. That's why it's really, you see,
12:21like the fluidity of pattern also that it's not just, you know, like an item. It also grows, it
12:27also develops depending on who's wearing it. So, you mentioned that you now have four kids of
12:32your own, all grown up. How old is your eldest? My eldest is 29 and my youngest is 17.
12:38Oh, okay. So, that's a nice range, yeah. So, you still have a teenager, maybe somebody already
12:45old enough to work. Yeah, full-grown, full-grown adult. Maybe we can go back to how your family
12:51started. Of course, it begins with your love story. I'm trying to picture you. So, in high school,
12:57you're very into the arts already and then you went on to UP Diliman and you studied humanities.
13:02I studied economics. We were required to study humanities. Oh, okay. So, that's very far from
13:10the arts to study economics. Is it the course that you wanted to take? Back in the day,
13:14you either become a doctor, an engineer, an architect, or what we called it commerce. So,
13:20like now kids are very lucky. They can study humanities or philosophy. So many different.
13:27Yes, or cooking and it's totally accepted. Back in the day, it was always like
13:32study first like a practical course and then you can do what you want later.
13:37So, that's what happened with me. So, you ended up in economics. Yeah. But that wasn't yet where
13:41you met your husband, former mayor Freddy Pina. Yes, we met. We both were management associates.
13:49We actually started off as friends. We were a group of nine and it was fun. After that,
13:54we never had an intake of so many because we, I think, spent more time hanging out than actually
14:02working. We were really just friends but like a lot of the best marriages, it really starts
14:07with friendship and maybe three, four years later, for the first time, we found ourselves
14:14without partners and that's when... So, when you first met, you both were... One or the other?
14:19Always at one point. Oh, it sounds like a movie. I don't know about that. So, does it mean there
14:27was no long partnership because you had been friends already for a while? Actually, yes. And
14:32I think it's the realization that you're not always at your best when you're with your
14:39friends. You're in a bad mood and it was okay. We could stand each other through different moods,
14:46through different times. So, it was that and then, you know, at one point, you realize that,
14:51hey, it's really the one. He's the one for me. And so, I also read that you had lived in Hong Kong.
14:58Yes. You lived abroad for a while. How long were you abroad? We were maybe about two years because
15:04he had started a tech company which was actually bought by a listed company in Hong Kong. So,
15:12we had to move there. So, we uprooted that time. I only had two children. But what was life abroad
15:18like? I mean, if you're used to being with your family here, I mean, your siblings, your parents
15:24and all. So, what was it like abroad? You know, I really enjoy change. I really like something new
15:31and luckily, that was the time when they first introduced SMS. So, it was easy.
15:37Wow. That long ago when SMS was just new. So, I could still keep in touch. And unlike when I was
15:46in school in the States in the 80s, it was already very cheap to call. Long distance. Before it was,
15:52I remember as a student in New York in the 80s, it was like I call my parents every so often.
15:59It's already expensive. It's a waste of money. But then when I was there, so we were in touch and I
16:07enjoyed like maybe making that kind of life available to my children. And I knew that it
16:14wasn't going to be for a long time. That was maybe why it wasn't so difficult. If you had said, oh,
16:19you'll be there forever, maybe I would have been more reluctant. But it was just going to be one
16:25or two years. So, it was really very doable for me. How old were your children at the time?
16:31Oh, I only had two. So, I think my youngest must have been like two and the other one's four. So,
16:36it's very young. So, I'm imagining that you're enjoying life, you know, the private life in
16:42Hong Kong. And then of course, eventually, you entered politics. You became a political wife
16:51for lack of a better term. And you said you were hesitant. It wasn't something you had wanted to
16:55begin with. Yes, because my husband comes from a political family. And by the time we left,
17:00they were actually kind of semi out of politics because his company's still based here and in
17:05Hong Kong. So, he'd come to Manila often. And then one day, he called me. He's like, I'm running. Run
17:10for what? Running 10K? And then I remember that I was pretty stubborn. And I was like, okay,
17:19that was your decision. So, you know, you go and run. I'm going to stay here with the kids.
17:24But then of course, my mom was the one who convinced me to like, you know, you can't do
17:28that. You're a family. So, I helped him with his first campaign. And then after the campaign period,
17:35he had won. I still went back and worked again. But at one point, it was like the kids were
17:41practically growing up without me. Even if I was here, I thought it wasn't fair. So, I made a call
17:48to just, okay, I'll just stop working and then come here to be a full-time mom.
17:54Was that a difficult decision to make? Yeah, yes. Because I was used to being busy. But then,
18:01you know, being with the family, I guess that was like, I missed my family so much that
18:06it's like, it's okay. They even offered to hire me here. But I said, you know, I missed too much
18:12time. Like, let me just, you know, acclimatize myself here. And then, before I made any moves.
18:20And so, how did you make that transition to helping your husband as a public servant
18:26and helping him in his political career? I remember one time, my daughter who was maybe
18:31three. And then, you know, show and tell. Like, you know, what does your dad do? I said,
18:37oh, my dad's a mayor. My mom just goes shopping. That was when I realized, hey, wait a minute.
18:43Enough now of this, like, you know, like break from work. So, I wanted to go back to work. But
18:50my husband said, you know, there's so much you can do. Like, you know, like, you know,
18:54my mother-in-law, also a political wife, was very active in the women's movement,
18:59in livelihood. He's like, maybe you can do that. So, at first, it was, you know, so it was
19:04really like a gradual move into that kind of, like, political wife role. But I really enjoyed
19:12it because you really feel that you're doing something that makes an impact on people's life.
19:18And for the first time, because I was into banking, which I enjoyed. But also, it was really,
19:24you know, very limiting in terms of exposure. But that, you know, you realize that, wow, every,
19:31you know, I'm missing so much. Like, I got to meet so many people, so many kinds of people,
19:36so many personalities, and being imposed, exposed to so many different things that
19:43I didn't think in my life would ever happen. Do you sometimes miss doing that?
19:49What a quick answer. Maybe you should ask your husband. Yeah, he misses.
19:54So, you moved on to establish also W17, and this is you're being an entrepreneur coming out.
20:04Why did you think of putting up W17? Because, like, when you say miss, I didn't,
20:10I don't miss it because the parts that I enjoy, I continue doing, which is like working with
20:15women's group, trying to help people who want to be entrepreneurs. So, I kept doing that. So,
20:22what was, what I do not miss is, like, the political part, of course. So, that's why I
20:28didn't, I don't really miss it, or I never missed it because I continue to do so. And W17 was with
20:34my partner, Andy Vasquez-Prada, who's a complete genius, who knows design, who understands fabric,
20:43make, all these things. And I felt like I was continuously learning, and we were able to adapt
20:50what our Livelyhead Center, which would do, you know, very traditional women's center kind of
20:58products into, like, we were able to advance it and upgrade it to something that you can sell in
21:05expensive stores. It is not just, like, people would buy it because, oh, it's being sold by
21:11women's group, or being sold by this and that community, but because people want it,
21:15because it's beautiful, because it's well-made. And that's when, I guess, I transitioned to that.
21:22And until now, you're still very active in W17. Yes, yes. Because, you know, I'm lucky,
21:31my partners are very active, and we have a really good team. And, you know, unless it's for big
21:37decisions, they can run it. What are some of the pieces that you're most proud of at W17?
21:43Well, one is our women's center, the Balikatan Women's Group. They will still do
21:50napkin rings and tabletop items, like trays and things like that. So, we're very proud because
21:56it's locally designed, locally made, but at par with amongst the best in the world. And same with
22:06chairs, and even the things we create on our own chairs, whether it's a tray, it's cushions. And
22:16also, what we've done is, I guess, it's a very highly curated store. We also source from the
22:24best local producers. So, whether it's here in Pampanga, Cebu, we seek out the best because
22:32there's no need to reinvent the wheel. We're not really a manufacturer, and we know that there are
22:37so many really good furniture and furniture makers here in the country. Okay. So, another thing that
22:47we also know you for is the Red Charity Gala. Yes, yes. And you've been doing it for 14 years?
22:5314 years, yes. Co-chairing the, I mean, that's like our version of the Met Gala here in the
22:57Philippines. So, I'd like to think so. And how did it start? I mean, how did you get involved?
23:05It's actually quite an interesting story. I knew Tessa very casually, like, you know, I see her in
23:12events or dinners or lunches, but we weren't really friends. But our first designer, Dennis
23:19Lustico, had the idea of holding his, at the time, it was his first major show, his first gala,
23:26and he had invited both of us. I was a supporter of Dennis since he started, and also Tessa. So,
23:34he brought us together. And we really had such a good time, despite, like, we had to cancel it
23:40because there was, I think it was millennial, one of the, I forget, but one of the major typhoons.
23:46So, our very first event, and we canceled. And we, and because of that, we were still able to
23:52reschedule. We were still able to recover. So, we realized, hey, it was fun working together.
23:59And then, let's do it again and again. But I think if you had told me that very first year,
24:04that I'm just going to do it for 14 years, I don't know if I would have done it. It's like, wow,
24:09this sounds like a commitment. So, it's just now you realize, oh, it's been 14 years. Exactly,
24:15exactly. So, that means you're enjoying it because it doesn't feel like work. It doesn't
24:19feel like a burden. What's the most fun part about organizing the Red Charity Gala for you?
24:23You know, it's because I don't have creative hands, but I like to think I have a creative
24:29mind. And, like, being able to work with, you know, the best designers, the best production
24:35crew, our directors, and trying to making things come to life. Like, with the Red Charity Gala,
24:42it always starts with the designer, his concept. Maybe that's what makes it different from other
24:49shows in that the conceptualization is always the designer. You do what you want and we will
24:55support it. And to have that carte blanche, I think that is a gift for a designer that
25:03he can do what he wants. We don't tell him, oh, this year, we want Victorian kind of design
25:09or this year, it's like this kind of material or pina or all tie silk. Nothing. It's up to them
25:17to create what they want. And the ability to create with no restrictions is, I think, the
25:26biggest gift we can give a designer. And because of your involvement in projects like the Red
25:32Charity Gala, you've been dubbed the charity queen. Oh, my God. Have you heard this?
25:38Oh, my God. Does it come with a little pressure? Oh, yeah. Because that means when people see you
25:44coming, they say, oh, no, but she's going to ask for donations. Oh, my God. Yes.
25:51Is it difficult to, well, first of all, you have to pinpoint which communities need funding or
25:58need funds, and then you have to find ways to help them. Is there a system to that? Yes. At
26:05first, it was really like strike anywhere. But at this point, we know maybe the institutions
26:11or the companies, now they're our partners because I guess we have the same end goal.
26:18It's really to elevate Philippine fashion. Sometimes, especially during the pandemic,
26:25a part of it's like, oh, maybe it's done. We're done with Red Charity because of the pandemic.
26:31There was nothing happening. But we talked to designers, and I think that's what really
26:37inspired us to keep going. And they said, you should never stop because it becomes a goal
26:45for the young designers to be a Red Charity designer. Because like I said previously,
26:51allowing them the freedom to do a show based on what they want or based on what they're feeling
26:59at the moment is a gift. And I guess that becomes a goal for young designers and an inspiration for
27:07them. So, we'd like to keep doing that, if only for that. And of course, for the charitable
27:16institutions that we support. So, aside also from your work with Red Charity, everything that we've
27:20discussed here at CCP, the list just goes on and on. You're also on the board of Mint College.
27:26Mint stands for Meridian International College. It started because maybe in the
27:382010-2011. At the time, my husband had already kind of like moving out of politics, and he's
27:47always loved education. And we were talking about how there's a lack of creative institutions. Now,
27:55you always hear creative industries, especially in the last few years. But even then,
28:01we were always saying how Filipinos are known for our artistry, for our talent, for natural
28:10creativity. And I guess a school is one way of putting everything into focus and
28:17teaching discipline to future theater directors, musicians, music editors.
28:28So, that's how we saw it. And I think that's how we've developed the college. And so,
28:37I'm just part of the board. And I think it's important because it makes me very current
28:43and aware of how young people are thinking now and the needs of society, especially here in
28:49the Philippines, in terms of arts development. It's so interesting and inspiring, actually,
28:55to see how you're coming from all sorts of directions in pushing forth your vision for
29:02Philippine arts and culture. I mean, your work with MIT, I mean, from the academe,
29:07from that perspective, and then from here in CCP, and then with your other charitable events.
29:14So, my question is, what is your end goal? Or what is your long-term vision for Philippine arts
29:22and culture? Because we always, okay, this is even in W17, we have a showroom, and we would
29:29put the things that were developed locally and imported things, whether they're antiques or from
29:37suppliers all over the world, we put them side by side. Because a lot of stores have
29:43Filipiniana section, as if it has to be special or like, oh, baka it will fail in comparison
29:50to other things. So, for us, it's because we have the best Filipino things that we're proud to sell
29:56amongst the best imported things that we're also proud to sell. And that's how I view artists
30:04here. It's not just, we're not going to hire an artist just because they're Filipino. That's not
30:09enough. They have to be good. And that is on us to make sure that we're able to promote them.
30:17Because we know they're good. We know that. But we need to be able to provide, we have to provide
30:22the platform for them, which is by producing shows, by supporting other production
30:30companies. It doesn't have to be a CCP production. It's by providing grants. And only by doing that
30:38are we able to really expand the market and really be able to show the world that the Philippines
30:46is ready for the big time. We need to be on a, maybe a medium, medium scale goal. We really
30:55see ourselves as, again, becoming the regional hub of arts and culture. And for, you know,
31:02both local and foreign artists who want to come and perform at the CCP, at the Metropolitan Theatre,
31:07because they know that only the best in the world would come here.
31:12And looking back, I mean, when you imagine like your high school self passing through,
31:18passing along Ross Boulevard, looking out the window and seeing CCP, or when you were in
31:22college studying economics, did you ever imagine that you would be doing this?
31:27No, definitely no. Because I guess maybe that's a lesson also, not just for me, but for a lot of
31:37women. Sometimes we really try to be, you know, maybe that's a very Asian thing. We always try to
31:43say, no, no, it's okay. You should always shoot for the best. And because you should know your
31:55own capability. And if you don't think you're capable, then what do you do about it? You work,
32:01you study, you learn to be that person you want to be. Nothing is impossible.
32:07That's so interesting. Because not a lot of people would want to learn or unlearn actually,
32:13unlearn the stuff that they thought they would be doing. And to hear you telling us that
32:19it's okay to unlearn and relearn, that truly is inspiring. So as we wrap up the conversation,
32:28what kind of legacy would you like to leave behind? I mean, like maybe long after you've
32:34left the halls of CCP or even long after you've done your charity work, what kind of legacy do
32:41you want to leave behind? I guess to really like to think that CCP and the Philippines to become
32:49the hub of arts and culture in the region and in the world, because we really have the best artists,
32:56creatives, and we just really need for people to see that. And, you know, years from now,
33:04I'm 90 years old and I see it happening. Nobody needs to remember me. But I need,
33:09when I see that, I'd like to think, I would like to see that, hey, I was part of that process.
33:18So this is Confessions of an Icon. All right, Kay. So it's very simple, very basic. Okay.
33:24And quick questions now. Okay. First question for our Confessions of an Icon. What is your
33:30oops, I'm only human moment? Can you tell us like maybe an embarrassing story? I mean,
33:36you know, something to add to the fact that, hey, I'm just human. Okay. Okay. I remember this was
33:42very recent. We're part of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the CCP, we're part
33:49of the group that selects the Order of National Artists. And we presented to the president,
33:55of course, the shortlist. And part of our task is when one of our national artists pass away,
34:03we are the ones together with the NCCA, the CCP are the ones who produce the necrological services.
34:10So recently, as we all know, national artists nor passed away. And I was as part of the program,
34:17as the president of the CCP, I had invited, I was on stage to invite the guests to do one final
34:24round of applause for our national artists. And me being me halfway, I cried.
34:31I became very emotional. And it was like, oh, my God, stop.
34:40I heard my voice crack. I just took a moment. And I thought maybe no one noticed. And of course,
34:47hey, you cried, huh? It's okay. It was, I think, you know, Nora really touched all our lives.
34:54You know, she was on TV. So she was literally in everybody's house. But still, I didn't want to
35:01break into tears in front of all the esteemed guests. Yes, exactly. It was a very formal event.
35:08They didn't need to see that. I'm sure nobody will hold it against you.
35:12They were probably also in tears. It was a very emotional necrological service, especially,
35:17actually, that part when everybody was clapping. Yeah, it was so touching.
35:23In the audience, they didn't notice. It was like on TV.
35:27I know. It's like, ouch.
35:28A very clear audio.
35:31But that's okay. But okay, this is our next one. This is the Great Wardrobe Debate. You're a
35:36self-confessed shoe girl. Yes, yes. That's true? Yes, definitely.
35:41So what is the most impulsive shoe or fashion purchase that you've ever made? And was it worth
35:47it? I think most people will laugh because like now a lot of people are wearing sneakers
35:53and, you know, athleisure. So I tried to get in the action. And I did buy a pair of nice sneakers.
36:00I wore it for half a day and my feet hurt. I know. It was complicated.
36:08I'm looking at you just because you're used to heels.
36:10I'm used to heels, but, you know, different height. Because I'm not really used to flat.
36:15And I remember like, oh my God, I need, and I needed, and I had to go and buy shoes like,
36:21like sandals, flat sandals. I know sneakers are supposed to be comfortable, but I guess not for
36:27me. So when you travel, you're not, you're not wearing sneakers? No, like, just flats.
36:32Just flats. Yeah. Okay. I know it's baligtado. How interesting. Saya yung rubber shoes. I know,
36:38I know. So now, okay, so now everybody knows never to give you rubber shoes. Yeah, it's useless.
36:44It's not for you. How about the show-and-tell wake-up call revisit that? So, okay, yeah, this
36:51is what you were discussing earlier that your daughter said at show-and-tell that her mom just
36:56goes shopping. So, looking back, what's the funniest or most unexpected thing that any of
37:04your children have confessed about you? About me? Yes, about you. I don't know if it's funny,
37:11but, not so much funny, but I thought it was touching because like, I try to go to, to hear
37:17mass with my son, like on a weekday. And, and he actually told one of the moms in his class
37:25who saw him in church and said, how come you go to mass? Like, you know, with, you know, that,
37:31that's my bonding time with my mom. And I thought it was very touching. And like, that's how he saw
37:37it. That's very sweet. Yeah, I thought so too. So that means also when he's older and his kids
37:43of his own, you'd be bringing his kids to mass too. Yes, that's how what I like it. That's nice.
37:48Okay, the, if I weren't doing this dream, and you weren't, you know, president of CCP,
37:54involved in your charity work, what would you have been doing? Okay, as a young girl, I wanted
37:59to be a lawyer, a lawyer, like, you know, like, I don't know, like, you know, you watch movies,
38:06and they seem very like heroic. And even up to now, I still like to work with lawyers,
38:12because I like the way they think because it forces you to think, to look at all sides of
38:17an argument. You know, that is also maybe the criticism of a lawyer, you can argue both sides
38:23of an argument. But I think that's what makes it very interesting for me to see all sides. And
38:30that's how I'd like to make a decision. So I like to consult. And my husband's not a lawyer,
38:35but both my in-laws are, both his parents are. And even before, I always like to listen in.
38:42And at one point, I was like, even assisting my father-in-law when my husband was, was a mayor,
38:49like, you know, just to see what, how a lawyer thinks, and I'd like to apply it even to myself,
38:56day-to-day decisions. But you know, a lot of people go to law school,
39:00at, you know, any age. Yeah, I know, I was tempted. You know, maybe next time we interview you,
39:06you're already in a tourniquet. Yeah, I know, a tourniquet. Finally, finally.
39:12All right, this one, your most treasured possession, and in parentheses, it says,
39:17non-diamond. Okay, yeah. Wow, back in the day when my parents got married, I think before,
39:24people would have a chest, like a camphor chest, literally, or you put, like, the gifts that your
39:33parents give you before you got married. And I'm so lucky, or maybe my sisters will know now,
39:39I have it. I have my mom's. I don't know if they know it. At first, my mom was moving houses. So
39:45she said, do you have a place to keep it? So I said, yeah, yeah, I can keep all your things. And
39:49when I sent back everything, I didn't send back. Because, you know, it's there, and it reminds me
39:56of my mom, and it reminds me of a different time. It's beautiful. I don't think they make it like
40:00that. They make things like that anymore. How about a parenting confession? Because when you
40:07were younger, you shared a room with your siblings. Did you make your children do the same?
40:11Yes, the boys share a room, the girls share a room.
40:14So did you have to, like, mediate or anything with your kids?
40:20No, because I guess when they grew up, okay, parenting confession, when they were young,
40:25I liked them to sleep in my room. It was only when they became older that they're like, mom,
40:30please. But I think they, I'd like to think they don't mind. They don't complain to me,
40:37maybe to their friends. But I think it's important to be able to become more adaptable and flexible.
40:45So until how, until what age were you able to keep them in your room?
40:49Well, early teens.
40:50Ah, not bad. Yeah, I know. And when I hear people are like, oh my god,
40:55my mom's like, what's wrong with that? Yeah, what's wrong with that?
41:01Okay, how about a red charity gala behind the scenes secret? I mean, there must have been
41:05lots of things going on behind the scenes in those 14 years.
41:10Well, you know, initially, it would just be me and Tessa making the decision on who the next
41:18designer of the year will be. Now, it's almost like a group decision. And we talk to all the
41:24designers because I guess they also have an equal stake in it because we want to make sure that
41:31the designer we choose is worthy and one that will make an impact, not a dressmaker, a real
41:37designer that people can look up to and who makes a difference in fashion here in the country.
41:45So actually, you know, when people are like, sige, ganyan na lang, it's not just me. I really
41:50consult because that's really part of our process. And I don't think a lot of people know that.
41:54Baka marami rin magalit if it's just you.
41:58Ganyan na nga. True, true.
42:01All right. Well, Kay, thank you so much. Thank you for spending time with us,
42:05talking about all these things. And we really do look forward to what you have in store for us.
42:10And to see Philippine arts and culture rise again. I mean, it hasn't really gone, but you know,
42:16to see it, get the recognition that it truly deserves. Thank you so much.
42:20Thank you for coming.
42:22Thanks for watching. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and download PowerTalks with
42:26PR Kankel on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or GMA Integrated News social media platforms.
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