MEDIUM RARE
Astrologers identify the Philippines as a Gemini country (based on the June 12 Independence Day), but for some reason I have more friends who were born in April than June.
Maybe April people celebrate louder, with more music and cakes than Geminis. What we do know about April’s children is that they are ruled by the diamond, their birth stone, which may explain why “Mader” Ricky Reyes (April 12) and Leo Espinosa (April 27) love diamonds and, as a second choice, emeralds – to own them, love them, use them and show them off, as a personal statement or expression.
By coincidence, just as Mader is in the beauty business, Leo is in the business of creating beautiful spaces and interiors, although his first venture was cutting and styling hair, and not in Manila but Taipei. Lifestyle Asia magazine, back when I was its editor, was instrumental in practically kidnapping Leo and forcing him to move to Manila where, Pat-P and I told him, he’d have more heads of hair to style.
Over the years, Leo has switched from hair to interior design. In the meantime, his love for jewelry has grown by leaps and carats.
“What do you do with jewels if not wear them?” he said at one of a series of birthday parties hosted by his friends. The series began as early as April 13, at Antonio’s where beautiful cars are on display. Hosted by Cris Roque, whose beauty salons were among Leo’s early clients, the small dinner party included Tabby Ortigas, Susan Joven, Gigi Reyes, Pat-P. As usual, Leo’s throat, fingers, and wrists were laden with jewelry in a mix of white and yellow gold.
Exactly one week later, Leo walked into the JPE residence on Morado in Makati for Katrina Ponce Enrile’s birthday party. This time, he was wearing a drop-dead aquamarine pendant as big as a fruit. GMA was there, too, the former President whose becoming hairstyle during her Malacañang stint was short and smart, just right for a working president, styled by none other.
Leo, what were the chances of you and GMA meeting after all these years? “Oh, she had time for a little chit-chat,” he said. And what are the chances you’ll cut my hair, hm?