Growing up in a family that values art, design, and food, it’s no surprise that the Roa sisters—Gabby Roa-Limjoco, Georgia Roa-Remulla, and Timmy Roa-Antonio—share a passion for tablescaping and home entertaining. “My mom always sets a beautiful dining table, even for our everyday meals,” says the youngest, Gabby. “My sisters have also had a big influence on how I set the table.”

“Timmy, the eldest sister, picked out most of my tableware. When I moved into my house, she gave me a set of plates. My current table setting features the mini trees that Georgia, my second sister, arranged,” she says.

Now married with families of their own, the three sisters have fully embraced life at home, often hosting gatherings for friends and loved ones. For this feature, each sister was challenged to style a themed table setting that reflects her personality and lifestyle. Read on for their expert tips on effortless home entertaining—made easy with SM Home finds.

Gabby Roa-Limjoco

Preschool teacher and founder of Playworks Early Childhood Centers; wife to Peter Limjoco, civil engineer and contractor; and mom to three kids

As someone who wakes up extra early — partly due to her work schedule — Gabby enjoys breakfast, which is why she opted to prepare a brunch spread. “I always start with the menu, considering the time of day (breakfast, lunch, happy hour), and then plan what I’ll serve,” she explains about how she approaches her planning process.

“For this breakfast setup, I wanted something bright, fresh, and clean. I like offering a variety of food options, so I needed something with tiers to display different kinds of bread and other breakfast items. The layers are great because they don’t take up too much counter space, and the varying heights add visual interest to the spread,” Gabby says.

Gabby shares that she’s a regular SM Home shopper, not just for her home but also for her preschool, saying, “I know I’ll find durable products as well as specialty items, like baskets for organizing our classroom materials. That’s what I love about the store — you’re always sure to find what you need.”

In addition to organizing products, Gabby, who prefers minimalist aesthetics, loves the store’s white platters and cleanly designed serving ware. “It matches whatever I have at home, whether it’s my grandmother’s heavily patterned heirloom plates, my mom’s crystal and silver, or my everyday serving platters,” she says.

Gabby’s styling tips:

1. Maximize counter space: If counter space is limited, opt for tiered serving platters or elevated serving dishes. This allows you to display more items without taking up extra space.
2. Choose complementary items: Be aware of what you have at home and choose items that complement your existing pieces. Most of my items are white or wood, so I gravitated toward more white pieces. But I also have decorative or colorful items, so I make sure to pick things that will work well with any of my other pieces. I like choosing versatile items that I can mix and match for different themes.
3. Highlight pieces: Look for accent pieces that add character. I used candle holders with interesting lines to bring a touch of visual interest to an otherwise simple setting.
4. Shop with completeness in mind: When shopping for an item, make sure you also pick up everything you’ll need for it. SM Home offers so many choices — I made sure to get the right candles to fit my holders, and I didn’t forget the candle lighters, too!

Georgia Roa-Remulla

Pediatric dentist; wife to Gilbert Remulla, president of South Seven Realty Corporation and director of PAGCOR; and mom to three daughters

“Party or no party, I always set the table nicely. I like using my plates, serving dishes, and utensils, so I don’t wait for a special occasion to pull them out. More than just the look, I want it to feel like everything came together naturally and effortlessly,” explains Georgia, who took on the challenge of styling a “happy hour in the garden” setting.

“I decided to set up in the garden since the flowers are blooming and the weather was perfect. I love gardening and spend a lot of time outdoors — it’s my happy place, so setting up a table there just felt right,” she says.

Her favorite finds from SM Home are the lanterns she placed around the garden and hung on the trees. “They really enhance the garden’s ambiance,” she says. She also notes that the colored glassware added a whimsical touch to the outdoor setup.

Shopping at SM Home also excited Georgia as she has been hearing about new product offerings from the retail shop. “I know that it wouldn’t be difficult to find items that make great additions to what I already have at home,” she says.

Georgia’s styling tips:

1. Use what you have: For the centerpiece, I combined plants and flowers from my garden. I love air plants — they’re easy to care for, don’t need soil, and can be effortlessly incorporated into a centerpiece. I also added some bleeding heart flowers and Saraca plants. Tip: Use flowers and foliage that are available to you. If you don’t have enough, maybe a neighbor will be willing to share some of theirs. Or, try growing small plants in pots that you can use as centerpieces when needed.
2. Repurpose: Reuse floral tubes for plant cuttings to fill empty spaces in your centerpiece.
3. Invest in timeless dinnerware: Prioritize a good set of plates and cutlery that will last a lifetime with proper care. This way, you won’t constantly need to replace or buy new pieces.
4. Keep it simple: Choose plates in a neutral palette. I have a lot of white plates, and even though they’re not all the same pattern, they don’t look mismatched because they’re all white.
5. Serve in style: Always use proper serving dishes for food, even if you’re serving takeout. Make the effort to set the table — it’ll make mealtime feel more special and enjoyable.

Timmy Roa-Antonio
Architect and entrepreneur; wife to Architect Yugi Antonio; and mom to two children

As a seasoned home entertaining host, Timmy enjoys experimenting with different aesthetics. “I often host themed nights, and try to prepare my table and the food following the theme, and this makes it more fun for everyone. I enjoy putting it together, and my guests also find it interesting,” Timmy says.

Her main objective when it comes to hosting, “I want my guests to feel relaxed and comfortable so they stay longer instead of waiting for dessert to be served so they can rush home. My guests can stay for as long as they like, so I try to make everything comfortable for them.

For this particular dinner setup, she found nice sage green vases from SM Home, saying, “They were very similar to the ones made by an expensive brand. I was amazed at how pretty they were and so affordable, too!” From there, she spotted rose gold lanterns with fairy lights which she also added to her checkout basket. 

“It was so much fun going around and looking at all the racks and shelves, searching for great finds which always amazes me. It really helped that I had my own personal shoppers with me—they were helping me and I also could just pass everything to them. They also helped me bring everything to the counter and make sure everything was packed well,” Timmy says on her SM Home shopping experience.

When it comes to planning, “I start with one piece and work from there,” adding that her style is very dynamic. There is no need to buy cut flowers, “You can use veggies, leaves, or whatever you have at hand—like items from your garden or potted plants. I once created a beautiful arrangement with Katmon bulbs and coconut, along with big leaves because that’s all we had. It turned out fantastic!”

Timmy also stresses the importance of creating memorable experiences on the table. “No matter how much or how little you spend, a great tablescape helps set the ambiance for the party. But what truly guarantees the success of any gathering is good food and genuine connections with your guests. After all, no one wants to be at a party filled with fake, superficial people,” she says.

Timmy’s styling tips:

1. Buy timeless pieces: Avoid trendy items and focus on buying the best quality pieces that you can afford. Invest in timeless items that you can reuse for different purposes—whether it’s part of your tablescape or accessories for your shelves or coffee table. Every now and then, add a few inexpensive pieces to tie the theme together.
2. Lighting sets the mood: Candles and fairy lights are key to creating a warm atmosphere. Lighting is crucial, so be sure to have plenty of light around your table, even small ones. Mix them in or scatter them around other elements for a balanced look.
3. Mix high/low items and incorporate heirloom pieces: If you have antique or heirloom items, don’t hesitate to include them. Not only do they add character to your tablescape, but they also serve as great conversation starters during the meal. The balance of high and low items also brings depth and interest to your setup.
4. Quality plates and cutlery: Invest in good-quality plates and cutlery to elevate the look of your table. You don’t need to spend a fortune—flea markets and estate sales are perfect places to find unique items. A classic set is a solid investment that you can use in multiple ways.
5. Press and starch table linens: A little effort goes a long way! Pressing and starching your table linens adds a touch of elegance and makes a noticeable difference in the overall presentation.
6. Maintain your garden: Keep your garden in good shape so you have a steady supply of leaves, flowers, and other natural elements for your tablescape. As they shed or fall, you’ll have instant decor for your table.