Tina Cuevas: Pretty citizen of the world

MANILA, Philippines - She talks like a bubbly Spanish señorita, often mixing up words in two languages. She looks like a Latina beauty, friends call her “Miss Venezuela”. Her signature attire — very American blue jeans and richly accessorized boho top — makes her ruggedly elegant with an Oriental-bohemian elan. But in her heart and soul, Cristina Cuevas is proudly Filipino.

This European vibe, South American verve and Oriental sensibility may be due to the fact that for most of her life, Tina has been a citizen of the world.

Born and raised in the Philippines,Tina was sent by her parents to Spain where she studied at the Esade Business School located in Pedralbes which is one of Barcelona’s most attractive residential areas. She finished her schooling — and stayed there for 18 years.

 “I just loved Spain so much.There, I embraced a whole new world of art, culture, fashion, cuisine and leisure,”says Tina. Her summers were always spent with friends in Marbella where she got her lovely tan.

Tina played hard — but worked hard. For two decades, Spain was Tina’s home base as she jetted to different parts of the world, engaged in importing and exporting home furnishings and accessories.

“This gave me the chance to travel in places like Jaipur, New Delhi where I experienced a culture shock. When I arrived in India, I couldn’t eat for three days. But later on, I discovered the magic and grandeur of India.”

With her constant exposure to global furniture trends, plus her previous studies at the Philippine School of Interior Design, it was only logical that Tina was tasked to renovate Sulo Hotel, which her parents Felimon Roxas Cuevas and Anita Guinto-Cuevas acquired last year.

The workaholic Tina focused on the hotel makeover 24/7, but because there was a long line of private functions and weddings booked at the hotel, she could do work only by areas. The results are fabulous.

PHILIPPINE STAR: Wow, this new Sulo Hotel that we are seeing now is so different from the Sulo Hotel with the flaming torch that we

remember from years back. What is your vision and inspiration behind the new look of Sulo?

TINA CUEVAS: I think the property has great potential — it’s a famous Quezon City landmark and it’s an advantage that people are already familiar with the hotel, that’s why my father decided to buy it in 2009. It just needed modernizing. We worked around the hotel’s architecture and focused on interior renovation. I wanted a modern Filipino look — a lot of white and glass with some Filipino accents. My inspiration came from the old Catalonian houses I saw in Figueras, Spain — they merge old architecture with modern interiors.    

The architect says that you did everything yourself — conceptualizing, designing, sourcing of materials?

Yes, everything. Back in Spain, my business was importing and exporting furniture and home accessories, and I used to attend all the trade fairs in Europe. I conceptualized the design for Sulo based on the trends I saw in Europe and also got in touch with my regular suppliers in Asia for the furniture.  

It looks now like a modern and cozy boutique hotel, very global and yet still very Filipino.

Yes, that was really the look we were going for — the former owners designed the hotel with Filipino decor in mind. We wanted to retain those elements, but in a modern way.

I remember that the swimming pool had glass walls so that diners could see swimming belles. 

The previous owners converted it to a function room years ago, so we just improved on the existing function room and gave the pool a cozy look — guests can go there to relax, have drinks, even book the place for a private cocktail party if they wish. It would be nice to bring the swimming belles back, but it would be a challenge to execute it with more modern music and choreography.

You travel a lot. What are your favorite hotels in the world?

First on my list is Gran Bahia del Duque Resort in Tenerife, Spain. The hotel is inspired by the traditional Canarian houses of the 19th century. It’s like a dream! The harmony of its colors carries me to a place where time acquires a new dimension. Another is Fisher Island Club in Miami, Florida. I like its privacy — it can only be reached by ferry since it is exclusive for residents and hotel guests — and its villas are magnificent. I love having breakfast and reading the newspaper at the delicatessen shop in the Marina area. It is so relaxing! And I love the idea of moving around the resort in a golf buggy. The Bellagio in Las Vegas and The Four Seasons in Macau also hold special memories for me because of the family’s yearly Christmas bonding trips there.

And what are your favorite cities for shopping? For dining?

Spain will always top my list, especially Barcelona because having lived there I know where to get what I need. Marbella and Ibiza are also fantastic for finding unique items. I also like to check out flea markets and night markets in Bangkok. I love going bargain-hunting with my friends for items like teapots and vests. The haggling part I enjoy as well.

For restaurants, it depends on where I am. I eat a lot of Asian food when I’m here. I love Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisine. My favorite restaurants here are Shangri-La’s Summer Palace and Shang Palace, Inagiku, Kai, People’s Palace and Silk.  In Spain, I eat according to the season. In summer, I like to have lunch at chiringuitos (Barcelona beach bars) or ports, which serve the best fresh seafood. Quimet & Quimet and Cerveceria Catalana are my favorites for tapas. At night, I like trying out fine-dining restaurants. The best from the places I’ve tried are Le Louis XV of chef Alain Ducasse at Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Le Lion d’or in Geneva, La Meridiana and Palacio di Babilonia in Marbella, Santi Santamaria’s Raco de Can Fabes in Sant Celoni, and, of course, Ferran Adria’s El Bulli in Spain.

You stayed in Barcelona for the past 18 years. How has Spain influenced your fashion style and your way of thinking?

Spain has a very laid-back atmosphere, and I think that has really influenced my preference for down-to-earth jeans, chiffon tops, and oversized accessories. My style is very boho — I like wearing cargo pants with T-shirts and embellished tops. I also like to accessorize a lot with scarves, belts, earrings, necklaces, shoes, and bags. I gauge a woman’s style by how she mixes and matches, not by the brands that she uses.

Staying in Europe has definitely made me more open-minded, more tolerant, and more extroverted. I give so much importance to the quality of life, to enjoy doing or buying little things not for their value, but for the pleasure they give you. I’m not one to judge other people — I would rather concentrate on what I’m doing rather than look into other people’s business.

What are the must-sees and must-dos when one is in Spain?

Spain has some of the finest museums in the world that one shouldn’t miss...the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Prado and Thyssen Museum in Madrid, and the Dali Museum in Figueras. If you happen to visit in the summer, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca are the best places to go to, especially for the partying crowd. Marbella is a beautiful place and I love it so much, I spent my summer vacations there for the past 18 years. People who love to play golf will love it there — there are more than 60 golf courses to choose from. I also love Puerto Banus where you can go shopping or just sit in a café watching the fashionable people pass by. It is only 30 minutes away from Sotogrande. It’s also great to go driving and discover quaint towns like San Pedro de Alcantara, or go to the old town and eat authentic churros con chocolate. I also highly recommend doing a gastronomy tour. Go for tapeo bar hopping in San Sebastian, especially in January for the food festival. June 23 is a must in Cataluna where they celebrate the feast of San Juan with fireworks, bonfire, and partying. It is the official start of summer.

What made you decide to finally come back to the Philippines? What are the things here that you missed most?

I needed a break. I decided to spend six months in Manila when my family asked me to take care of the Sulo Hotel renovation last year.  It entailed a lot of work, from the planning to the demolition stage. I went back to Spain last May and when I came back, both my parents were ill for a while. Both of them are better now, thank God, but I thought it was a sign that was calling me to stay. What I love about being in Manila? Definitely my family and friends. I also love the warm climate here — I hate the winter season actually. I also love that Sundays are a lot of fun here in Manila.

Now that you are back in the Philippines, what are the things you miss most about Spain and Europe?

I miss Spain during summer when the days are so long. In August, it’s daylight until 10 p.m.  I miss the strolls, the long walks, and sitting down and taking a drink in the cafes of Paseo de Gracia and taking a break from working with my friends. I miss working on my tan and all the fresh produce you can get there. It’s so easy to make a great salad with all the varieties of tomatoes and cheeses there.  I also miss the long driving, admiring beautiful small towns, and staying overnight there. I enjoy the simple pleasures of having breakfast, reading the newspaper, and people-watching in these towns.

You have an eye for fashion as well. Who are your favorite local and foreign designers?

I admire the works of Filipino designers who made it big in the international scene — Michael Cinco, Monique Lhuillier, Bea Valdes, and Josie Natori. I like the feminine, sexy silhouettes of Ungaro, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana. Lately though, I have been having my clothes made by TC Alvarez — her beaded pieces are really great, and she knows what suits me best.

Where do you usually go shopping in Manila?

It depends on what I need. I often go to Adora, my favorite, for one-of-a-kind items. For cosmetics, I go to Rustan’s to stock up on MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Guerlain Orchidee. I also love to wear T-shirts, which I buy at Promod and Zara. I also go to Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt, and Shangri-La Plaza.

What do you like most about Manila? If you could change something about Manila, what would it be?

I find it very heart-breaking to see small children roaming around the streets. Some people seem to have this notion of having children as “wealth.” Perhaps to a certain extent it’s true, but having children means being responsible for their health, education, and welfare, and not the other way around. It will take some time, but I think education in the remote areas is important for them to realize these things and to be able to have the right values.   

Let’s talk about men. How would you compare Filipino men with European men?

Ha ha ha! Oh, do I really need to answer this question? I will limit my comparison between Spanish and Filipino men. I noticed that Spaniards are more extroverted and more expressive  — they like to go out a lot and talk a lot. They are attracted to strong but feminine women. In contrast, I noticed that Filipino men are more reserved and shy.  But to be fair, men in general have good and bad qualities, whatever country they are from.

What makes a man attractive?

I would be lying if I said that physical appearance isn’t important! I mean, who wouldn’t want a Hugh Jackman, Brad Pitt or Javier Bardem in their lives? But seriously, to a certain extent, appearances count, but what is also important is a man’s achievements, having intelligence, consideration for other people, and a great personality. I am very talkative, and I love to laugh, so it’s also important for a man to have a great sense of humor, and be someone you can trust.

You are an elegant lady. What makes a woman elegant?

Elegance is not just about wearing fashionable clothes — it is also the way a woman carries herself. An elegant woman is confident, kindhearted, humble, someone who knows what she wants, and radiates a positive attitude in life. An elegant person is also considerate of others and being punctual is a sign of good upbringing and respect for other people and their time. Loyalty to family and friends is also an elegant trait, as well as being open to other people’s ideals and beliefs, and respecting them.

You do cook, yes? If you could invite 10 people to a dream dinner, who would they be?

 It would be a very interesting, fun dinner indeed to have a mix of people in business, politics, sports, the monarchy, fashion, and the arts. I would love to invite my favorite artists Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso — I’ve read their biographies and they led very fascinating lives. And for business tips, it would be interesting to get pointers from Armancio Ortega — Spain’s richest man and the semi-reclusive businessman who owns Inditex, the company that operates brands like Zara, Massimo Dutti, etc. Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni — especially if she will sing a song or two — and Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia of Spain. I admire both of them and I think they represent the European monarchy well. They are young, intelligent, and have a great sense of responsibility. Baroness Thyssen, the former Miss Spain who eventually founded Museum Thyssen in Madrid. Tiger Woods would also be a great addition to the dinner table — just think of the stories Tiger Woods could share! And, of course, football player and fashion icon David Beckham.

How do you de-stress from work? Do you have any hobbies? 

I used to play golf in Spain, but now I can’t go out much as I wish to — it’s not easy to wake up at 6 a.m. the following day after a hectic working day and a night out — but I try to get together with my friends whenever I have the time. I am truly blessed with good friends and I love unwinding with them. I also look forward to our yearly family bonding trip, during which I forget the alarm clock and wake up anytime I want. I am also excited to join trips with my best friends.

Who are your style icons?

I like the sexy style of Jennifer Lopez. I always check out what she’s wearing to the Oscars. From her hairstyle to her makeup, to her vintage Valentino gowns, she knows what works for her olive skin. I also admire the style of Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco — the perfect example of effortless elegance, and mixing high with the low with her tees and Chanel accessories.

You are such a workaholic even if you could probably just be a lady of leisure. What inspired you to have such a work ethic?

I learned from my father that nothing can be served on a silver platter. Whether a business is something you inherited or one that you put up on your own, both entail a lot of hard work to sustain it and make it grow. You’re responsible not only for your family, but for the livelihoods of your company employees as well. It’s a tiring job, but a fulfilling one.

What do you consider the secrets to being a good business person?

I think it’s important to love what you do, to have a network, and to seize the opportunities that come your way. Timing is also important, and call me superstitious, but I also believe in luck and destiny.

Fashion greats Ralph Lauren, Armani and Lacroix have created designer hotels. And then of course, there were furniture designer Philippe Starck, and much earlier, Ian Shrager. What do you think of their works?

I think hotels are a natural progression for designers who have a home and furniture line. It’s great that people like Philippe Starck and Ian Shrager started something different from traditional hotels — they were the first to incorporate modern design and having a lifestyle concept to hotels. Compared to traditional hotel chains, their hotels have a more home-y feel and that was also something that I wanted to incorporate to the new look of Sulo.

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 The Sulo Hotel is located at Matalino Road, Diliman, Quezon City. For inquiries and reservation, call 924-5051, visit www.sulorivierahotel.com or e-mail sales_mgr@sulorivierahotel.com