There’s something about Martha

Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, this section’s "Mommy Talk" columnist, occasional actress, dakilang ina to four tots, and pretty woman/wife, called us one day and excitedly exclaimed, "Hey, you have to meet my friend Martha, sobrang ma-iinspire kayo. ‘Tao Po’ might want to visit her." Always happy to drop in on special people and their homes, we happily grabbed the opportunity after Maricel’s compelling summons. And so one sunny day, we followed the directions to Martha’s home.

We came upon this house with a distinct Moroccan design and rang the bell to herald our coming. By the black grill doors we waited, our feet resting on festive-looking tiles. "Hindi ito Machuca ‘no?" (referring to the tiles), noted the curious member in our company. A couple of minutes later, a cheery helper clad in pink uniform emerged from within to unlock the gate and ushered us in. As we made our entrance, the same curious one said, "O may guest book pa, let’s sign in na." We reprimanded her for her presumptuousness. Later, we had to admit that the guest book was indeed an interesting detail. Think how many of your friends bother to make you sign a book to scribble your comments about their home.

Martha Orosa Uy, queen of this eye-popping house, is a one-of-a-kind character. You meet the likes of her only once or twice in your lifetime. A moment with her is enough to enthrall you – she draws you into her aura in a quiet but intense way. She speaks in muted tones, using just the right words and looks you straight in the eye while talking to you. Daughter of Jose Orosa, an award-winning coffee-table book publisher and former furniture exporter, to name a few of his professions, Martha grew up being exposed to design and home furnishings.

For as long as she can remember, her father had involved her in the operations of the family business. He would entrust meetings to her where she found herself acting as design adviser to these important clients. In 1983, at 21, an age when most of us were still irresponsible or not quite out of school yet, she signed up the Manila Hilton as one of their more important accounts and designed by herself the whole lobby of the hotel. She designed the carpet and the upholstery of the furniture and she conceptualized the whole layout of the hotel area. She took note of the traffic coming from all the directions in the place and arranged everything according to the flow, keeping in mind efficiency, comfort and the security of guests and employees. This was to become the starting point of her training in home styling.

Today, as we bask in the wonderful atmosphere of her house, we feel her presence everywhere; the elements and appointments strewn all over her habitat (in a most unusual way) overwhelm us.

She says she likes her home décor and accessories to tell a story or to relate some history or tradition. She shows us a mini mask she got from a trip to Africa, which she says was used as a passport by a very important tribal chief in place of the normal paper document most of us humans carry.

Martha Orosa Uy has been compared to that other Martha (yes, as in Stewart) because of her ability to turn anything into a work of art and style. For instance when she cooks, mood lights and melodious classic music via a centralized audio system surround her. Her husband Nori Uy, who heads and runs the mill for the Concepcions’ Republic Flour Mills (RFM), and her three children – Stevie, 12, Sarah, 9 and John, 3 – are regularly served fine-dining quality meals at home with service and setting to match.

"But first and foremost I am a lover," whispers Martha. "I love my husband dearly and I thank God for that." Which is why all of Nori’s comments affect her, especially those that may be misconstrued as criticism. She pours out all her heart and soul serving her God first and then her husband and family, so if a detail is overlooked, she is hurt and a little disappointed with herself. But fact is, nothing is overlooked in her household.

Since layout is one of her specialties, she did not neglect the needs of the helpers who serve her and her family. She declares, "I make sure they are comfortable in their quarters, and I even provided them with their own kitchen as well as an adequately sized bathroom that can be individually used or at the same time by three different people. I think that if they’re happy, they will help make me happy, too."

One of the most impressive areas of her home is indeed the helpers’ quarters. We have laid eyes on many mansions with high ceilings, ballroom-size rooms and extravagant facilities that have pigeonhole rooms for their 10 to 15-member staff. But some don’t bother to provide separate toilet and bath for their male and female staff members. In our culture where family and domestic staff live together, amiability isn’t enough, a generous and considerate heart like that found in Martha’s spirit is required to ensure lasting and harmonious living between those living "upstairs" and those who serve us "downstairs".

Her drama is never ending. So let us allow Martha to use her own words to further captivate you, dear reader.

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For comments, suggestions and letters email Vickie at migasora@yahoo.com