Cristina Cuevas: So proudly Filipina in España

Barcelona is a beautiful place where art, culture and fashion thrive. Think architecture with character, and you see Gaudi’s designs towering in your mind. Think art and you are fascinated by the colors of Miro. Think contemporary fashion and you find Custo’s shirts stretching your imagination.

Barcelona is second home to Filipino careerwoman Cristina Cuevas, a lady of style and beauty (she was a first-runnerup beauty in Miss Philippines-World). For more than two decades now, she has been a part of Barcelona’s art and cultural scene, promoting proudly Filipino furniture designs. Cristina also runs her very own Crisa Institute, a beauty center and spa offering state-of-the-art products and techniques in facial, hair and body care.

Si, this Filipina speaks Spanish fluently and looks every inch a Barcelona belle, but her heart and soul, she says, are still very Filipino. Cristina comes home regularly to visit her parents, industrialist and ambassador Felimon Cuevas and Anita Cuevas.

At a resort near her Barcelona home last summer, we asked Cristina about life in sunny Spain:

Philippine STAR: You went to Spain for a visit in the 1980s and you’ve stayed here since. What are the things you love most about Spain?

Cristina Cuevas: The climate, the people, the culture, the wonderful architecture and the food. In Barcelona where I live, it’s very cosmopolitan and big yet easy to get around. This part of Spain is ideal as we have the lovely coast and the mountains nearby for skiing in the winter.

Which are your favorite leisure places in Spain? In Europe?

Madrid, for its very traditional character, Santander for its style and class, but I prefer Andalucia above all, especially Marbella. Oh, I adore it! Its fragrance, its people ... they are just so full of life and vitality. I have spent almost 20 summers there and so I think I can say that I know it really well. It is at its best in the summer, but I wouldn’t mind living there all year round.

Among the places I prefer in Europe, I would underline Rome and Florence as outstanding. The people are very friendly and full of fun. I enjoy traveling to different countries to know new places, cultures, and different ways of life.

You have also obviously fallen in love with the Spanish people.

The Spanish, on the whole, are very happy, they love life and try to live it to the full. I admire this attitude and belief that to achieve happiness you have to learn to be tolerant and know how to deal with problems when they arise. After all, we only live once. We have to make the most of life.

I am fortunate to have many good friends in Spain and in the Philippines as it is not so easy to make real friends.

I play golf with some of my closest friends here in Barcelona and after that, we always go for lunch together. It is such a pity that I am going to have to give it up because of problems with my shoulder.

Let’s talk about Spanish fashion. Who are your favorite designers and what are your favorite shops?

The haute couture designer I like best is definitely Pertegaz. Now, the mode is very much pret a porter, you can find marvelous styles by two Spanish designers: Felipe Valera for daytime wear and Lorenzo Caprile for evening wear. I also love fashions by Victorio y Luchino as he creates very feminine, original lines in bright colors. Very Andalusian!

Who are the Spanish artists you admire? Of course, we notice that you also admire and treasure artworks by Filipino artists in your home.

I like Salvador Dali, but by far, my total admiration goes to Pablo Picasso. The amazing quality and quantity of his paintings, sculptures, engravings, and ceramics, unpre-cedented in the history of art, have earned him the well-deserved title "Genius of the Century." I particularly like his work in Cubism and the paintings done in the ’20s and ’30s. My very favorites are "Mujer Con Flor," the portrait of Dora Maar, "Mujer Llorando" and "Los Tres Musicos." I have great respect for his granddaughter Marina Picasso, who has created a foundation in Vietnam to house and educate orphans.

Among Filipino artists, I love Norma Belleza so much so that I have two of her paintings in my home and one of Isabel Diaz Marcial. I find her way of painting portraits very spirited and youthful.

What do you miss most about the Philippines?

I miss my parents terribly. My son Emmanuel and I miss all the Sunday family gatherings. I miss the love, affection and warmth that only family and old friends can give. I miss the comfort and protection of home. Oh, no! I am getting all sentimental!

I feel so very happy every time I come home to the Philippines. It makes me feel so good to return to my roots, which I never, ever forget. For this reason, I wanted my son to learn Tagalog and he speaks it very well. I am very proud of being Filipina. The only thing that saddens me when I come back to my country is the fact that there are people, especially children, who are less fortunate than others and who could do with more opportunities.

One day, when I come back to live again in my country, I intend to do something to help these children.