National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera journeyed down from Baguio to Makati for a Rolling Stone Philippines Social Club dinner celebrating his legacy and the launch of the Rolling Stone Philippines Arts and Culture Issue on October 13.
Held at Makati Shangri-La’s Sage Grill restaurant, cover star Cabrera and Annie Sarthou were the evening’s guests of honor. The dinner was also graced by some of the Philippines’ most dedicated cultural workers, featured in the issue that looks into the current state of art in the country. In attendance were contemporary artists Annie Cabigting, Corinne De San Jose, and Alvin Zafra.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Berna Romulo Puyat, who let Rolling Stone Philippines peek inside the central bank’s collection of Filipino masters for this issue, was also present, along with Finale Art File’s Vita Sarenas, and BBDO Guerrero co-founder David Guerrero, whose upcoming book, You Won’t See Me: When the Beatles Ghosted Imelda is featured in our pages.
A Toast to the Arts
“Through this issue, we honor the Filipino artists who continue to push culture forward in ways that are both personal and collective,” said Rolling Stone Philippines publisher Anne Bernisca. “The Rolling Stone Philippines Social Club was designed to bring together artists, storytellers, and cultural leaders to celebrate [and] influence.”
Among the stories in the issue are the intersectional work of artist collective Concerned Artists of the Philippines and that of multidisciplinary artists like Derek Tumala, Charles Salazar, and The Brockas, who are keeping the local creative scene thriving through their interdisciplinary practices.
Rolling Stone Philippines’ Chief of Editorial Content, Jonty Cruz, then paid homage to Cabrera with a speech that reflected the artist’s impact on the country’s artistic landscape. “At the heart of our Arts and Culture Issue, we focus on art that confronts society and the issues we face today,” said Cruz. “Across his several decades of success, we have become witnesses to BenCab reflecting different facets of our history through his art.”
The National Artist himself took to the spotlight to express a few words of gratitude, adding in jest that he hopes more people buy a copy of the magazine. He also gamely signed a few copies for the guests during the dinner.
A Wine Pairing Dinner to Match
For this edition of the Rolling Stone Philippine Social Club, Sage Grill’s chef Pablo Ramirez prepared a three-course wine pairing dinner. Ramirez introduced the evening’s first course: Hokkaido scallops served with lemon confit, potato and leek purée, and caviar sauce, and paired with Felix Solis Casa Albali Verdejo sauvignon blanc.
For the main course, a Black Market Black Angus Tomahawk MBS5+, plated with baby gem, pecorino, domino, and chimichurri. This was paired with an Argentine red wine, the Andeluna 1300 Malbec. Moments after, Ramirez and Sage Grill staff came out with massive tomahawk slabs, shaving off meat closest to the bone as is customary in Argentina.
And as the dessert carts rolled in, bringing plated pristine white domes of pavlova, guests delighted in cracking the dish’s outer shell to reveal the creamy Davao mango purée inside.
Rolling Stone Philippines’ Art Director, Nimu Mirano thanked Cabrera and all the guests in attendance for supporting the latest issue.
