Fire And Ice: A Birthday Ball Beyond Pomp And Pageantry - The Scene

Tim Yap stages ‘Fire and Ice’ birthday ball to benefit Smile Train Philippines Foundation, an organization that helps children with cleft palates.

This is an excerpt from Lifestyle Asia’s March 2023 Issue.

Eventologist Tim Yap has hosted the birthday celebration of everyone’s conversation. The so-called “Fire and Ice” birthday ball held at the Admiral Hotel Manila-MGallery’s El Atrio lobby had everyone dressed to impress.

January 18 went right as Tim Yap envisioned, with only society’s “hottest and coolest” in attendance. The guest list? Only Manila’s top movers and shakers, consisting of actors, athletes, models, musicians, anyone and everyone special enough to be invited “to celebrate the life of any space that is Tim Yap.”

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Tim Yap at his Fire and Ice birthday ball
Birthday celebrant Tim Yap

COLD AS ICE
DJ Eva Smalls set the mood with a killer playlist as the El Atrio welcomed guests to its hanging “alibata artwork.”
Then, guests were ushered to the Admiral Club for a multicourse culinary showcase imagined by executive chef Paul Lenz and executive sous chef Loic Brun.

Los Angeles-based Ryan Gallagher serenaded the audience, while rising star Zephanie entertained everyone with her powerhouse vocals. They then handed it off to dancers from the A Team to keep the party going.

Tim Yap with his husband Javi Martinez
Yap’s husband Javi Martinez (left) and Yap (right)

Dinner climaxed into a mesmerizing pyromusical display, which was designed by director and Yap’s husband, Javi Martinez, at the Coconut Grove. Although everyone raised their glass to the birthday celebrant, that was by no
means to signal the night’s end.

MELTING POT
The evening’s hottest and coolest received gifts from Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery to cap off the event.

“But the night wasn’t all pomp and pageantry. The main goal that evening was to raise funds for kids with cleft ,” Yaparazzi Asia revealed. In lieu of predictable birthday gifts, Yap requested that donations instead be made for Smile Train Philippines Foundation, Inc.

Nix Alanon and Rajo Laurel at Tim Yap's Fire and Ice birthday ball
Nix Alañon and Rajo Laurel

After all, this was Tim’s go-to charity since he ran the Berlin and New York marathons. That mission continues this year as Yap, along with Martinez and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, formed Yaparazzi Smiles Team. Together they raise funds for kids while running the London Marathon this April.

Ruffa Gutierrez, Tim Yap, and Phoemela Baranda at Fire and Ice birthday ball
Ruffa Gutierrez, Tim Yap, and Phoemela Baranda

Read more by purchasing a copy of the Lifestyle Asia March 2023 magazine via SariSari.shopping or select newsstands in National Bookstore and Fully Booked. Subscribe to the E-Magazine via Readly, Magzter, and Press Reader.

Photos courtesy of Yaparazzi Asia.

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