Joy Rustia before birthday dinner
Upon receiving an invite with a mini gramophone that actually worked, Sixty & Fabulous written on the invite, friends knew right away that the 60th birthday celebration of businesswoman Joy Wambangco Rustia would be no ordinary gig. That it would be one heck of a production. But still, they weren’t prepared for what, arguably, was a one-of-a-kind experience.
Joel and Joy Rustia ready for their close-up
Today, we are used to watching celebrators (i.e. debutantes, newlyweds, birthday honorees) perform before a gathering, big and small, singing, dancing, rapping (I haven’t seen a fire-eater yet, but I could be speaking too soon). We knew that the birthday celebrator might perform but again, we weren’t expecting a production so professionally mounted and on such a scale. Most of all we didn’t expect Joy, who was celebrating her 60th birthday, to perform with APL.DE. AP. But then let’s not fast-forward the story.
The entrance to Joy Rustia’s birthday celebration at Shang Fort ballroom
Red roses, mirror table tops, giant vases, elaborate lighting create grandiose setting.
Red drama
The ballroom of Shang Fort had been transformed for Sixty & Fabulous—not just decorated or decked, but transformed elaborately and tastefully, for the June 22, 2024 dinner celebration. The vast place was swathed in black and non-eye-grabbing fabrics to bring out the grandiosity of the chandeliers, the red roses, the table arrangement of tall lamps and vases. The ornateness, in our eyes, was calibrated just right, not going over the top.
The stage was multi-level—worthy of a concert production. On the second level played the popular AMP band as the guests sat down to dinner, its repertoire ranging from iconic pieces like Moonlight Serenade of the Big Band era to contemporary pop and ballroom music.
Joy and Joel Rustia are a hardworking couple in a wide range of business (trading and import, licensing, retail, property development). K-drama lovers know the couple’s Korean beauty lines Love K Derma and Love Glow. And Joy is one Philippine Best Dressed awardee who truly deserves to be on the Best Dressed list; one can actually count in one’s 10 fingers the women who are. And Joy never, never overdresses.
Not even for this, her night, when she had many wardrobe changes, each long dress bearing the classic, feminine elegant signature of Randy Ortiz, Joy’s longtime designer friend.
The band music gave way to the performance onstage of the Rustia daughters Tara, Keana and Gilly. On the giant screen flashed videos of New York City as the girls sang Jay-Z and Alicia Key’s Empire State of Mind and Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind. New York City was a life-defining place for Joy since she lived there with her loved ones for many years.
This was a front act for the birthday honoree’s numbers with the surprise celebrity guest of the night, APL.DE.AP—the Black Eyed Peas’ Meet Me Halfway and The Time. Onstage, the workaholic businesswoman, turning senior, held her own alongside the global music icon, to the delight of a captive and select audience—the Rustias’ friends and colleagues. By the way, by design, the ballroom wasn’t packed, the tables well spaced, so that the guests didn’t feel sardined.
Joy’s longtime friends, including actors Dingdong Dantes, John Estrada, and even a coy Randy Ortiz, joined APL.DE.AP and the Rustia family in the dance finale. Again, like the setting, the performance was grand but not over the top, and Joy was thankful for the seasoned direction by event planner Teena Barretto. The show didn’t run a minute longer.
It primed the guests for the after-dinner dancing. Behind the vast stage was the “disco” space that the guests readily jumped on.
Thelma San Juan takes a selfie (far right) with, from left, Tonichi Nocom, Mia Borromeo, Junjun Ablaza, Dr. Boy Vasquez.
Joel Rustia (standing, 3rd from left) with, seated, from left, Mario Katigbak, Thelma San Juan, Ann Puno; standing, from left, Nympha Valencia, Frannie Jacinto, Mia Borromeo, Dr. Boy Vasquez
Nini Licaros at a table under the canopy
Early morning after the party, Joy was back to work and off to meetings with clients. “I’m back to the grind,” she messaged TheDiarist.ph. The senior citizen can party hard, but obviously works even harder.—Thelma Sioson San Juan
