
Open layout of living room with art display especially curated by Korina herself (Photo by Thelma Sioson)
There’s still something about Korina Sanchez-Roxas that not many people know about—believe it or not, for a celebrity journalist who lives in a fish bowl.
For a long time now, she has been buying and collecting Philippine art—an interest she’s indulged in since her early years in broadcast journalism, and definitely long before she married former senator and presidential candidate Mar Roxas.
We got reminded of her penchant for art when we attended the fun dinner she set up with bosom friend, Jojie Dingcong, the livewire talent manager/event creator. Her halfway home in the city is tastefully enlivened with knowledgeably curated Philippine art, by both the masters and modern Filipino artists, which she herself has chosen through time. Editing art for the home—knowing what to stash away and what to showcase, and where—is a skill, and if we may add, an exercise in self-restraint, as in, you don’t want your house to look like a gallery in the mall. And in editing art for the home, Korina succeeds.

The view from the main entrance, the animal-print rug and eclectic decor giving the retro architecture, featuring exposed beams, a contemporary look (Photo by Thelma Sioson)

Charming retro architecture (Photo by Thelma Sioson)
The focal point in the living room is a rare Federico Aguilar-Alcuaz oil-on-canvas—the black-and-white Midnight Forest, said to be one of only five works he painted that large. The eyes naturally pan to that as one steps onto this beautiful house reminiscent of the ‘50s or ‘60s architecture, built for a prominent Filipino family and on leasehold with Korina.

Top photo: The rare Alcuaz; above: An HR Ocampo, from Korina’s longtime collection, is a precious backdrop for dinner setting of bright blooms. (Photo by Thelma Sioson)
Nearby is an Andres Barrioquinto surrealist eye-grabber, Carlo Angelo Saavedra’s black-and-white nearby presenting a minimalist contrast to it. Beside it is a small Juan Luna oil-on-wood Japanese Garden series. In that one corner alone is a wide span of Philippine art, from the masters to the contemporary—done without visual excess.

An Andres Barrioquinto in a corner of the living room (Photo by Thelma Sioson)

A Carlo Angelo Saavedra beside Juan Luna’s Japanese Garden series (Photo by Thelma Sioson)

Point of interest in Korina’s living room (Photo by Thelma Sioson)
A few steps down, before you enter the den, is a 2019 Martin Honasan, quite a departure from his trademark style.

A Martin Honasan work (Photo by Thelma Sioson)
The art display and interior redesign by Korina give this vintage home a contemporary look, its open layout making the ambiance breezy and airy, yet cozy.
The dinner, prepared by Margarita Fores, consisted of King Cracked Crab Spaghettini, Slow-roast US Beef Belly with muscovado glaze, the famous Grace Park Butter Chicken, and for dessert, almond-crusted Mascarpone Millefoglie Bar
The setting, the dinner, the cast of guests, and of course, the all-night juicy talk completed our Rated-K experience. — Thelma Sioson

Korina (seated, middle) with guests enjoying the good moon in Korina’s garden: (seated, from left) Anton San Diego, Jojie Dingcong, Korina, 3G San Diego; (standing) Agnes Huibonhua, Thelma Sioson, Steven Tan, Tina Cuevas, Sharyn Wong, Carl and Pat Fider, Bibot Nolan