Credit: Albert family
“When she left, more than half of me left…There are no words to describe her. How can you describe love?”
Thus did a tearful Butch Albert speak about his wife, Cris Albert, at the tribute and celebration of her life held last May 2, Monday at White Space on Chino Roces Ext., Makati.
Maricris Abad Santos Albert, or Cris, passed away unexpectedly on April 23, 2022 in Singapore. She was known in the fashion and retail industries as the dynamic president and CEO of Fila Philippines, Isport Life Inc. and Athlete’s Gym & Dive, and a philanthropist behind many worthy causes.
The breathtaking set-up at White Space featured hundreds of white and pink flowers, white seats, and big pictures of the “Instagram queen,” as Cris was referred to. Guests, who came from various fields, including showbusiness and fashion, were asked to dress semi-formally in jewel tones, strictly no black. They enjoyed food and drinks before the program, which included speeches by Butch and their children Carlo and Isabella, who vowed to carry on the task of their mother. They carried their mother’s elegant gray urn into the venue. There were songs by friends such as Cris Villonco Valderrama. Also around to receive friends were Cris’ sister, actress Ana Abad Santos, and their mother, former top model and fashion show director Wanda Louwallien, who spoke about how Cris already showed a keen interest in fashion even in her youth.
