There she was looming above us: Extremely cool wearing a caftan in her favorite pink that so flattered her olive skin, her left arm akimbo with her hand nonchalantly resting on her hip to set off immaculately carved ivory bangles that were awesome against those impossibly thin wrists.
Her raven-black hair was cut in a perky bob but her smile was more tentative, not quite ready to betray a thought that had just crossed her mind. Her eyes were more unequivocal, with that glint of anticipation for what the marvelous evening had to offer.
This portrait of Chona Recto Kasten in the living room of her home was so vivid, so compelling, that we could never stop looking at it each time we came to visit.
Unique Gift
It was like there was always a new secret waiting to be unlocked during each viewing — very much like Chona herself. Although her reputation as one of Manila’s most elegant women always preceded her, one is never prepared for the first encounter. She was beautiful, yes, and always well-dressed and impeccable.
Portrait Oil Painting
But much more than these qualities, it was an innate grace and generous spirit that never failed to overwhelm. And as you get to know her, you are even more enthralled by the stories she has to tell, whether it’s about a weekend with jet-setting glitterati aboard a yacht in Capri or a promising young designer she met in bohemian Malate.
“He came to Manila to attend a party and have a short holiday but ended up painting and staying for a good six months!” she said of Claudio Bravo, the celebrated artist who painted her portrait in 1968.
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