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Dina Bonnevie's home

2007
Nov 29

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Gallery for "Dina Bonnevie: In the house she built on grit and tears"

A well-travelled woman, Dina collects coins from the countries she visits. She buried the coins in the foundation of the house, following time-honored Philippine tradition, which holds that this brings good luck. "All the coins from all over Asia and Europe, nasa ilalim nito," she says. "Lahat ng poste nito, puro coins and bills from all over the world, from all my trips." Photography: Rene Mejia
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The living room is divided into two sections, both of which are completely furnished to become two distinct living rooms. This section is bursting with bright colors. Says Ms. D: "Most of the things I have here I bought during my travels, so almost each piece means something."
Photography: Rene Mejia
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"Ang next project ko, gusto kong lagyan ng aircon ang bahay," says Ms. D. "Dati kasi ayoko, kasi masisira ýong walls. Kaya lang, it's really so hot , e. Dati kasi, hindi mainit dito sa Ayala Heights. Never akong nag-aircon before, for like five years. Sobrang lamig dito, as in, even during the day, dahil wala pang masyadong bahay. Ang hangin-hangin. Pati tubig, lumilipad lahat ng gripo namin dahil sa sobrang lakas ng pressure. Now, marami nang bahay, napakainit." Photography: Rene Mejia
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The Indian trees in Dina's garden were given to her by the late William Leary, a Viva executive. "I love plants," she says. Indigenous jars have found a perfect eye-friendly spot in Dina's garden. Photography: Rene Mejia
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Dina used her own savings and earnings to build her house. "My dad wanted to lend me money, and I said, 'No, I don't want to borrow money.' Merong dalawang politicians pa, lumigaw sa akin. Sabi sa akin, 'I will give you money. I will build your house for you, don't spend anymore, don't spend any money, just be my girlfriend.' Sabi ko, 'No, hindi ko 'binebenta katawan ko!'" Talagang five times binalik-balikan ako ng dalawang politicians na ýon just to help me finish the house. Pero I'm very proud to say na even in God's name, kahit singko wala akong inutang. Pera ko lahat ang 'nilagay ko dito. Nobody helped me build the house. Pera ko lahat!" Photography: Rene Mejia
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This sculpture, made of alexandrite, a gemstone, was bought in Morano, Italy. Underneath it, Ms. D points out, is a label that says: Especially made for Ms. Dina Bonnevie. "I was looking for a design," she recalls, "and I went to many stores in Venice, in Morano, and I didn't like what I saw. So the sculptor said, 'I'll make one especially for you.' Okay, so he made me that." Photography: Rene Mejia
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This sculpture of minotaurs, the half-human, half-bull creatures from Greek Mythology, also came from Italy. "Pikitmata kong binili sa Italy ýan," recalls Ms. D. "Because all the paintings of Picasso were made into sculptures, and this was one of them. So it's a very prized possession." Photography: Rene Mejia
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This section of the living room uses earth hues. Neat yet homey.

Asked if her passion for neatness borders on the obsessive-compulsive, Ms. D replies, "I don't think naman I'm OC. I'm just neat. Kasi here naman in the Philippines, they're so makalat. It's not naman my cup of tea. I'm just probably organized talaga."
Photography: Rene Mejia
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The actress is also a painter. This is her recreation of a work by the French impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. "I copied it from a book. That's why I didn't sign it." Photography: Rene Mejia
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Beside the dining area's imposing china cabinet hangs a framed document explaining the origins of the surname Bonnevie, formed from the French words bonne (good) vie (life). Says Ms. D of the dining area: "Noon lumipat ako, wala kaming lamesa dito. This was nothing. I bought a small kusinilya. Ang sapin ko dito sa floor was just—alam mo ýong nabibili sa palengke na plastic table cover? Ýong sa mga karinderiya na may design pa ng mga prutas-prutas? Ýon lang nasa sahig. 'Tapos may kusinilya lang ako, ýon lang ang panluto ko. I could not afford a kusinera."
Photography: Rene Mejia
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The foyer, which leads to a quaint staircase, is painted in clean shades of white and cream. The whole look is reminiscent of a cozy English home. A Victorian table also rests under a mirror with a unique frame. Photography: Rene Mejia
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This is the foyer seen from the living room, where a Louis XV-inspired chair sits. The door on the right opens to Ms. D's neat home office. A silk rug lies in the middle of the foyer "Ay, naku," says Ms. D, her hand and face gestures dramatizing frustration, "brinush ng maid ko! E this is silk, P500,000 ito, this is original!" Photography: Rene Mejia
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The Bonnevie Coat of Arms hangs proudly in the foyer. A coat of arms is a sort of seal used by European families, especially knights, as a form of identification. In fact, the Bonnevies are originally from Evian, France. Dina was born Geraldine Shaer Bonnevie, of a Swiss mom and a half-French, half-Filipino dad. "The only reason we ended up in Bicol," Ms. D explains, is because my great-grandfather went there and bought a lot of properties. That's why we have a huge hacienda in Bicol nga. Anywhere you go—you go to Ateneo de Naga—you'll learn Bicol history, you'll read the story of my grandfather, Don Pedro Jose de Bonnevie. His mother was Italian, his father was pure French." Photography: Rene Mejia
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This part of the dining area leads to a cool view of the outdoors. The French doors open to a lovely red-bricked wall, capping off the overall Mediterranean and European vibes of the house. Photography: Rene Mejia
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The Roman inspired base of the dining table cost P40,000 in 1988. Says Dina: "Pinagawa ko 'to sa pre-cast. Pinundar ko ýan" Trompe lóeils, or paintings done in a photographically realistic style, used to hang in the dining area. "May mga paintings sa wall ýan. May mga scenery na kunwari nasa Middle East ka. Even doon sa sala. " Photography: Rene Mejia
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The kitchen mirrors the owner's neatness. Cupboards of different sizes, containing kitchenware arranged systematically, line the wall. Ms. D herself spends a lot of time in this well-tended kitchen. "I cook almost every day," she says. "That's my passion. That's my only dream unfulfilled." Daughter Danica took up culinary arts because she had learned cooking from her mother. "Ako daw ang idol niya sa pagluluto. Kasi mahilig talaga akong magluto." According to Ms. D, most of the recipes in the restaurant Danica has put up are Dina Bonnevie recipes. Photography: Rene Mejia
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Ms. D has lived in this house for 18 years. She started building it in September 1986, soon after the end of her marriage to TV host Vic Sotto, and this is where she single-handedly raised her two kids by Vic-Danica, now 24, and Oyo Boy, 22.

"Hindi ko talaga maiwan ang bahay na 'to," she confides. "Many times I wanted to sell it, kasi Oyo lives with Vic, and there was a time Danica was living alone in her own pad. I was so lonely in this house. Sabi ko, 'I don't wanna keep it anymore,' kasi why pa? Ako lang naman mag-isa. Parang it's so big for me to maintain. Pero hindi ko talaga siya maiwanan, because it was very difficult for me to build the house na hindi ako umutang ng pera sa bangko. Kahit singko, hindi ako umutang."

A prominent feature of this living room is the uniquely designed chandelier, which Ms. D says was custom-made.
Photography: Rene Mejia
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It is this den that Ms. D usually works when she's at home. Proudly displayed here are some of the acting awards she has garnered, for such films as Palimos ng Pag-ibig (1985) and Magdusa Ka (1986).
Photography: Rene Mejia
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Gates in the gothic style guard Dina Bonnevie's home. This three-bedroom, two-story house stands on a 600-square-meter lot. Photography: Rene Mejia
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The design of the house faςade is part-colonial, part-early-Georgian. French windows are prominent, as well as lamps done in early-19th-century style.
Photography: Rene Mejia
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