Tell the people that you love that you love them

by Monette Iturralde-Hamlin / February 12, 2025

It was a sad, sad day. While attending the Women’s Business Council Philippines Inc.’s Climate Change Committee Meeting, I received a call from my daughter Cara Lim that my friend Margarita “Gaita” Forés had died. She learned this from her friend, Gaita’s son.

Margarita Araneta Forés was a celebrated Filipino chef and restaurateur. In 2016, she was named Asia’s Best Female Chef. Gaita initially worked in catering, before launching the chain CIBO, LUSSO by Margarita Forés, and GRACE PARK.

I worked with Gaita for Madrid Fusión Manila, traveling to Spain with her to cover the event that we planned to do in Manila, and then worked with her on it for three years. We remained good friends thereafter, and would organize events at The Commissary Whitespace Manila.

I first learned about this plan from then-Tourism Sec. Ramon “MonJ” Jimenez, Jr. while having dinner with him and his wife, Abby who was my college classmate. MonJ said Gaita Fores told him about Madrid Fusión—the most prestigious gastronomic event in the world—and wanted the Department of Tourism to bring it to the Philippines to position the country as the culinary hub of Asia. He asked me who he thought could run the event in the Philippines, and I volunteered Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS.Org) where I was then president.

PACEOS members united to organize Madrid Fusión Manila, with TeamAsia taking care of its public relations campaign as well as creating and maintaining the event website. The first of three annual events took place in April 2015. 

In January 2015, PACEOS officers Joel Pascual, Jing Lagandaon, and Dexter Deyto went to Spain to attend Madrid Fusión to observe how it is done in preparation for holding it in the Philippines. We were accompanied by several distinguished chefs from Manila, one of whom was Gaita Forés.

Gaita and Myrna Segismundo had a special session onstage at Madrid Fusión. The dynamic duo was formidable in their presentation of Filipino food. I will never forget how proud I felt while watching them.  

The last time I saw Gaita was in October 2023. My daughter Bea Lim and I were on our way to Italy for our family trip. Cara had just finished her Master’s in Gastronomy in Bra, Italy, and we would connect there with her and Niccolo Alexander Hamlin who was coming from Paris. Bea and I bumped into Gaita at the airport: she was arriving and we were leaving. She was happy when she learned that Cara had finished her Masters.

Gaita was an awesome woman, exceptionally talented, kind-hearted, and lots of fun. She will be missed. May Gaita’s soul rest in peace. I also pray for comfort and strength for her son, Amado.

It is also a sobering reminder that we can be called back by Our Creator anytime and that we should be ready. So forgive hurts quickly. Love deeply. Be grateful for all our many blessings, especially our family and friends. And please, tell the people you love that you love them. I just did.