On Monday, November 3, 2025, more than 300 CLESANs from all across Central Luzon gathered for a spectacular evening as the Central Luzon Event Suppliers’ Association, Inc. (CLESA) hosted its 5th Annual CLESA Ball at the iconic venue of the Lakeshore. The theme: “THE FUTURE IS NOW” — a bold, futuristic, AI-inspired concept honoring innovation and creativity in the events industry.
This year’s ball also marked the 25th Silver Anniversary of the Lakeshore estate, symbolising a quarter-century of excellence and legacy in the region.
Guests arrived dressed in avant-garde, futuristic attire in line with the theme, and were welcomed into a world of immersive design: multiple thematic photo walls, an interactive video booth, LED enhancements, and ambient lighting that brought the “future” to life. Food and drinks were overflowing throughout the night — lavish buffets, abundant cocktails and mocktails, specialty coffee bars, all made possible thanks to a large group of sponsors who ensured no one went wanting.
In his welcome remarks, Architect Nestor Mangio — the visionary behind The Lakeshore estate — spoke of the shared journey between CLESA and The Lakeshore: crafting experiences, building legacies, and nurturing the region’s event-industry ecosystem.
Special Awards & Honours
As part of the evening’s ceremony, CLESA presented three special recognitions:
- The “CLESA HERO” Award was given to Wedding Essentials by Kitten Zapata — Wedding Essentials is a premier Philippine bridal-and-wedding-industry magazine, led by editor-in-chief Kitten Zapata, which has for over twenty years served as a key platform connecting couples and wedding professionals.
- The “CLESA ICON” Award was presented to:
o Sherwin Bonifacio — a noted Central Luzon event-supplier professional, recognised for his consistently high-quality work and leadership in the region’s wedding & events network.
o Chef Howard Dizon — a celebrated Kapampangan culinary figure whose career spans over 20 years including roots in Pampanga and international kitchens; honoured for his significant contribution to the region’s food & hospitality community.
Beneficiary Highlight
This year, the beneficiary of ticket‐sales proceeds is the Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth, Inc. in Mawaque Mabalacat, Pampanga — a home for surrendered, abandoned, differently-abled and
special-needs children (including those with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and intellectual disability). CLESA’s support underscores the association’s commitment to social impact and giving back to the Central Luzon community that supports its industry.
Organisation & Collaboration
The grand evening was made possible through the collaboration of Central Luzon’s finest event-production teams. The event was organized by:
- Mitch Events at Works by Michelle Montemayor, CLESA Chairwoman
- Kquentors by Robert Canlas, CLESA Vice Chairman
- Portfolio Events Solutions by Michael “Cacai” Muñoz, CLESA President since 2020
- Candies and Themes Events Consultancy & Styling by Hershey Mayrina, CLESA Corporate Secretary/ Director for Projects, Fund Raising and Blood Bank Initiative
- Details Matter by Erika Sadac, CLESA Treasurer
Together, they managed design, production, staging, hospitality, culinary, audio-visual and ultra-thematic execution — raising the bar for event-industry standards in Central Luzon.
Summary
The 5th CLESA Ball was not just a celebration of the community of event professionals—it was a landmark evening: over 300 industry peers, a visionary futuristic theme, overflow of food, drinks and hospitality, meaningful awards and a strong philanthropic component. CLESA once again demonstrated its mission to elevate the standards, foster professional unity and advance innovation across the region’s event-supply ecosystem.
