FOR ART’S SAKE — and the love of her daughters —the low-key Beatriz Zobel de Ayala agreed to a rare interview last Tuesday.

Wedged between her eldest and youngest daughters Bea Zobel Jr. and Sofia Elizalde on a couch in the Zobels’ bright and airy home in Makati City, Doña Bea, as she is known, talked about how she had slowed down “to a point” after her husband’s— Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corp.’s chair emeritus—retirement. But she vowed, if there’s “anything good for the Philippines [that comes along], you will see me...I will be interested in it.”

These days, that would include an upcoming concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (CCP Main Theater, Dec. 5, 8 p.m), where a Zobel in-law, the acclaimed Spanish composer Cristobal Halffter, is featured conductor.

The Zobels’ fourth child, Patsy, is married to maestro Halffter’s son Alfonso. It was Patsy and Alfonso Halffter’s doing that started the PPO project rolling, says Bea Jr.

On a visit to Bohol, where Bea Jr. now lives half the time in pursuit of her five-year plan to preserve and restore the heritage and cultural sites in the towns of Baclayon and Dauis, the Halffters volunteered to pay for the repair of the Baclayon church’s pipe organ. Built in 1824, the organ was last used in 1940.

There was rejoicing when the organ was brought back to the town. “The whole town lined the streets, I’ve never seen anything like it! Children, mothers were crying! I just had to explain to Patsy [that] what she’s done has been incredible for the town.”

Back in Spain, the young Halffters recounted the experience to Patsy’s in-laws. The maestro wondered aloud why he hadn’t been invited to play the organ in Bohol. His wife, Maria Manuela Cano, is also a famous pianist.

“He’s a very busy man,” Bea Jr. said of the maestro. “But he’s coming.”

All-Spanish repertoire

Apart from the Baclayon church concert where maestro Halffter, his wife and son Alfonso (on the trumpet) will perform on Dec. 6, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, through president Nestor Jardin, and the Spanish embassy has arranged for Halffter to perform with the PPO in a benefit concert dubbed “Bravo España.”

Following Patsy’s lead, part of the proceeds will benefit the PPO’s Instruments Maintenance Program.

The concert will consist of Spanish compositions with Christmas themes, including an original composition of the conductor. Rudolf Golez, a Juilliard-trained pianist, will play a solo and the Philippine Madrigal Singers will also perform.

“I [had this] dream that the theater would be empty because nobody [here] knows my in-laws,” Doña Bea said, on explaining why she’s doing the promotion. “Nightmare!”

Patsy had called her mother to ask for help. Zenaida Tantoco will pitch in for the decoration and floral arrangements. Pitoy Moreno will lend his manton de Manila collection to decorate the boxes.

On the PPO concert night, Zobel said, they will be serving a Spanish vintage wine developed and produced by Patsy in Castillo de Villafranca, the Halffters’ castle and vineyard near Santiago de Compostela.

Helping the PPO

“Frankly, I’m closer to ballet than the orchestra,” Doña Bea said. “But when Nes told me how the orchestra members behave, what a hard time they have, how their uniforms were 15 years old, and whatever little money they get they use for the orchestra, suddenly I fell in love with the orchestra! I thought we must help them...The [PPO] deserves a lot of recognition and much more help.”

“We must take care of the arts. They’re the soul of the country,” she added. “Sofia is very dedicated to ballet...And Bea is very close to heritage [conservation]. We like these three things so much we can cooperate together.

“What I like about Bea is she gives the idea but she lets them do it, because eventually they will stay with the projects,” she said of her eldest daughter. She also praised Sofia’s efforts to bring ballet closer to the masses, believing that not enough is being done to bring classical art and culture to more Filipinos.

“Ballet Philippines has a national tour plan,” said Sofia of the company she used to dance with and whose board member she now is. “We’re giving a chance for people to see [BP] perform outside of CCP...In December it will have a full-length ballet, ‘Coppelia.’ We’re hoping that in the future PPO and BP can unite more often and do more concerts together. It’s a dream of mine.”

Her mother noted, “I find that more and more people are trying to help and get involved. The business community is more involved than 20 years ago. My dream is that if half of the Philippines, in whatever capacity, will help in the arts or in alleviating poverty, the other half is safe. I think it’s coming.”

Warm and genial, Doña Bea admonished her daughters with a playful swat as they touched on sensitive subjects. The mom of seven, including Ayala Corp. chair Jaime Augusto and president Fernando, she lovingly referred to her youngest child Sofia as “my little girl who’s not little anymore.” (She has two other daughters, Cristina and Monica.)

While posing for photos, she insisted on a more casual pose, fondly pulling her two daughters close to her side. “Let’s pose like this,” she said. “Very close.”

Taking care of each other

Asked why she rarely gives interviews, Doña Bea smiled and candidly pulled this reporter for a buss on the cheek. “You’re very observant,” she said.

People see less of her in public functions as she and her husband have chosen to stay home mostly these days and “take care of each other.”

“As my husband retired, I went more deeply into charity...I love solving problems,” she said, laughing. “I have a secretary who says, ‘Mrs. Zobel, you’re everywhere, what’s your problem?’ Now mostly I take care of my husband and he takes care of me. We’ve decided that this is the best time of our lives. We have no more problems for the moment because the children are doing very well on their own...I like to work on my own now, like freelance. Definitely things come up every day where I can help and I like it that way. I just want to be of help.

“Anything that will be good for the Philippines I will be interested in. Like an opportunity like this, you will see me in it.”