From Dream to Design: How Two Filipino Entrepreneurs Conquered Milan’s Event Styling Scene
- In The Mix Magazine
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
By Mye Mulingtapang | Photos by Skye’s Events Milano
In the heart of Milan, where timeless elegance meets modern flair, Skye’s Events Milano has emerged as a beacon of creativity and excellence—especially among the Filipino community.
But behind this flourishing event planning brand is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and unshakable determination. Cheryl and Ryan Manalaysay, the husband-and-wife team behind Skye’s Events, are more than just creative minds—they are pioneers and dreamers who turned challenges into stepping stones on their path to success.
Like many overseas Filipino workers, Cheryl and Ryan left the Philippines with aspirations of building a better life. Navigating a foreign country with its own culture, language, and competitive market was not easy.
In a city celebrated for fashion, finesse, and fine taste, these two Filipino dreamers dared to carve a space where no one expected them to thrive—among Milan’s elite event stylists.
Before they were known as the creative force behind Skye’s Events Milano, Cheryl and Ryan Manalaysay were just another hardworking couple thousands of miles away from home. Like many Filipinos who ventured abroad, they arrived in Italy with hearts full of hope and hands ready to work. Their beginnings were humble—balancing odd jobs, navigating a foreign language, and raising a family in a land that often felt worlds away from home.
But they carried with them something more powerful than a plan: a passion for creating beauty, and a shared vision that one day, they wouldn't just attend Filipino celebrations in Milan—they would design them.
“We didn’t just want to style events—we wanted to create moments that tell our story, the Filipino story, with pride and elegance in every detail,” shares Cheryl.
For Cheryl, it was never just about arranging flowers or choosing color palettes—what she and Ryan truly longed to do was craft moments that spoke of their journey, capturing the heart of the Filipino story with pride, purpose, and grace woven into every detail.
That vision became Skye’s Events , now one of the most sought-after names in event planning and styling among Filipinos and beyond. What started with small community celebrations and DIY decorations blossomed into full-scale weddings, corporate events, and high-end socials. With Cheryl’s eye for detail and Ryan’s hands-on leadership, the duo transformed simple venues into spaces of magic—lush floral arrangements, elegant tablescapes, and themes that seamlessly blend Filipino warmth with Italian style.
That vision became Skye’s Events Milano, now one of the most sought-after names in event planning and styling among Filipinos and beyond. What started with small community celebrations and DIY decorations blossomed into full-scale weddings, corporate events, and high-end socials. With Cheryl’s eye for detail and Ryan’s hands-on leadership, the duo transformed simple venues into spaces of magic—lush floral arrangements, elegant tablescapes, and themes that seamlessly blend Filipino warmth with Italian style.
But their journey wasn’t without struggle. Building a brand in Milan meant competing with well-established Italian designers, earning the trust of clients as outsiders, and doing it all while juggling family and financial risks. Still, they pushed forward—every challenge met with grit, every setback countered with grace.
Their big break came not from luck, but from consistency. Word-of-mouth from delighted clients spread through the Filipino community and soon reached international circles. Brides-to-be, corporate planners, and even local Italians began to take notice. Today, Skye’s Events Milano isn’t just a business—it’s a symbol of how Filipino creativity can shine on a global stage.
Their approach is deeply personal: they sit with every couple, every family, and every business owner to understand their vision, culture, and preferences. Whether it's an intimate garden wedding or a grand ballroom affair, every event is a labor of love—crafted with precision, infused with soul, and brought to life with impeccable taste.
Skye’s Events is now synonymous with breathtaking floral arrangements, stunning tablescapes, and seamlessly executed celebrations that reflect the heart of each client’s story. Cheryl and Ryan’s unique ability to blend Filipino warmth with Italian elegance has earned them admiration not only from the local Filipino community but also from international clients who value authenticity and style.
Today, Skye’s Events stands as a testament to what Filipino talent can achieve on the world stage. Cheryl and Ryan’s story is not just about business success—it’s about representation, about breaking barriers, and about showing future generations of Filipinos that they too can thrive, create, and lead in spaces far beyond home.
In every centerpiece, every color palette, and every meticulously planned celebration, Skye’s Events Milano continues to tell a story—not just of love and milestones, but of courage, hope, and the unyielding spirit of Filipino entrepreneurship abroad.
More than event planners, Cheryl and Ryan are cultural ambassadors, carrying the traditions, colors, and stories of the Philippines into every event they touch. From debuts to weddings, from christenings to anniversaries, they create more than just pretty backdrops—they create memories.
Their story is proof that success abroad doesn’t always come in the form of a corporate title or a big paycheck. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a perfectly folded napkin, a bride’s tears of joy, or a proud kababayan saying, “Pinoy ‘yan.”
As Skye’s Events Milano continues to set the standard for celebration styling in Italy, Cheryl and Ryan’s story reminds us all: dreams are portable. And with enough heart, they bloom—even in foreign soil.
Through beauty and detail, we honor our roots and show the world what Filipino creativity can do," says Ryan.
SKYE’S EVENTS
Via Privata Gaetano Sbodio 32/2, Milan, Italy
+39 371 597 6523
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