We speak to the sisters about starting their own business, and why family is always their top priority
Reyna Harilela and Shirley Hiranand are synonymous with some of the hottest events in the city – with their boutique public relations firm, Bonvivant & Bellavita (or BV&BV as it is popularly referred to) the sisters have an ability to effortlessly navigate a crowd, and to connect people through their extensive network. With a remarkable ability to put people at ease while also guaranteeing an enjoyable experience – the sisters have carved out a niche for themselves in the cities prospering social scene.
We speak to Reyna and Shirley about starting their own business, and why family always comes first:
Reyna: I’ve lived in Hong Kong longer than I have anywhere else, coming from a big family and being married at the tender age of nineteen, I feel that Hong Kong is where I really had the chance to be the person I am today.
Shirley: Despite being born in Manila - Hong Kong is the place where my life truly began. Along with meeting so many wonderful people throughout the years, I met my husband here, and I had my five beautiful children here.
Reyna: Bonvivant & Bellavita BV&BV as we’ve come to be known is a luxury public relations agency that keeps the conversations going in the fields of art, fashion, and lifestyle.
Shirley: Our business, in a nutshell, is having the ability to connect people.
Reyna: I’m most proud of my three beautiful daughters whom I adore.
Shirley: My proudest accomplishment has to be raising five children in a hectic city like Hong Kong.
Reyna: In retrospect – I have no regrets, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my past.
Shirley: Looking back I wish I had the chance to spend more time with my parents and brother – you’ll never regret the time spent with family.
Reyna: I love being able to allocate my time according to what I want to do, we have a great team so I know everything is in good hands if I can’t always be in the office.
Shirley: The best part about running your own business is being able to set your own hours, giving you time to pursue your hobbies and spending quality time with quality people – in my case, my family.
Reyna: Don’t be afraid to fail – work hard towards your goals, if you have a vision – you’re the only one who can make your dreams your reality.
Shirley: When it comes to starting your own business, the best advice I can offer is that it is never too late to get your idea off the ground. I only started my business once my children had grown up – I never thought I would have my own business. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out by the time you leave school. As time passes and you grow – new doors will open and more opportunities will present themselves.
Reyna: I love what I do and my end goal would be to see my kids excel and embrace what they love – being happy is always the end goal.
Shirley: The end goal is to be able to retire somewhere by the sea, with family nearby and being a constant presence in my life.
Reyna: In ten years, I hope that the business is still thriving and perhaps our kids take an interest and cultivate its growth.
Shirley: Hopefully by then BV&BV has a presence outside of Hong Kong but is still connecting people.
Reyna: “Be humble, be happy, and be grateful.”
Shirley: I always live by Maya Angelou’s wise words, “you can never be great at anything unless you love it.”
The Tatler 10 is a new HongKongTatler.com series focusing on the people who have shaped society today
Photography by Edgar Tapan