As Sen. Richard Gordon said, “With Johnny, every day is a birthday party.” Hobnobbing with Hollywood royalty, foreign ambassadors and the country’s major industry players has honed my skills at hosting absolutely any type of show.
At my 80th birthday celebration, however, I was at a loss for words for I had no inkling of what was in store. The sight of almost 600 well-wishers filling up the Grand Ballroom D of the Marriott Grand Ballroom warmed my heart. Thank you, Marriott Manila general manager Bruce Winton and director of marketing communications Michelle Garcia, for making sure everything went as planned.
I was deeply touched by the presence of my longtime friends, Ambassador Bienvenido “Benny”
Tantoco Sr. and SGV & Co. founder Washington SyCip and several others who surprised me with their testimonial videos: former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, business icon and diplomat Bobby Romulo, Ambassador Chuching
Tambunting, Senator and Philippine Red Cross chairman and CEO Richard Gordon, Belo Medical Group founder and medical director Dr. Vicki Belo, singer and songwriter Jose Mari Chan, Concepcion Industries’ Paing Hechanova, Philippine Hotel Federation Inc. president Arthur Lopez, school directress Jojo Zabarte and former banker and diplomat Lani Bernardo.
To remember the evening by, guests went home with tokens from Rustan’s, Beabi, Laneige and Aficionado Germany Perfume. Many thanks to Tita
Trillo of Titania Wine Cellar for the spirits, DMark
Beauty Corp.’s Nikki Tang and Turkish Airlines. Thanks also to our ever reliable show director for many years now, Raymond Villanueva, Muebles Italiano, f lorist Robert
Blancaf lor, Bloomwoods f lower shop, tenor George Tagle, Ol i
Laperal Jr. of RS Video, and 10 Inch for the TV monitors.
To all my guests, thank you for all the kind words, your warm friendship and your continuous support. To my three families — my wife and children, my associates at The Philippine STAR and my PR and events staff — I take my hat off to you for keeping me grounded despite all the successes that you are all a part of.
(Seated) STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte and wife Milette with your columnist; (standing) Suzette Hahn- Lopez and PeopleAsia editor-in- chief and Allure editor Joanne Rae Ramirez.
(From left) Johnson and Linda Yu, Ruby Chua, Laneige and Beabi co- owner Winnie Go, your columnist, Sunny Vergara, Laneige and Beabi coowner Willin Chan and Abeth and Alex Yu.
(From left) Ronnie Concepcion, Bobby Romulo and wife Olivia, Menchu Concepcion, Ambassador Chuching Tambunting and wife Marge with Marivic Concepcion.
Lexus Manila team. (From left) President Danny Isla, incoming EVP Yuichiro Suzuki, operations executive officer Raymond Rodriguez, sales and marketing director Spencer Yu and outgoing EVP Toshihiko Hiranuma.
( From left) Renato and wife Maritess Enriquez, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., Ambassador Isabel Caro- Wilson and Rustan’s marketing and communications head Dina Tantoco.
SGV & Co. founder and Austria Consul General Washington SyCip, Rustan’s patriarch and chairman emeritus Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. with your columnist.
(Seated) Narvacan, Ilocos Sur councilor Chavit Singson and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos; (standing) Jaz Carreon and Minerva Tanseco.
( From left) Marriott Hotel Manila director of marketing communications Michelle Garcia, Tanzania Consul Betty Chua, Marilou Arroyo and Marriott Hotel Manila GM Bruce Winton.
Indian Ambassador L.D. Ralte and wife Ziki.
( From left) Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo and wife Maria Jose with Ambassador Isabel Caro-Wilson and Norwegian Ambassador Erik Førner.
Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario and wife Gretchen.
Guatemala Consul Mellie Ablaza and Zambia Consul Luis Ablaza.
Dean of Consular Corps of the Philippines and Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma with Jayelles’ Roselle Rebano.
Agile Zamora and DermAsia Corp. CEO Nikki Tang.
Aficionado Germany Perfume SVP and COO Remar de Leon and president and CEO Joel Cruz.
Titania Wine’s Paige Meneses and Rene Arambulo.
Angola Consul Helen Ong and Bloomwoods Flower Shop owner Mia Cabawatan- Lozada.
Mia Arcenas and Jewelmer Joaillerie EVP and deputy CEO Jacques Christophe Branellec.
British Ambassador Asif Ahmad and Kim del Mundo.
RS Video’s Oli Laperal Jr.
Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
(From left) Gigi Montinola, Manny Reyes, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Bobby de Ocampo and Frank Evaristo.
(From left) Argentinian Ambassador Roberto Bosch and wife Julia with Lizette and Mikey Cojuangco.
Marvie Yulo, Marisa Cojuangco and Sea Wind’s Joebert Cocjin.
Henann Group of Resorts VP for marketing Karl Chusuey, AVP for sales- Boracay area Isabel Garcia and EVP Alfonso Chusuey.
Marco Polo Ortigas Manila GM Frank Reichenbach and wife Norge.
Jojo Zabarte and Mia Borromeo.
Philippine Hotel Federation Inc. president Arthur Lopez and wife Letty.
Georgette Wilson and Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur.
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu GM Julie Najar and sales and marketing director Lara ConstantinoScarrow.
Wilcon Depot executive financial audit manager Careen Belo with SEVP and COO Rosemarie Ong.
Fe Rodriguez and Richard Tiu.
Hoseki’s Faico and Zabeth Co.