MOVERS IN CULTURE, BUSINESS, MOVIES & GOV’T PLUS 2 BISHOPS, 18 PRIESTS & 7 SINGERS IN A RARE EVENT FOR DANNY DOLOR
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MILLET M. MANANQUIL
It was certainly not a typical birthday celebration by Danny Dolor at the Grand Hyatt ballroom. Although the invite, which had vintage photos of Dolor’s Pharmacy plus industrialists Leon and Soledad Dolor holding a baby (guess who !), gave a hint that it would be nostalgic.
For starters, a Mass was concelebrated in the afternoon by two bishops and 18 priests (“I counted them,” said my amused and amazed tablemate Jullie Yap Daza.) And then came the musical treats: Harana sa Dapit Hapon No.11 with the country’s premier soprano Rachelle Gerodias, Korean baritone Byeong-In Park, soprano Lisa Cabahug and tenor Lemuel dela Cruz delivering stirring songs of yesteryear.
Then came “September Serenade “with tenor Ivan Neri, mezzo soprano Krissan Manikan Tan and even businessman tenor George Yang himself, joining in. Think favorites like Webber’s Think of Me and All I Ask of You (from Phantom of the
Opera), Rodgers’ Climb Every Mountain and Bernstein’s Tonight (from West Side
Story), Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s Turandot and Foster’s The Prayer — and you get the picture. The Manila Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jeffrey Solares completed the treat for the more than 300 guests.
In between, guests were surprised that a portion of the ballroom was actually the huge chef’s open kitchen which was bared by a folding wall, revealing the service crew singing and dancing with gleaming pots and pans! The Tagala Brothers led by violin virtuoso Jimmy Tagala soothed ears while eyes feasted on the many sumptuous buffet tables thoughtfully laid out so that there was no need for queues.
Julie and I had fun keeping track of the culturati and the not-often-seen personages from real high society that were present. Taking advantage of the venerable guests who came to greet the 80-year-old celebrant, I asked some for my Instagram stories: What is your secret to long life? The most amusing answer came from Batangas businessman Tony Pastor: “The secret to long life? No wife!”
There you go. Everything near and dear to Danny Dolor: prayers, music, humor and sparkling conversations. The things which keep him young at 80.
Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, Elenita Binay, Rachelle Gerodias, Bibeth Orteza, Batangas Gov. Dodo Mandanas, Monetary Board Byeong-In Park, Carlitos Siquion Reyna member Tony Abacan, Regina Mandanas Nellie Bengzon
Ambassador Jesus Tambunting Linda Dolor, Carla Liwanag, Lucy Mark Anthony Zuno Consunji Carmencita Reyes Juliet Romualdez Merceditas Gutierrez Maritess Pineda Mila Magsaysay Valenzuela Eddie Ilarde
Jose Mari Chan, Mary Ann Chan, Danny Dolor, Letty Syquia, former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Ambassador Tita de Villa, Susana Cheung of the Manila Cathedral Foundation
CCP president Nick Lizaso The celebrant Danny Dolor is board member of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society Foundation, Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Manila Cathedral Basilica Foundation; Cofradia chairman; Emilio Aguinaldo College chairman; Manila Medical Center vice chairman
Leo de Leon, Larry de Leon, Tanini de Leon, Danny Dolor, Kevin de Leon, Alwin de Leon
Chona Montinola, Terri and Buddy Montinola Ramon Orlina Pat P. Daza Benny Pe Tony Lim Pastor Shirley Kuan Veana Fores Lody Tan Mellie Ablaza, Louie Ablaza, Cely Castro, Glecy Mojares
George Yang, Rachelle Gerodias The singing Grand Hyatt kitchen crew
Byeong-In Park, Rachelle Gerodias, Liza Cabahug, Lemuel dela Cruz
Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, Fr. Toti Mandanas, Fr. Chito Bautista, Fr. Tom Villafranco, Fr. Gabby Gonzales, Danny Dolor, Fr. Cecilio Arce, Fr. Ilde Dimaano, Fr. Conrado Castillo, Fr. Dong Rosales
Chit Dee, Evie Costa, Dr. Loi Ejercito, Concep Brosas, Justa Tantoco, Fe Ng, Nympha Valencia
Vicky Tengco Burgos, Karen Macasaet, Ado Escudero, Clifford Chua, Allan Tengco, Carrie Bautista
Diana JeanFortune Lopez Ledesma Tina Jacinto Jullie Yap Daza Lulu and Pepe Rodriguez Fe Rodriguez
Nene Leonor Emma Reyes Armita Rufino, Criselda Lontok
Ambassador Joey Cuisia, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales
Ching Montinola Noemi Saludo
CCP board member, PPO president & chairman Nedy Tantoco
Senator Grace Poe
Heritage Conservation Society chairwoman emerita Gemma Cruz Araneta
CCP board member Bal Endriga
CCP chairman Margie Moran Floirendo
Former CCP president Raul Sunico
CCP board member Jaime Laya
Susan Roces
Alex and Marixi Prieto
Boots Anson Rodrigo
Marichu Maceda
Ayleene Gonzales