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Pamilya sosyal |
|
 by Alfred A. Yuson
’Twas a whirlwind week of socials, thanks to writers’ birthdays and then some.
So excuse me for putting off literary reviews and indulging on sosyal
documentation of the week that was, a merry one indeed, in the company of
various “families.”
On May 3, not only did our son Alyosha Skywalker turn 18, on which occasion we
had a joint dinner celebration at The Fort with his uncle Joseph Albert Gamboa,
a FINEX columnist for a business paper. Albert showed us an advance copy of his
review of our recent bio of Amb. Alfonso Yuchengco, with some cautionary words
thrown in re the Pacific Educational Plans controversy.
That bio was started by Nick Joaquin, and passed on to us by his literary
manager Billy Lacaba for completion. Billy was at the center of the week-long
tribute to dear Nicomedes, starting on the great man’s first death anniversary
on April 29 (with the opening of an NCCA exhibit of memorabilia, etc.), and
culminating on what would have been his 88th birthday on May 4.
But on that penultimate day of the commemoration activities, last Tuesday, on
the agenda too was poet-novelist Erwin Castillo’s advanced birthday party for
sportswriter and Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Villas bookie Recah Trinidad. We recalled
that Nick never failed to attend Recah’s birthday bashes at Vergara in
Mandaluyong, in fact always took some token sardines along for the occasion. So
it was in the spirit of having Nick for company that Erwin had his mom-in-law
cook Spanish dishes — callos, pastel de lengua and paella en su tinta — for
guests led by painter slash jukebox king Danny Dalena, actor slash video
director Cris Michelena and, per Erwin’s recollection, Nick’s favorite young
writer of a certain season, Pepito Aguila.
The following night, the old fogeys couldn’t recover in time for the culminating
affair on Nick’s Week: “You’re the Top!” — a musical extravaganza hosted by NJ’s
favorite chanteuse (and children’s story writer) Girl Valencia at Exchange Bar
of Richmonde Hotel. Only Pete Lacaba, still down with jetlag from a quick foray
to some Swiss banks, and the town’s best writer-baritone, Butch Dalisay, could
be added to the no-shows. But the family of letters was there alright, to toast
to
Nick’s caricature on the hotel wall as drawn by Nonoy Marcelo (now also among
our dearly departed).
Who’d we see? At first scan upon arrival: Armida Siguion Reyna, Greg and Baby
Brillantes, Marra PL Lanot of the MTRCB, Lalli Lacaba of UP Film Center, Palanca
First-Prize awardee for the Essay Wilma Lacaba, Anvil’s Karina Bolasco, UP
oldtimers Jimmy Abad and Frankie and Jenny Llaguno, Graphic magazine editor
Marianne Carandang. PDI columnists Conrad Banal and Conrad de Quiros (the latter
with his sweeter half Tita), Vic Tirol, Ed Joaquin, Charo Joaquin-Villegas and
Bing Villegas, Nick’s erstwhile steady date Elena Roco, lensman-luminary Nap
Jamir, and men-about-town Bubot Quicho and Noel Oñate.
And those were just the non-warblers who sat back and listened to, and heartily
applauded, the braveheart company of singers: Jarius Bondoc, “Ray” Charlson Ong,
Marne Kilates, Arnold Molina Azurin who did pelvic-Elvis numbers, and Lorna
Kalaw Tirol. Oh, and the young Kris Lacaba proved that he could dish out a
musical number or two as well as he can read poetry onstage.
On the pro roster were Susan Fernandez, Celina Cristobal and Gugu de Jesus, our
three divas non pareil, plus Willie Nepomuceno. And of course doing her standard
Cole Porters as she had for Nick was Girl Valencia, at one time in the evening
in show-stopping duets with Dawn Bande. Everyone was accompanied on the piano,
exquisitely indeed, by Freddie Borja. Nick
would’ve loved the musical parade in his honor.
A copy of the translation to Chinese of Nick’s authorized bio of President GMA
was presented to Charo and Ed by three gentlemen behind the project: Philippine
Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) Chairman and PhilExport President Sergio
R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., Philippines, Inc. President and former PCCI President Miguel
B. Varela, and PCCI VP for Agriculture William S. Co.
Helping Billy mount the successful affair was Gerry Anigan, former Philippine
Collegian editor in chief, now a business reporter and leader of a think tank
for captains of industry. Well past midnight, Billy Lacaba thanked everyone and
led in the final toast to Nick Joaquin, beloved National Artist for Literature.
The next night, it was a despedida party for Su Llamado of Baguio’s Café By the
Ruins family (and extended Malate-bohemia clan) hosted by Ami Miciano at ye olde
Penguin Café-Gallery (which might change hands soon, but kept within the kindred
company, promised Ami).
Poet-designer-publisher RayVi Sunico was urging her to have the place off
Remedios Circle declared as a heritage conservation site. We’re sure all artists
who’ve ever partied or enjoyed post-CCP nights at Penguin would support the
move, all the way to the busy desks of UNESCO honchos.
Silver-maned Nunelucio Alvarado had an exhibit of small but characteristically
exemplary paintings. The famed artist from Sagay in Negros Occidental played
co-host to the hilt, beer bottle in hand. At least a couple of other familiar,
major artists were on hand, too: Bencab and Jaime de Guzman. So were CCP
Chairperson Emily Altomonte Abrera, the National Museum’s John Silva and
Jonathan Best, Egay Navarro with wife Rica and their new baby, Peggy and Mutya
Bose, Baboo Mondoñedo, Annie
Sarthou, Marissa Ileto and son Lawin, Louie Llamado with wife Vanessa and
daughter Ahimsa, Karla Delgado and Leon Araneta, Butch Perez, Jo Peñaranda, Boy
Yuchengco, Ronnie Lazaro and wife Lola, Joanna and Marty del Prado, Baba Balce,
Lia Llamado, David de Guzman, Tony Bosch …
Oh, and dozens more, and it felt good to be part of the family anew, seeing all
the kids and grandkids and babies in tow, too, at a long-time haven for kindred
sprits. We’ll all see you again soon, Su. And, more than Batman, long live
Penguin!
***********************************************************************
Posted in Gutom.org with permission from Alfred Yuson
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Posted on Thursday, May 19 @ 16:03:56 CDT by don |
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