The Grand ESCAÑO reunion 2009

MANILA, Philippines - The Escaño clan is an avid fan of the performing arts for so long. Years ago in Malitbog, Southern Leyte, the family would present zarzuelas with the stage backdrop hand painted by Don Agustin Escaño, while the rest of his brothers and sisters would be the actors playing various roles. Most remembered was “La Viuda Alegre.”

In 1987, the first Escaño Reunion occurred where we had a formal dinner at the ballroom of the then Cebu Plaza Hotel. The family day lunch, with fun and games, was at the now City Lights Condominiums. The highlight was the clan’s participation as Tribu Escaño in the Sinulog Grand Parade, complete with its own float – the first Escaño Lines ship named “Luisa”. During the formal dinner, the family tradition was continued through a show featuring Broadway hits like South Pacific, Oklahoma and West Side Story. There were some dance numbers by noted dance artists Marian Escaño Villegas and Bettina Escaño Papoli. Then world-renowned concert pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria performed for her family.

As the clan decided to continue the reunions, there were those held in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007. The talented family members did excerpts of New York, New York, Cabaret, South Pacific, Annie, West Side Story, Show Boat, Oklahoma, Grease, High School Musical and Mama Mia.

This year, the clan reunion was hosted by the line of Paz Escaño Corominas. On December 30, there was an afternoon Children’s Party followed by Mass officiated by Msgr. Cristobal E. Garcia. Cocktail ensued, followed by dinner (with dishes donated by some family members, such as desserts from Hazel Gonzalez and Tico Aldanese; Pancit de Maxi from Merto’s). The evening’s show was a series of excerpts from Mama Mia, all performed by members of the descendants of Fernando Villareal Escaño. The show started with I Have A Dream with Shelly Sato; Petite Garcia and other members of the family doing Mama Mia; Josie Militar Sala and Irene E. Yap singing Chiquitita; the 4th, 5th & 6th generations doing Dancing Queen with (surprise number) Tico Aldanese; Shelly Sato and Jolo Escaño dancing to Lay All Your Love On Me; Margie Lhuillier, Margette E. Sarmiento and Petite Garcia doing Super Trouper; the members of the family from Manila dancing to Voulez Vous; followed by a number with Ryo Sato and Margie Lhuillier dancing the Does Your Mother Know; Margette Garcia-Sarmiento doing Take A Chance On Me; as closing Boy E. Veloso and Shelly Sato with the entire cast did Thank You For The Music. The show was directed by Alex (Django) Diola. (CONTRIBUTED)