Ricky Reyes' musical tribute to Mama Ada

MANILA, Philippines - When Amanda Tiantes Enriquez marked her 90th birthday last Jan. 14, all of her nine children brainstormed as to how to give their mother a celebration she would not forget.

Some suggested that the whole clan go to Hong Kong. Another thought of throwing a three-day party with non-stop food and drinks.

But Ricky Reyes, Mama Ada’s fourth child, had a different idea in mind — a musical on the life of Mama Ada.

And so it passed that Ricky was able to gather the right people to help him put together a show that would honor the life and times of his mother, his guide and his inspiration.

GMA 7’s Darling de Jesus helped make things happen by making GMA artists accessible to be the performers. Ada, The Musical was the highlight of Mama Ada’s 90th birthday party at the Wack Wack Country Club.

Ayen Munji Laurel essayed the role of Mama Ada, with Frances Makil (Doray, Ada’s bestfriend), Jan Nieto (Antonio Zabarte, Ada’s first husband), Gian Magdangal (Ricardo Reyes Sr.) and Paolo Ballesteros (Ricky Reyes).

The Terpsichore Dancers and Mama Ada’s grandchildren danced to the music provided by Gerard Santos, the La Diva (Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia) and the UP Concert Chorus.

Ricky pulled out all stops and commissioned the best in the industry to put the production together: Floy Quintos for direction, Geleen Eugenio for choreography, Danny Tan for the music, Eric Pineda for the costumes and Cocoy Boncan for the script.

The whole Zabarte-Reyes clan was rejoicing when they finally watched the musical based on their mother’s life. Children Antonio, Wilfredo, Jaime, Ricky, Vivian, Rey, Connie, Claro and Les were teary-eyed as they watched their mother’s life story being dramatized before them, chronicling the sacrifices she made single-handedly raising 10 children.