Swatch makes Matteo’s ‘24th’ more memorable

Besides his girlfriend Sarah Geronimo (yes, she is!) who was, as reported by Funfare in a scoop last week, his VSG (Very Special Guest) on his 24th birthday party last March 28 (actual birthday is March 26) at Tipsy Pig Gastrobar in Pasig City, his close non-showbiz and showbiz friends made it more memorable for Matteo Guidicelli, thanks to Swatch which was hosting the event for the fourth time (including his 14th, 18th and 21st birthday bashes).

It was at that party where Sarah freely, perhaps unwittingly (because her strict mom Divine was around), showed the world how special she is to Matteo — and vice-versa — not only by for the first time holding hands with him in public, letting Matteo wrap his arms around her hips during a photo shoot and kissing him gently and lovingly on the check after they rendered a duet of the John Legend hit All Of Me.

Credit should go to Swatch Lady Virgie Ramos who, to use a cliche, left no stone unturned in making his “24th” a day to remember for Matteo (one of the Swatch endorsers).

A red carpet was rolled out for the well-wishers (check them out in the photos on this and the “jump” pages) who showed up wearing “Here for MATT” baller bands on their wrists and were later playfully hiding behind “MATT” masks and having their pictures taken beside supersized “MATT” head posters. Matt’s Instagram selfies were framed by a beautiful chair at the entrance and the photo wall decked out with more of Matteo…on cutout cakes, a weighing scale for the Biggest Loser (inspired by the ABS-CBN show co-hosted by Matteo) and Galema snake (as a nod to Matteo’s other ABS-CBN show).

On hand to help Matteo entertain the guests were his parents Gianluca and Glenna (of the prominent Fernan clan of Cebu), Matteo sister Giorgia and cousin Camilla. The Guidicelli family friends were accounted for, including Swatch family and friends, Matteo’s high school friends from Brent International School, triathlon and gym buddies, Star Magic colleagues and indie film group (Saturday Night Chills).

Of course, highlight of the evening was the landmark duet of Matteo and Sarah (who is so at-home with Matteo’s folks who, according to Funfare sources, consider her a member of the family), after which there’s no need to confirm what their true relationship is.

Singer guests had a fun jam session with Marvin Querido and his band (members are Sammy Gadi, Ardie de Guzman, Junjun Jimenez Perez and Junjun Regalado): Rico Puno cracked some of his de riguer green jokes before singing Wild Flower and Just Once, Randy Santiago did Tuloy Pa Rin Ako and What You Won’t Do For Love, Richard “Ser Chef” Yap in a duet of Please Be Careful With My Heart with Vice Ganda (who did solo of Roar), Randy and Matteo together with Treasure, and Cris Villonco sang Unchained Melody (from their musical Ghost on April 25 to May 11) with Christian Bautista (solo on Marry You).

Here is the hand-written note that Matteo sent to his Tita Virgie: Over the past 10 years, it’s been such a big blessing that we have gotten closer and closer. You are the best, Tita Virgie!!!

And from Sarah: Thank you for the dress and for everything po. Thank you po for being so nice to me at siyempre po for always taking care of Matteo…

Anyway, same time next year? By then, Sarah and Matteo shall have (hopefully, hopefully!) gotten the blessing and the go-signal of Sarah’s parents — and openly, happily going steady ever after.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)