A special ‘Eat Bulaga’ episode for birthday boy Tito Sen

Former Senate president Tito Sotto – a.k.a. Tito Sen — turned 76 last Aug. 24, and he had two celebrations. The first was held on the longest running noontime show, “Eat Bulaga,” which he co-hosts.

The special Saturday episode featured a production number from female hosts Maine Mendoza-Atayde, Miles Ocampo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Carren Eistrup and Atasha Muhlach, who dressed in colorful retro garb and danced to “Bang-Shang-a-Lang,” a song popularized by Helen Gamboa in the ‘70s.

There was also a surprise number from Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and his handsome son Hugo, who both performed electric guitar and sang with the Lockdown band.

The highlight, though, was when Tito Sen’s “only one,” wife Helen Gamboa, appeared and sang “Downtown.” Midperformance, Tito Sen joined her and they performed an impromptu sweet dance.

Tito Sen and Tita Helen.

The next day, Sunday, Tito Sen hosted an intimate dinner at Red Lantern restaurant, Solaire for family and a few guests. Tito Sen looked dapper as always while Tita Helen was radiant in a red printed dress. Their children Apples, Ciara, Lala, and Gian were all there. MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio was with husband Mike, while Vice Mayor Gian was with lovely wife Joy and their children.

MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio with husband Mike.

Dinner was sumptuous because Red Lantern’s cuisine is excellent and a new personal favorite. For appetizers, we started off with my favorite, Peking Duck (first way), sliced duck wrapped with pancake, hoisin sauce, onion leeks and cucumber. There was also Marinated Jellyfish (which was thicker than usual) with shredded white radish and spring onion sauce, and my new favorite, the divine Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Black Truffle! The soup was braised scallops, shrimp, crab roe and bamboo piths, which went well with that evening’s rainy weather.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and beautiful wife Joy.

Though I was almost full when the main courses arrived, I couldn’t resist the Stir-fried Scallops with Seasonal Vegetables and Homemade XO Sauce, Homemade Braised Bean Curd with Black Truffle and Lingzhi Mushrooms, Wok-fried Diced Angus Beef with Shallots and Black Pepper Sauce.

The proverbial noodle dish was Efu Noodles with Crab Meat and Enoki Mushrooms and Yang Chow Fried Rice. I made sure I had room for dessert, which was Red Lantern’s famous Avocado Roll.

Former Senator Gringo Honasan and his wife Jane.

Because Tito Sen is in both showbiz and politics, our private room was abuzz with stories from both those worlds.

Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, who will be celebrating her birthday tomorrow, Sept. 3.

At our table, where Lala Sotto-Antonio was seated, we buzzed about the movie “Un/Happy For You,” starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia, and how it was making a mint at the box-office. It has grossed over P365M as of this writing, eight months after “Rewind” grossed over a billion pesos.

Maricel Soriano looks radiant in her classic Valentino shift dress.

Hopefully, our movie industry will have even more hits in the months ahead. We also talked about the void that Mother Lily Monteverde’s passing has left in the showbiz industry, and how Regal Entertainment will evolve now that her daughter Roselle is at the helm.

Apples Sotto with boyfriend, Magnolia Hotshots PBA player Rafael Reavis.

Over at Tito Sen’s table, there was an animated discussion with Sen. Grace Poe and former Sen. Gringo Honasan. I can only surmise that they were talking about the many ongoing Senate hearings and investigations.

But one thing I am sure of is this: that Tito Sen will run again in next year’s midterm elections and make a comeback as a senator.

Happy birthday once again, dearest Tito Sen! God be with you always for being the blessing you are to your loved ones and to the countless Filipinos you have entertained and aided as a public servant over the decades.