‘Bottoms up’ to freedom!

Everybody who attended the traditional vin d’honneur at   Malacañang last June 12 to celebrate the 115th anniversary of Philippine Independence entered the Rizal Hall with a smile. There was excitement, too, in their hearts because guests arrived earlier than 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. festive affair.

Even President Noynoy Aquino, who led the vin d’honneur with Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, felt cheerful and light-hearted that day. He was in a jovial mood in the duration of the affair that during the toast (with water in his glass because the President does not drink wine) he said: “Bottoms up!”

The relaxed mood at Malacañang that day was echoed by the thousand and one make-believe white doves that seemed to fly at the backdrop of the stage. It helped that the venue, with the live music of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, was adorned with giant capiz balls bedecked with orchids, mums and roses. Social Secretary Susan Reyes got complimentary remarks from many guests for pulling off such a relaxed and elegant affair. Susan was quick to say that the beautiful flower arrangements were courtesy of florists Nick Raza, Rene Sumalino and Jun Mogado.

Oh, the tables and chairs inside Rizal Hall spelled a difference, too, especially for the lovely ladies in their killer heels. Unlike the past vin d’honneur celebrations, said a Malacañang “regular,” this year’s event had many tables that could sit about 200 guests. There were 355 confirmed guests that day who enjoyed the food of Cibo.

There were carving stations. And yes, a sisig station, too. Guests feasted on roast organic Batangas duck, slow-roasted beef belly glazed with muscovado and Bacolod-style lechon done two ways: one was stuffed with chicken and pork adobo rice and the other one with mango, tamarind and Cerveza Negra. The pako salad with red egg, crispy dilis, tomatoes with sugarcane vinaigrette was also a bestseller. 

There were also lumpiang ubod with Ilocos garlic-coconut vinegar and lumpiang sotanghon with smoked Dagupan milkfish inside. Guests didn’t mind lining up for the pancit with toppings composed of mushrooms, Dagupan tinapa, Ilonggo chorizo, Chinese chorizo, chicharon crumble, seafood ragu, chives and scrambled egg. MWSS administrator Gerry Esquivel made sure to lovingly serve his lovely wife Beng with this famed noodle dish.

Let’s go on with the sweet selection: Batangas cacao chocolate, San Miguel, Bulacan pastillas, barako coffee crème brûlèe, Silay pili bars, Cebu turones de kasuy, among others.

Dr. Alex Ayco, a very close friend of the Aquino family, was gracious enough to get some sweet bars for Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno and his Filipino wife Agnes. Alex, out of the kindness of his heart, made sure that he would be able to attend to as many guests as possible that day.

It was while President Aquino was enjoying his quezo-flavored sorbetes in a cone — straight from an ice cream cart inside the Rizal Hall — that PAGCOR chairman Cristino “Bong”  Naguiat Jr. showed him the latest issue of PeopleAsia magazine where Bong and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima were on the cover. The President looked at the magazine, browsed it and said with a big, big smile: “I’m sure ubos na ang kopya ng PeopleAsia. Nandyan kasi si Bong at si Cesar. Ganda ng issue!” And good mood, good vibes continued the whole day.

The mood was so relaxed that chairman Naguiat was egging some guests to take the microphone and sing. I was whispering to him to sing his ligaw song “Sana’y Wala ng Wakas” for his beautiful wife Tet. But that move worked to my “disadvantage” because it was me whom he sent to the piano man to sing “Bituing Marikit.” So, with the, ehem, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, I sang. From across the big room, I thought I saw the President clap after I sang. Now, pardon my bragging, I have a claim to fame! I sang at Malacañang!

Way past 1 p.m. and the President was still entertaining guests. He was still in a jovial mood. He was practically hopping from one table to another to make sure his guests were enjoying their Independence Day celebration at the Palace.

Indeed, that day was freedom day. And, to borrow the words of the President, “bottoms up” to that!

(E-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)