Lush launch

Tossing away all modicum of modesty, since the tone was set right at the book launching last Thursday, this author impinges on your patience, and imposes the following exercise in breast-beating. 

I believe it was good ol’ buddy Pete Lacaba whom I overheard mock-griping at the Champagne Room of The Manila Hotel (even as he had reduced anew the amber-colored contents of the third single malt whisky bottle propping me up at my author’s signing table): “How can anyone else launch a book now, after this guy’s set the bar so high?” Or something like that.

A similar comment was voiced by another good ol’ buddy, National Artist for Literature Rio Almario, who more or less opined to us in private: “Ang yabang mo.” Or something like that. Heh heh. Well, flaunt it if you’ve got it, an abiding principle goes, especially when it has to do with the magical power of friendship.

It so happens that I dine and drink regularly with a gracious couple, Ricky and Ginny Banaag, at La Regalade French bistro on Arnaiz Avenue, where hearty dalliances are conducted with perennial host Bubot Quicho, the first ever Pinoy GM of a five-star hotel in Manila (the Hyatt, way back when).

Sometime ago Ginny became a Veep at The Grand Old Lady, which everyone now says has acquired more than just a facelift, maybe since she helped take over the proceedings, from décor to menus to getting the once-fabled Tap Room back as a livewire jazz venue, with maestro Romy Posadas headlining the scintillating live performances on a nightly basis — various divas alternating on voice — plus Sandra and Jun Viray and the recently departed (with much lament) Koyang Ed Avenir.

When Cirque de Soleil was in town, hosted by Manila Hotel, we were invited to a post-performance party at Champagne Room. We hadn’t seen it decked out in such classy finery for ages, but that night it was back in exquisite form, as elegant as they come for convivial parlors, with crystal palm trees by Impy Pilapil.

Then last month Philippines Graphic magazine held its annual Nick Joaquin Awards for the Short Story at Maynila Hall, and again we saw how this venue, last visited when then President Erap gave out millions in cash prizes for the 1998 Centennial Literary Awards for the Novel, had not only had its patina burnished, but proved captivating with such ambience as can be provided by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin’s original design.  

Hey, hallmarks of heritage were in the pink anew. The notion came, then — when University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, under director Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, informed me that my book Lush Life: Essays 2001-2011, would be off the press by October — that I could try for the moon.

Initially I considered several options: a single malt whisky bar would be appropriate to celebrate the book’s contents, but even my fave of such rarefied habitats — Kipling’s at Mandarin Hotel — would be too small. Somewhere in McKinley Hill would be fresh. The Piazza Venezia? The Palanca Foundation HQ in a corporate building there, with its capacious dining area backstopped by a handsome bar?

Somewhere in Pasig, closer to home? Maybe at Midas Touch, helped run by Bedan buddy Jun Diangco, where a large terrace offered a good view of Marikina Valley awash in lights once the sun went down. But what if it rained? Booklover friends might scurry to the casino tables and lose their shirts before they could pick up a copy of my 26th title.

Then I thought of texting amiga Ginny. What about Manila Hotel? I was pleasantly surprised to see her SMS reply in bold, “Amin na yan!” Or something like that. She asked how many guests we would expect, said something about Sampaguita Hall having been newly refurbished. I said I liked where we partied with the sirkeros, having retained good loving memories of my date that night, er, rather, the night altogether.

Oh, the Champagne Room. When? She’d look into its availability. Then got back in no time to say Thursday, Oct. 20, the fateful red-letter date I chose, would be perfect.

Thus did it come to pass that Manila Hotel, where my namesake Gen. Douglas MacArthur had headquartered himself, and lived and loved, way back in that decade when I was born and acquired his surname as a second given name, became the grand sponsor for a book launch.

The rest came easy. Again, friendship knows no bounds, gives no quarters. My GNN Channel co-host for the weekly Illuminati arts & culture show, the lovely Trix Syjuco, mapped out a program of performance art that she would lead and emcee. Her dad, my genius kumpare, Cesare A.X. Sujuco, and her ever glam and scintillating sister Maxine would be in on the act, together with poet-philosopher Danny Sillada and New Zealand transplant Tony “Ynot” Piggott. Powerful cast. Well, Vim Nadera and Yanna Verbo Acosta were supposed to have fit in, too, but force majeure was to decrease the evening’s brio.

Same thing with good ol’ buddy Jaime Fabregas, who was supposed to headline the musical program with sexy sax player Pete Canzon, another saint of vintage camaraderie. But Jaime was abducted at the last minute for a TV taping (there goes his inimitable Spanish-English version of Fragile!). In any case, I understood, well enough not to send back the proverbial candle of troth.

Anyway, the best baby grand accompanist in town, Ferdie Borja, had quickly committed. So had Girl Valenca, Nick Joaquin’s fave torch singer (who entertains on Tuesdays at Tap Room). Then we had soulmates Celina Cristobal and Gou de Jesus, young dependables. Toss in poet-in-Filipino and balagtasero Mike Coroza, guitar wizard Aya Yuson, and vocalist Tata Poblador, and we had a power-packed gig.

Jim Agustin of Global Beer Exchange sent in dozens of craft beers led by the Arrogant Bastard brew, while the hotel provided champagne, red and white wine, Manila Beer and Coors. And travel website head honcho Mike Marasigan and DLSU poet-professor y amiga para siempre Marj Evasco donated Glen Moray 12 and Glenlivet 18, respectively, to supplement our own private now public reserve of single malts — Caol Ila 16 Years and Singleton.

So that was how the signing party went, from lavish to lush, with incoming Manila Hotel president Atty. Joey Lina, yes, our former senator, welcoming guests with a reminder that the Grand Old Lady remained committed to nurturing great Filipino talents (maybe even when it comes to literary wassailing).

Apart from Impy’s crystal palm trees in Champagne Room, and Leandro’s ornate showcase that is Maynila Ballroom, why, there’s an Amorsolo painting in the Grand Lobby and a portrait of Gen. MacArthur at the MacArthur Suite, which was in turn designed by architect Pedro Luna, the son of master painter Juan Luna. The elevator door panels are designed by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva, while all over the hotel are Philippine marble flooring, chandeliers made of capiz shells, and finely crafted furniture of local mahogany. 

In each room is a bookmark that quotes Ernest Hemingway to have responded — to a reporter when asked what made a good novel — that it’s a good story if it’s like Manila Hotel.

Such was the story that evening of our launch, when special bookmarks crafted and donated by another private sponsor were handed out to all guests, of unique designs that incorporated brief quotes from five of the 75 essays that make up our book. In this wise:

“Quijano de Manila wassailed Cole Porter ditties and alternately charmed and intimidated the pianist to play nothing but. Ourselves, we agreed with our freeloading peers that draft beer seemed to get us up there quicker.” — All Along the Generational Routes of Watering Holes

“If you build it, they will come. If you have a cell phone, Hayden and Katrina and Maricar et al. will come. And likely so will you, virtually virtuous in your empathy.” — Taking Pride in a Pornographic Memory

“I am a proud, listed, card-carrying, dues-paying member of the mallturati. I am a ‘mallture.’ Mall plus fixture equal... I consume. I am a top-class mallster.” — I Mall, Therefore I Am

“My own favorite oases in Metro Manila are the cigar and single malt bars… I dream on, sighing, of getting to sip from each and every single bottle of Island, Highland, Speyside and Lowland malts available in bright array on the glittering shelves at Kipling’s.” — Lush Life, Manila

“Hey, leave my President alone! That’s what I say with girded-loins force to the usual do-gooding busybodies who’ve been picking on P-Noy. Let him be! Did you never sing that with the Beatles in your youth?” — Lighten Up, All Ye Who Don’t Light Up!

Towards the close of a fun night, we did light up. And we felt that the torch was passed, from the likes of Blas Ople and Adrian Cristobal, bless their posh souls and lush lives. Thanks to them, their spirit and love of spirits, and thanks to everyone who made last Thursday night memorable.

On Halloween, the book will have a second launch in Singapore, as organized by friends led by Dr. Kirpal Singh of Singapore Management University, and where Dr. Rowena Torrevillas of Iowa City and I will be participating in a literary conference.

Copies are currently exclusively available at UST Publishing House, but I understand that in less than a month’s time, they can also be acquired at National Bookstore branches. A toast to my book, then. Bottoms up!