Very popular, well-read and well-liked Maurice Arcache, whose lips are not always so tightly sealed, but who never has a mean thing to say about anybody, was going to blow another set of candles, and everybody who was anybody had to come and mark this tres special day. Even Governor Bongbong Marcos and his southern belle wife, brilliant attorney Lisa Marcos, dropped by despite a very early morning flight to Canada. All of Maurice’s close set was present and accounted for. As we all know, life is never the same without him in our social midst, n’est-ce pas? While cocktails were served, a singing group came to serenade the celebrant with a birthday song and they got such a thunderous applause by the dining clients of the restaurant, that they had to sing more songs and everyone gladly contributed to the choir of young girls’ shopping wallets.
Arriving fashionably on time were Le and Mari Lagdameo; Dr. Randy Francisco and his wife Irene Martel; publisher Choy Cojuangco and his love Marissa Echauz; his beloved soul mate and pal, glamour gal Vicky Zubiri; Johnny Velasquez and Maripi Muscat; Al Tengco and wife Carla Reyes T.; star-maker and popular manager, southern boy Joji Dingcong; popular couturier Pepito Albert; beautiful couple Philip and Tricia Cu-Unjieng; V’s first couple Louie and Cecille Ysmael; and new publicist on the block Pepper Teehankee.
The party pack proceeded upstairs to the VIP level for the delicious gourmet dinner that super chef Billy King directed by remote control from foggy chilly Baguio where GMA was cooling her feet. He dashed back from trendy Camp John Hay Manor’s Hotel Le Soufflé branch. The endless feast started with Salad Panache with fried aubergine, grilled tomato slivers, baked goat cheese and toasted almonds, creamy balsamic dressing; pounded basil-flavored fettuccini with assorted mushrooms in olive oil and tomato pesto; salmon cocotte filled with goose liver and leek compote with a berlinoisse sauce and fleurons; Soufflé "Maurice" (passion fruit soufflé with green mango sauce); coffee or tea mini mince pies.
More of Maurice’s gang having a blast were one of Dish’s first couples, EJ and Tess Litton; Mikey Cojuangco and wifey Lizette; architect Conrad Onglao and his lady love Susan Reyes; San Francisco-based Raffy and Riza T. Lopez with Reggie Panganiban; sophisticated Dodie and Conkoy Tuason; two of his super pals Lorrie Reynoso vacationing from New York, and Freddie Olbes; Linda Oledan and her always reliable love, Tikboy Katigbak; Cecille Reynoso with her man, car enthusiast Jackie Atienza; Josine Elizalde; Rep. Tony Boy Floirendo; and MTV’s Frances and Mary Ann Lumen.
And making sure they made it before 12 were his pals, Singapore-based top banker Bing de Guzman with his wife, stylish Kathy de Guzman; Bela M. Vasquez; Melissa Lopez with his constant escort, French International businessman Joel Journe; Karen Santos; architect and interior designer Ramon Antonio; and business magnate Dennis Villareal.
Promptly at 12:01 a.m., the birthday cake appeared with one candle – as usual, shall we do that guessing game, again?! With his magical aura, Arcache de Manille stood up with the persistent prodding of his groupie and pursed those trademark lips to blow another Bonne Annee, to his privileged lifestyle and managed to do a French soufflé to whiff out the solo candle that would mark this auspicious fete, which drew every socialite on her Manolo Blahnik toes. Yet, it is never too late for good friends Gina Albert and fashion plate Gina T. Roxas to drop by for a birthday greeting.
The evening stretched on to the early hours of the next morning. But everyone didn’t notice the time pass by as the host-celebrant entertained his beloved friends like he was at home, making sure that the drinks were flowing, seeing to it that everyone had something to eat or had someone to talk to about the interesting social scene in Manille and that the lively entertainment did not stop. But then, Le Soufflé’s Billy King always gives Maurice a free hand in this trendiest restaurant, knowing fully well that Mr. Wonderful is always at home in almost any part of the world.