The 'Manong Ernie' Sunday show, with ad libs from Erap

The Ernesto Maceda extravaganza held last Sunday night at the "Isla" Ballroom of the EDSA Plaza Shangri-La was obviously the launch-pad for his coming run for the Senate in his new show-biz type role as "The Comeback, I Kid Thee Not."

The event was billed as a "retirement" party because it marks Ernie's coming 65th birthday, but Ambassador Maceda didn't look like he was "retiring" at all. The 12-course Chinese lauriat took over two hours to serve, beginning with suckling pig appetizers, shark's fin soup, prawns, garoupa, fresh scallops and an array of culinary delights plus the "politically correct" red wine -- meaning Bordeaux reds for everybody (Mahler-Besse Le Vieux Moulin 1996) -- but for the Presidential table -- no trace of Blue -- it was Chateau Lafitte Rothschild 1994, not cheap at all.

What was served steaming hot, of course, was not the food -- but the politics. The President himself arrived at 10 p.m. sharp, looking a bit glum and solemn, but perked up somewhat when Ernie Maceda ladled it on, thick. The Ambassador chastised the Erap boys for being fainthearted and not aggressive enough in fighting for their Boss.

"Konti lang yanig, ninerbiyos na kayo!" (Just a little quake and you're nervous already) boomed Ernie in his best imitation of Mark Anthony alias Marlon Brando orating at . . . oops, wrong comparison. No, it wasn't Caesar's funeral but Sir Erap's resurrection the unflappable Maceda was touting.

He declared full-throatedly: "The President will finish his term and continue to do a better and better job!" He pointed out that he and Erap are both "Aries" and that the President's birthday on April 19 will see him getting his "second wind" and soaring up.

Later in the evening, continuing his cheerleader role, Ernie exclaimed about the Bossman: "He's our president, our one and only president. He goes up, we go up with him." (Applause). He stopped short of speculating what might happen if Erap happened to go down. Perish the thought!

The signal that Ernie was not really ready to retire was his exclamation that he was still available for service: "As long as God and the President want me, I'm ready to serve!"

What was indicated last Sunday was that Ambassador Maceda would remain in his Washington, DC post until July or August, and return to Manila for good only after President Estrada's "official visit" there. (The term "official", not "state", visit is what is now being bandied around).

The stage setting for the Maceda bash reminded a few in the roster of 500 guests of the backdrop of that old Robert Redford box-office hit, The Candidate.

Right behind the presidential table was hung a huge, bigger-than-life picture of Ernie with US President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office of the White House. On the opposite wall was another huge wall poster of Ernie, well-suited and beaming like an American President with an "official seal" displayed behind him. Right below this was a large table-sized cake, a replica of the US Capitol dome, with a calling card identifying that it came from a Cubao pastry shop.

When the First Lady, Dr. Loi Ejercito, arrived with a fleet of mares in tow led by Justa Tantoco, Fortune Ledesma and Evie Costa, and accompanied by the Presidential Assistant for Socials, the ever elegant Secretary Ruby Tuason, Ambassador Maceda announced that one of the reasons he threw the party was to express a "vote of confidence and trust" for the First Lady. Lauding her Mare Foundation, Ernie turned over to her an envelop containing, he said, a modest contribution (some P1,804,000 solicited, he revealed, from friends) for her charity work. Needless to say, Ms. Rosario "Charing" Lopez, the chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), was very much present and smiling all over the place.

Erap was regaled with tunes by singers Dulce and Chinggoy Alonzo. The first song, described as his favorite by Ernani Cuenco (really?), was the melody Kahit na Magtiis. Then, in good voice, Ernie himself joined the two warblers in Kapantay ay Langit. (I commend to readers looking for significance to review the words of those two songs -- but, mind you, I'm not volunteering to put a spin on either of them).

What was evident from the start was that the guest list was designed to make it a "Power Dinner". The glitterati and political luminaries were present in full force, led, naturally, by the Chief Executive himself. Those seated at the presidential table also included Dr. Raul de Guzman and his wife, Pat, the President's sister.

The guests included seven Senators, namely Nikki Coseteng, Johnny Ponce Enrile, Franklin Drilon, Francisco "Kit" Tatad, Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay Jr., Loren Legarda-Leviste, and Tito Sotto. Speaker Manny Villar and Majority Leader (Cebu Rep.) Ed Gullas, Nonoy Garcia of Davao, Noli Fuentebella of Guimaras, Miling Espinosa of Masbate led a contingent of about 20 members of the House of Representatives.

Some ten governors were in attendance, including Rizal's Ito Ynarez, Bukidnon's Totoy Fortich, Palawan's Jose Socrates, La Union's Tito Orros, Abra's Cita Valera, Isabela's Ben Dy, Southern Leyte's Rosette Yniguez. There were more than 30 mayors, mostly from Northern Luzon and Mindanao (Ernie called on his mayors to troop forward to shake the President's hand. One onlooker, an opera buff, remarked that Manong Ernie looked like the general, Radames, in Aida presenting his vassals and captives to the King (Pharaoh) during a triumpal parade).

Another astute political observer asserted that the party looked like a reunion of ex-Ambassador and Governor Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco's NPC (National People's Coalition) party -- minus Danding who must have been abroad or out of town.

Showbiz royalty occupied just one table, i.e. Ronnie (Fernando) Poe or FPJ, and his charming wife, Susan Roces, Helen Gamboa with husband Tito Sotto, Experidion Laxa and Eddie Romero. Dolphy dropped in but only stayed a while.

The Cabinet was represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo "Jun" Siazon, DOTC Secretary Vicente "Jun" Rivera, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Finance Secretary Jose "Titoy" Pardo, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, and Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz. Interior and Local Government Secretary Fred Lim also came -- but left early to fight crime. Former Speaker Joe de Venecia also arrived early to wish his brother-in-law Ernie a happy birthday, but left almost immediately. Then there was Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Paeng Buenaventura.

Conspicuously absent, the same astute political observers pointed out, were the Brothers Zamora (Executive Secretary Ronnie and businessman Manny) and Secretary Jimmie Policarpio who used to be close to Ernie until he transferred to Erap. The "official excuse" was that the Zamoras' mom was sick in the hospital -- but gossips naughtily speculated that the Zamoras may not have been invited. After all, did not Ernie once express the wish to become Executive Secretary himself?

Now, he's going to run for the Senate.

In the meantime, there was Ambassador Maceda flattering and pushing for his friends and allies. He out-and-out plugged for Kit Tatad, alleging that Tatad will make an "excellent ambassador to the US," at which some in the audience made a sour face. Then he declared that Senator Nikki Coseteng was "available" for a Cabinet position (Nikki's term in the Senate is inexorably expiring). He hailed Speaker Villar as an "incoming Senator" who has done a lot but needs more good media exposure. He tickled Orly Mercado as a "dark horse for President in 2004."

The President, in response, gave a brief three-minute speech. Attired in a gray business suit and a dark tie, Erap appeared serious and perhaps weary from presiding over the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduation rites in Baguio earlier in the day.

"Manong Ernie," the President addressed Maceda, explaining, "I call him Manong because he has always been a mentor to me." Then he cracked: "Well, this is a balik-Senado program!" (Laughter). "If Manong wants to be back in the Senate," the Chief Executive said, "he'll be in the Top Three."

Why only in the Top Three? Many eyes swivelled towards ABS-CBN broadcaster and talk-show host, Noli de Castro (TV Patrol and Magandang Gabi Bayan), who's being mentioned as running and topping the list as Number One. (I guess being in the Top 3 was comforting enough for Ernie that night, though -- if that happens).

The President went on to assert that "everything is okay. We have put together the best economic team -- Secretary Pardo, BSP Governor Buenaventura, Bureau of Internal Revenue's Dakila Fonacier." (Did he forget DTI Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II?) Then he went on to say that they had in place, too, "the best agriculture team" (no names mentioned) and "the best peace and order team" (no names either). He claimed that "our economic growth will increase 4.5 to 5 percent. I'm optimistic I will leave a legacy to the masses. I will reciprocate what the masses did for me."

Came dance time, and Erap did a boogie with Loi to the tune of Mack the Knife. After that, the usual Dancing Instructors (DI's) took over. The President left at about 11:30 p.m., signalling the end of the party.

There were many other prominent persons at the affair who weren't mentioned, but this isn't a society corner, so please forgive my spies for not spotting all of them. What was interesting was that the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Angelo Reyes, was in disguise. He didn't don military uniform, but came in barong tagalog, looking like some governor or congressman. He was seen engaged in a serious-looking huddle with Congressman Eddie Ermita, a former general and ex-Defense Undersecretary, at an obscure table near the kitchen door.

In the Philippines, we can only conclude, political parties come and go. They are often merely cults of personality. The only party which is consistent is the Birthday Party. Birthday Boy Maceda made the most of his last Sunday night.