The unforgettable Flower Drum Song

What a night it was, dahlings! With only two days before its big opening on Broadway, Flower Drum Song performed before a packed audience on a bright full moon and cool night at the Virginia Theater to support the renowned Asian Cultural Council-Philippines (ACC-Philippines). Guests with the three big G’s (as in generous, glamorous and gorgeous) came in full force, dahlings, from Manhattan, Cosmo Manille, Hong Kong, California, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC and all five boroughs of New York and Washington.

No one could be happier than the benefit’s chair Josie Natori, co-chair Ernest Escaler and Ambassador Isabel Wilson, no less, whose combined charm and relentless efforts raised over $200,000. That’s over a cool P10,000,000, palanggas, earmarked for grants to be given to Filipino artists in the visual or performing arts. So, if you or someone you know qualifies for a grant, write now. The grants cover a full year of academic and living expenses anywhere in the US of A. Sounds fabulous? It is! Write them, palanggas, not me!

The show was incredible that glam evening. Our very own Filipino world-class talents Lea Salonga (who is luminously in love and plans to marry her LA businessman beau next December) and Jose Llana’s performances were nothing short of miraculous. Jose is single, tall, handsome, has the voice of a god and a divine body. Since winning a Tony Award for her performance in Miss Saigon, Lea has been recognized by her peers to own the best voice on Broadway. And moi will eat my hat if this former Prince of The King and I musical does not get his own Broadway crown apres this.

How could Flower Drum Song miss? First of all, the book written by David Henry Hwang is entirely new and socially relevant. Moi knows all of you Broadway babes know he wrote Madame Butterfly, the book for Elton John’s Aida show and the screenplay for the lushly romantic movie, Possession. But c’mon, palanggas, how many of you know he is a Cebuano on his mother’s side? Moi told you: Visayans rule!

The wonder of it all was that he managed to weave a whole new story around the memorable Rodgers and Hammerstein music and score which remain gloriously intact. The babes will sing I Enjoy Being a Girl everytime they look in a mirror, or You Are Beautiful the next time they fall in love, and Love Look Away when a love ends (it’s a torch song that ranks up with the best of them!). Throughout the musical’s run, you will hear about the other wonderful performers, dahlings, including Filipina Ma-Ann Dionisio who is Lea’s understudy.

Okay, dahlings, let’s now move on to the audience. No less than three Rockefellers–cousins Abby, Steven and Ann–and seven ambassadors (the current one to the US, distinguished Albert del Rosario; the current one to the UN, elegant Alfonso Yuchengco; former ambassadors to the UN, hardworking Felipe Mabilangan who came with his ever-gracious Ada; the ambassador to Geneva, sparkling Ching Escaler; to Spain, the unforgettable Isabel Wilson; as well as former US ambassador to the Philippines, Nicholas Platt with wife Sheila and the ambassador to the UN from the Bahamas). Former Philippine Ambassador to the UN Bienvenido Tantoco and American Ambassador to the Philippines Frank Wisner could not come but sent generous checks.

Stealing the fashion limelight as well as the organizing spotlight was La Divina Josie Natori in a stunning embroidered Chinese red silk jacket from the House of Natori, naturellement; Ernest Escaler, the associate producer of Flower Drum Song as well as the tireless chairman of ACC-Philippines (he was immaculately decked out in a slate gray Shanghai Tang jacket); and the brains, the wisdom, the beautiful power behind the throne, vivaciously brilliant lady of all seasons, Maricris Tabora, no less.

The super hot invitees in the high-end seats included tycoon Albert Bildner and his wife Lin Illusorio-B.; Tony and Jesusa Calanog; our prettiest career diplomat, New York Consul General Linglingay Lacanlale and her husband; oil tycoon Bill O’Boyle and his wife, the author of many best-selling cookie table books Lily O’Boyle; Winna Kimmel; Calvin Tsao; Nene Quimson; Minnie Osmeña; top architect Anna Sy; and Hernan Cortez.

Jetting in from Cosmo Manille was the elegant pack of Isabel Ongpin; renowned architect Lor Calma; Rene Encarnacion; Lourdes Montinola; Nelly Fung; tall, elegant Lorna Laurel; Toni Yulo Loyzaga; Del Fojas; Nestor Santiago; Andy Locsin; international businessman Johnny Velasquez and adorable Maripi Muscat; ultra glamorous Vicky Zubiri who turned heads everywhere she walked; slim Monique Villonco who looked like a wow porcelain princess proud to be with her daughter, Cris V., a freshman at the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College (wait till her classmates hear her sing; after all, her grandmother is the incomparable diva Armida Siguion-Reyna).

Jetting in from San Francisco, were Ana Maria Pamintuan Fleischel; beautiful, newly married Ralph Lopez and Rissa Tapales-L.; and John and Pam Bartko. From Los Angeles came the irrepressible and consummate PR man Fritz Friedman who works tirelessly for Philippine causes like the War Veterans Rights and the Philippine Library in LA when not busy as SVP of Worldwide Publicity for Sony Video. From Chicago came Hyatt International VP Wendy Strachan and Richard Richards.

And from moi favorite town, New York, dahlings, came genius marketing communications specialist Maricris Tabora who got raves for her Natori cashmere and silk wrap that matched her small silk bag; Maricris T.’s eye-catching daughter, Alexandra Horn; international food authority and our pride, chef Lorrie Reynoso with pals Lorenzo and Lorrie Valdez; Dr. and Mrs. Ruben Paredes and Dr. and Mrs. Raul Sala; fabi jeweler Tess Labrador who wore some of her exquisite art; and vivacious workaholic attaché, Southern belle Kiling Dakudao and her entire rah! rah! DOT support team of John Tanchangco, Philip Zorgani and Trisha Reyes.

The guests were so familiar with one another that the event felt more like a reunion than a benefit. There were lots of pre- and post-parties all over the city. Josie and Ken Natori welcomed the major donors and their close pals to the exclusive and chi-chi 21 Club, one of New York’s most enduring social oases for the rich and famous. Ralph Samuelson, director of the Asian Cultural Council, and ACC directors like Elizabeth McCormack were treated to a continuing feast of passed canapés and roasted turkey, beef and ham. In gratitude to Ernest and Josie, he brought in a "Singing Telegram," who sang the melody of I Enjoy Being a Girl with new lyrics by ACC director Richard Lanier and his wife Mary.

At a thank-you dinner fittingly held at the Mandarin Court in Chinatown for the benefit committee’s hardworking volunteers, Ernest E., Isabel C. and Josie N. recognized the hard work and many hours shared by Dr. Robert Paulino, director of the Volunteer Group, and Lara Glorioso, who designed and prepared the creative invitations, stationery, posters and souvenir program for the event. The young volunteers included the fabi Katigbak sisters, Maya and Mookie, and Maileen Salazar, who jetted in from her studies at MIT.

Moi am exhausted just remembering that exciting week. But if you want to see the musical for yourself, catch some of the shows on ABS-CBN being aired this month. A whole crew came to document the goings-on. They interviewed Steven and David Rockefeller Jr. as well as two of the ACC grantees. With a special access to backstage arranged by producer Ernest Escaler, the crew also took an unusual look at scenes behind the curtain. Tina Monzon-Palma filed interviews for her primetime shows, and JM Rodriguez covered the event for younger viewers.

Moi was able to enjoy Flower Drum Song thanks to the assistance given by Northwest Airlines’ attractive workasonic Public Relations manager Marica Cabrera and brilliant marketing and communications manager Adin Gonzalez. Just like flying on Northwest, Flower Drum Song was simply unforgettable!

Have a happy weekend, palanggas.