When planning for my birthday this year, I realized that I’m not as young as I imagined. I decided this time that I wanted to join my guests and enjoy the program, thereby reliving my days in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and the various film capitals of the world — Rome, Cannes, Venice, London, Berlin and several others, resulting in the overall fabulous décor of the Mayuree Ballroom of Dusit Thani Manila on that special day.
I was extremely pleased and ecstatic that my friends from the diplomatic, government, business and social circles gave me their fullest support by coming in costumes of their favorite Hollywood personalities. Among those who took the time to join me for my birthday were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and his lovely wife Gretchen, Sen. Sonny Angara, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, former President Fidel Ramos, Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and many others.
And speaking of friends, there were even some who generously shared excellently prepared dishes like tender slabs of roast beef from Johnlu and Alou Koa of The French Baker; superbly roasted turkeys from Ryan Chan of The Bellevue Manila; juicy and everyone’s favorite Plaza Ham from Elaine Rojas Villar, Beng Fores and Minerva Tanseco; a special rare treat of roasted alligator meat from Rose Ong of Wilcon Depot; and calories… oops, I meant pastries galore from chef Jessie Sincioco.
My heartfelt thanks to Jacques Christophe and Gaelle Branellec of Jewelmer for their wonderful contribution and support to the EJ Litton Foundation; Nedy Tantoco of Rustan’s, Winnie Go of Laneige, Willin Chan of Beabi, and Joel Cruz of Aficionado for their most generous giveaways for the evening. My gratitude, too, to Bruno Cristol, general manager of Dusit Thani Manila, who also stopped by several times to ensure that everything was going smoothly with the usual trademark of Dusit. Now, if that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is.
To my friends and family, thank you from the bottom of my heart!