A very intimate birthday reception in honor of my beautiful editor, Joanne Rae Ramirez, was recently enjoyed by senators, diplomats and some of Manila’s who’s who at Apartment 1B of The Henry in Pasay City. The warm cocktail reception was tendered by the celebrant’s friend since grade school, Sen. Loren Legarda.
Before Joanne blew the candles on her cakes, a gift from former Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia, Legarda said: “Joanne has achieved so much successes and accomplishments in her life but she has remained humble and unaffected. She’s very grounded.”
“Are you talking about yourself?” Joanne quickly quipped, making the lady senator smile and pause for a while and the guests at the party clap at the sight of a beautiful friendship before them.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, Sonia Mayor and Joanne Rae Ramirez.
“Maybe,” the senator answered the birthday girl. “But no. Joanne and I are both kalog. She’s very talented. And she just has her facility with words. She’s able to write about her friends in a language that is very soulful.”
Legarda continued, “She is blessed to have the wind beneath her wings, her dear husband Ed Ramirez. She told me she married her crush. Aren’t they so blessed? And up to now she says her husband is her crush. Isn’t that fabulous? Papuri sa iyo ito, Ed.”
From across the room, a voice was heard, “Thank you!” That was Ed, better half of Joanne and an award-winning ad man.
Convivial laughter ensued. The celebrant’s mother Sonia Mayor and sister Valerie Sotto were laughing merrily with STAR editorial board head Isaac Belmonte, Senators Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar, Ambassadors Sung Kim of the United States, Kok Li Peng of Singapore, Gordon Kricke of Germany and Jose Capdevila of Chile, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Angola Consul Helen Ong.
“But we are not here as diplomats, as senators, as members of the media. We are here as friends of Joanne,” Legarda added.
(From left) Philippine Airlines president and COO Jimmy Bautista and wife Joji, Joanne Rae Ramirez, STAR’s Büm Tenorio Jr., Mons Romulo and US Ambassador Sung Kim.
As for her wish, or wishes, for Joanne, Legarda, the perfect party host, said: “We hope that you will continue to be so sexy and giddy, and always smiling and positive and energetic and talented and spreading your good vibes to all of us.”
“For an editor like me, I am suddenly at a loss for words,” Joanne said. “Thank you, Senator Legarda.”
“Just Loren, Joanne,” the senator lovingly hushed.
“Okay, Loren, my friend since grade school, thank you very much. Thank you, Tita Gina, for the cake. Thanks also to my mom and, of course, to my anchor, my crush,” Joanne said.
The Henry hotel in Pasay City. Photo from The Henry’s Facebook page
“To call her husband her crush, that’s so sweet. I wish I had a crush,” Legarda whispered to Manay Gina.
“To all of you who are here tonight, I am beyond honored,” Joanne concluded.
And everybody burst into thunderous applause as every guest sang Happy birthday to Joanne.
The night was magical. It was indeed a happy celebration.
(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)