Grand night for stargazing at Sampaguita Gardens

ALL THE iconic stars in show biz heaven pose for their one-for-the-ages “class photo” at last month’s “Senior Prom.”

Gathering more than 100 stars of the Filipino TV-film firmament is a daunting challenge, but late last month, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Manay Ichu Maceda proved that they were masterfully up to the “impossible” assignment:

Over 100 stars, most of them senior icons of Philippine cinema, were all present and accounted for at the elegant and exciting new events venue, Sampaguita Gardens, graciously and even delightedly accepted Erap and Manay’s invitation to attend the grand stellar reunion, or “Seniors Prom”— which turned out to be the show biz event of the year!

At first, some people wondered if the invitation had a hidden “political” motivation, but insiders say that cynical speculators are barking up the wrong tree. Scouts’ honor, Mayor Erap simply wanted to provide senior stars the opportunity to meet and catch up with one  another after so many years—while they were still physically able to!

Motivation

The motivation may have been simple and sweet, but the event took a full three months to prepare for, what with the need to locate long-retired personalities—and figure out who would share a table with whom—or, not!

In this regard, an organizer shared an illustrative anecdote about a famous star who cited the celebrities she didn’t want to meet again, and they were so many that it was wisely decided to make up a separate table for the star and her “approved” amigas!

—The punchline? All the arrangements had carefully been made, but the fastidious screen icon didn’t show up! —A stellar bummer, right?

But, the grand reunion’s organizers sagaciously took it in stride—especially because the “grand night for singing and reuniting” had many more uppers than downers.

It was really rewarding to see so many famous and happy faces filling the huge and glittering venue with wall-to-wall “star value”—and charismatic temperament to spare!

Mayor Erap, shared our sources, was visibly touched and charmed to again meet and be with his former colleagues, costars—and some “reel-and-real” love interests—not the least of whom was Nora Aunor, a top screen icon in her own right!

As the “galaxy” of stars posed for their “class picture,” onlookers sensed that the stellar reunion, so lovingly arranged for and pulled off, could be “one for the ages,” a rare and perhaps unrepeatable cavalcade of iconic faces and talents, some of them in the golden sunset of their years.

—All the more reason, then, to gratefully bask in all that iconic stellar glow and glitter—for all seasons, reasons—and frissons!