BIRTHDAY boy Arthur Manuntag backed by the Breakthrough band. photo by Pocholo Concepcion
JOEL Cruz photo by Pocholo Concepcion
Singer Arthur Manuntag celebrated his birthday with a gig last week at the Hard Rock Cafe Makati, where family, friends and fans turned up in full force.
JEAN Saburit photo by Pocholo Concepcion
“I invited only a few people, but I was glad to see many friends,” he told the Inquirer. The guest list included United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr., perfume mogul Joel Cruz, former beauty queen/model/actress Jean Saburit, Inquirer columnist Cory Quirino and businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang.
Manuntag, backed by the band Breakthrough, performed a long set of songs from artists who helped form his “roots”: Ides of March, Temptations, Billy Joel, Michael Bolton, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Huey Lewis, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross and James Ingram.
Highlighting the show was a medley of Beatles classics that segued to Paul McCartney’s Wings period, before climaxing with John Lennon’s “Imagine” and “Happy Christmas (War is Over)”—after which Thomas led the crowd in an emotional standing ovation. Text by Pocholo Concepcion
US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. photo by Pocholo Concepcion