The music never stopped as Inquirer marked 26 years

MANILA, Philippines—The rains failed to dampen the mood at the Inquirer’s 26th anniversary party Friday night at its Makati office. The celebration was doubly meaningful, with still the No. 1 broadsheet in the country, according to the latest readership survey by Nielsen.

Jose Manalo of “Eat Bulaga” kept the Inquirer employees in stitches as he cracked jokes before singing a couple of pop tunes: “Sa mga nagsusulat sa ’kin ng maganda, salamat… Sa mga tumitira naman sa ’kin, sana hipuin kayo ng kamay ng Diyos at tumigil na ang pagtibok ng puso niyo.”

The musical performances by guest bands and singers were no less engaging. Absolute Play, made up of three siblings and touted as the youngest alternative pop group hereabouts, gave a sample of its original compositions, with dad Tommy Tanchanco playing bass guitar. Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Almalbis, who both graced PDI’s silver anniversary bash last year, reprised their hits and introduced new songs as well.

Sony Music Philippines artists Sheng Belmonte and Letter Day Story dished out pop and rock originals, while their label mate, The Opera Belles, gave a classical twist to standard Yuletide carols.

Pop singer Ron Antonio picked a female Inquirer employee to join him onstage and serenaded her with a romantic ballad.

Crowd favorite Noel Cabangon proudly declared that the Inquirer was his preferred newspaper at home, before playing “Kanlungan,” “Panaginip” “Kahit Maputi na Ang Buhok Ko” and his own Christmas tune, “Pasko Na.”

In between the performances, raffle prizes consisting of cash and top-of-the-line home appliances were handed out to lucky employees.

Inquirer chair Marixi Rufino-Prieto and president Sandy Prieto-Romualdez were on hand to award the prizes and congratulate everyone for a job well done this year.

The party was still in full swing past midnight, as the band Roots of Nature played a rousing set of covers of foreign and local hits which set the stage for some spirited dancing.

It was almost 2 a.m. when the tables and chairs were put away, but the music and dancing went on and on as if running on fully charged batteries.