LILY Monteverde, chef’s assistant
Rain or shine, two of tinseltown’s golden girls commemorated important milestones surrounded by family and friends.
On August 6, at the height of monsoon rains, LVN star Delia Razon marked her “nth birthday” in the Quezon City home of Pempe Rodrigo, a fellow stalwart in the Balik Samahan group of movie actors from the first golden age of Philippine cinema (from the 1940s to 1960s).
The party served a dual purpose, explained Razon, as “the blessing of Pempe’s newly renovated home and my birthday party as well.”
DELIA Razon, chanteuse for a night photo:ROMY HOMILLADA
Other Balik Samahan members Mila del Sol, Lilia Dizon, Marita Zobel, Perla Bautista and Liberty Ilagan joined in the revelry.
“Delia was so happy that night,” Bautista recalled.
SEN. LITO Lapid
“Marita and Myrna Obligacion (widow of the late comedian Oscar Obligacion) sang for us, while Nova Villa made us laugh with her show biz anecdotes,” Delia recounted.
The birthday girl herself sang “Blue Bayou.”
The golden girls had to cut short the bash because of the pouring rain, but they promised to set another meeting soon.
SEN. RAMON “Bong” Revilla
Balik Samahan plans to organize projects for families displaced by floods, Delia said. “It was a simple but meaningful party.”
On August 19, Regal Films producer Lily Monteverde celebrated her 73rd birthday at her family’s Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.
LORNA Tolentino and Roselle Monteverde
Mother Lily, as she is known in the biz, also introduced her newest Regal Baby that night, chef Sau del Rosario who now serves as consultant at her hotel in Quezon City and resort in Taal, Batangas.
She said that she worked as Del Rosario’s assistant in the kitchen, whipping up her birthday banquet, consisting mainly of Filipino dishes given a modern twist. Chef Jynett Monteverde, who’s married to Mother Lily’s son Goldwin, was also kept busy preparing the dishes.
On hand to welcome guests were Mother Lily’s husband Remy, daughters Roselle and Meme, and son Dondon.
LOVI Poe
Among the celebs spotted at the event were senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, Rep. Lani Mercado, Tape Inc.’s Malou Choa-Fagar, TV 5 exec Perci Intalan, Marissa Laguardia, Digna Santiago, Lali Suzara, Manet Dayrit, Ogie Alcasid, Eddie Gutierrez, Lorna Tolentino, Raquel Villavicencio, Isabella de Leon, Kiko Estrada, Snooky Serna, Baron Geisler and Benjamin Alves.
OGIE Alcasid
Managers Arnold Vegafria, Leo Dominguez and Alfie Lorenzo were seen at the party, too. Also present to greet the producer were directors Elwood Perez, Gil Portes, Joey Romero, Jun Lana and Joel Lamangan who have all made movies with Regal.
Her current roster of Regal babies were represented by Lovi Poe, Carla Abellana and Solenn Heussaff.
Mother Lily, a volunteer for the Philippine Red Cross, vowed to continue supporting the organization as her birthday wish.