The author (center) with son IC and daughter Bianchi —PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICE PRINT
Even if I turned sweet 60 last Sunday, I refuse to feel or act my age. So I will become zanier instead of a senior. Age should not be a cage, that’s why I partied hard during my nth debut at the chic Tunnel Bar in Parqal. Thank you, Lord, that despite my shenanigans and debauchery, I am still alive.
I cannot thank my grownup kids, Bianchi and IC Mendoza, enough for making my grand bash possible. Super thanks to my friends Albert Nocom for the “special party package” at his bar and to Melinda Chua for facilitating it all.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart and bottoms up to my friends in and out of the biz for celebrating with me. Aside from my birthday, I also celebrated the friendships I’ve made along the way. I could not hold back my tears when my friends and family paid tribute to me. Their touching messages are imprinted in my heart.
With Gladys Reyes, Arlene Muhlach and Pops Fernandez
What a delight it was when my friends gamely held a miniconcert at my fête. Even if I am “lover-less,” I will never be loveless because my friends and fam make my heart runneth over.
Some of my celebrity friends who made it to my party were BFF Buboy (Cesar Montano) and his gorgeous girlfriend Kat Angeles, Pops Fernandez, Noel Cabangon, Ces Drilon, China and Gino Gonzalez, Arlene Muhlach, Rio Locsin, Robert and Isay Seña, Meds Marfil (True Faith’s frontman) and his hubby Mark Angeles, Bo Cerrudo, Ricky Davao and his girlfriend Malca, Gladys Reyes, Bayani Agbayani and wife Len, Ronnie Lazaro, Gary Bereña and Marc Leviste. Their presence was the best present of all.
With Gary Bereña, Cesar Montano, Ronnie Lazaro, China and Gino Gonzalez —PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICE PRINT
As my Dollywood column ends after almost three decades, I would like to thank my loyal readers for being part of my happily crazy and crazily happy journey, my “superwoMom” (Inday Badiday) for blazing the trail, to TaLets (LJM aka Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc) for paving the way for Dollywood, to my cool editor Rito Asilo for his vote of confidence, to all the celebs who trusted me with their stories and, most of all, to the Lord for the gift of writing.
This is not exactly goodbye. I will see you all on my upcoming Dollywood YouTube Channel, mga “ka-Doll Doll.” My diamond era beckons. I’m all set to seize it and sizzle at 60!
With Meds Marfil (right) and husband Mark Angeles
Personal
Muchisimas gracias to Charisse Tinio of Nice Print, Pinky of Fernando’s Bakeshop for my fab birthday cakes, my “miga” Love Apelado and “migo” Boy So of La Carmela de Boracay, Angel Cruz, Kane Choa, Boss Vic del Rosario, Tito Boy Abunda, Tita Cristy Fermin, Ambet Nabus, bestie Alvin Anson, sis Ara Mina, Rubby Coyiuto of Flawless, Claire Papa of Unilab, Boss Fidel of Hyatt Manila, Jie and Darius Vidal, “cuz” Trish Jimenez, Loy and Tati Fortuna and my “son -in-law” Rick Tropicales for the birthday treats.