AMONG several cakes, this one is decorated with photo cutouts.
All Ryzza Mae Dizon wanted for her eighth birthday was to celebrate it with playmates at a popular fast-food chain. She got so much more.
The people behind Tape Inc., producer of her phenomenally popular “The Ryzza Mae Show,” organized a birthday bash for the Little Miss Philippines 2012 titlist that was attended by over 200 guests and lasted for three hours.
WITH Tito Sotto
“We couldn’t hold a party for her at a restaurant that would have conflicted with her endorsements. When we asked her again, she said she wanted to go back to where our EBest (‘Eat Bulaga’) scholars had their graduations. Hence, Plaza Ibarra (in Quezon City),” explained Malou Choa-Fagar, Ryzza Mae’s talent manager.
For the celebration on June 12, Ryzza Mae was made to look like a debutante in a pink-and-yellow gown by Regine Tolentino. Rose petals covered the walk she took as she entered the banquet hall.
A TEARFUL moment with Ruby Rodriguez and Vic Sotto. INQSnap this page to view more Ryzza Mae photos!
“It was her first real party,” Fagar said. “She kept telling us that in the past years, all she had was pancit canton. She didn’t even have cake. During the
program at the party, she was presented with eight treasures and eight roses. Instead of 18 candles, she got her eight favorite foodstuffs.”
The eight roses were handed to Ryzza Mae by GMA 7 stars Aljur Abrenica, Mark Herras, Bryan Haufrancia, Paolo Ballesteros, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, Charles Jacob Briz of “That’s My Boy,” and Ryzza Mae’s dad Victor Dizon.
Ryzza Mae’s friends and neighbors from her home province of Pampanga were invited. “We rented a bus for around 70 of her guests,” Fagar said. Also present were Ruffa Gutierrez’s daughters Lorin and Venice, and Danica Sotto’s kids Jean-Michele and Anielle Micaela.
WITH Joey de Leon
The child star’s guests were served lasagna, spaghetti, fried chicken and hotdogs. They got to join in kiddie games such as newspaper dance, longest breath, “Bring Me” and “Trip to Pampanga” (a variation of the game “Trip to Jerusalem”). “She had so much fun,” Fagar recalled. “After her party, bagsak ang bata!”
Fagar said the most touching moment was when Ryzza Mae’s mom, Rizza, gave a message. “In the beginning, Ryzza kept saying, ‘Iiyak si Mama! Iiyak si Mama!’
RYZZA teases mom about crying, but ends up crying with her.
In the end, the girl was crying with her mom, too,” Fagar recounted. “Her mom said she wished for Ryzza to always study hard and to stay as sweet as she had always been.”
Other well-wishers were “Eat Bulaga” hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, as well as German Moreno, Pilita Corrales, Susan Roces, Marichu Maceda and Bibeth Orteza, who all guested on Ryzza Mae’s show and claimed to be her fans.
Julia Clarete and Keempee de Leon performed for Ryzza Mae the Stevie Wonder song “You are the Sunshine of My Life.” TV hosts Ruby Rodriguez and Pauleen Luna hosted the party.
(E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)