Senior moments with Coun. Edward Maceda

Nostalgia was the order of the day when Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda hosted lunch for her and former Sen. Ernie Maceda’s son, Manila Councilor Edward Maceda, with senior citizens wearing blue (Edward’s color I.D.) at the family-owned Sampaguita Events Place on Valencia St., Quezon City.

Special guests were senior actresses Gloria Romero, Nova Villa, Lollie Mara, Jaime Fabregas, Luz Valdez, Divina Valencia, Pilita Corrales (with husband Carlos Lopez) and Gloria Sevilla (with daughter Suzette Ranillo). On hand to help Manay Ichu and Edward entertain the guests were Manay Ichu’s siblings Lilibeth Perez-Nakpil and   Cocoy.

Each of the star-guests was asked to say something. When her turn came, the normally “unkabogable” (steadfast) Lolit Solis choked with emotions as she recalled how Dr. Jose “Doc” Perez, the Sampaguita Starmaker and family patriarch, came to her rescue during her “struggling” days when she couldn’t afford to buy milk for her two small kids.

“I will forever cherish that and many other blessings that the Vera-Perez family has given me and my family,” Lolit closed her emotional speech.

During her small talk delivered with a politician’s punch, Nova revealed that she and Lolit were classmates at the V. Mapa High School. They happened to be neighbors in Sampaloc, Manila, where Nova’s grandmother, the inimitable Chichay, used to live with her dozens of pet cats (Lolit must have taken her fondness for animals from Chichay because she has beaten Chichay in having more pets at home... more than 50 dogs!).

Another Sampaloc resident back then was Joey de Leon who studied in the same grade school with Lolit. The two were mortal enemies, Lolit from the masa and Joey from the moneyed, and in one of their fights Lolit stabbed Joey with a pencil (was it Mongol?). Today, they are the best of friends, co-hosts on the defunct Startalk and the soon-to-fade CelebriTV.

Manay Ichu recalled Divina’s entry into Sampaguita, the Home of Wholesome Movies.

“Divina was the first actress to appear in bikinis in Sampaguita movies (one of them Sabado ng Gabi, Linggo ng Umaga with Vic Vargas, Gloria Romero and Luis Gonzales),” said Manay Ichu, “and we had to keep Papa and Mama (Nene Vera-Perez) away from the set so they wouldn’t be shocked.” (It was Manay Ichu who designed Divina’s bikinis.)

Of course, in those days Councilor Edward wasn’t even a glint in his parents’ eyes. Look how much he has grown! An elementary graduate from La Salle (where he was Kundirana’s Ambassador of Goodwill), he finished AB Journalism in UP and Doctor of Law in Ateneo. After serving three terms as councilor, Edward (#3) is running for congressman of Manila’s Fourth District, with senior citizens supporting him.

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