Why Johnny rocks at 81
Johnny Litton blows the candle on his cake during his 81st birthday celebration. Photo by RICKY GAY
A 6.3-earthquake rocked Luzon last Friday afternoon (thankfully, no injuries recorded) and another event of seismic proportions took place at the Bellevue Hotel in Alabang that night. The earthshaking event was Johnny Litton’s 81st birthday party — what with all the movers and shakers who attended it.
But Johnny had eyes for only one person that night, his wife of 60 years, Tere, who looked at him lovingly from her seat. Johnny joked that he only had eyes for Tere because he wasn’t allowed to look at her pretty caregiver!
Johnny and his team asked lady guests to come in attire reminiscent of those worn by Grace Kelly in the ‘50s movie High Society, and indeed most of the women came fully prepared enough tulle to cover the ballroom was probably cut and stitched for that night!
Adjudged “star of the night” for looking straight out of the High Society sound stage was entrepreneur Joy Rustia, who was wearing an off-shoulder black and white number by up-and-coming designers Roma and Paul.
In his speech, Johnny was grateful not just for the gift of life, but for the life in his 81 years. He cited his BFF of over six decades Jesus Tambunting, former Ambassador to the Court of St. James. Seated together were Ambassador to the US Babe Romualdez and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim.
The movers and shakers who rocked Johnny’s party represented not just “high society,” but also civil society and polite society. Why, there were even graduates from the school run by the Society of Jesus!
The low-key Bellevue owner Johnny Chan and his sons Patrick, Ryan and Dustin were also in full force.
Joe Mari Chan serenaded guests with his nostalgic rendition of Two for the Road, which was also the same title of Johnny’s popular evening show with the late Elvira Manahan. Arthur Manuntag sang New York, New York, I’ve Got the World on a String and Let Me Try Again, and Janet Basco, who sang People, showed just how she could keep up with today’s millennials in form and substance.
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Why do people both say, “Oh no” and “Oh yes” it’s Johnny when they see Johnny Litton?
They used to say, “Oh no, it’s Johnny!” (which was the title of his TV show, which aired from 1987 to 1999 on ABS-CBN) because they knew his wit spared no one. Bato bato sa langit…
But most of them now say, “Oh yes, it’s Johnny” because here is one man who knows how to make the person in the same room as he is feel important — whether diplomat, debutante or dilettante.
Aside from having a genuine interest in people, Johnny also does his homework even at age 81 — he reads up on people, so that he can spot you in a room full of VIPs and compliment on your latest book, or tell you he went to school with your lolo or maybe used to date your mama (before Tere, that is).
Johnny effortlessly elicits laughter, but he doesn’t hide his tears, especially when talking about his late son EJ, who succumbed to cancer in 2007.
It is thus easy to relate with this “man of the hour,” a man who has it all — and yet is as human as all of us.
Happy 81st birthday, Johnny! Just switch the numbers of your age and know why it’s the first day of the rest of your life.
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This being the 50th year of the Assumption Alumnae Association (AAA), a number of must-go activities have been lined up this year.
On Sept. 4 (Monday), the Assumption Alumnae Association is having a golf tournament “Swinging at 50!” at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Laguna.
On Oct. 8 (Sunday), the AAA is celebrating its golden year with a get-together dubbed “Good as Gold” at the Manila Polo Club from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Then there is the much-awaited Old Girls’ Day (You know what that means) on Oct. 15, Sunday, at the AC campus in San Lorenzo.
To remember its departed alumnae, the AAA has organized a Mass on Nov. 16, Thursday, at the Assumption Chapel.
And to usher in the holiday season is “Gold Rush,” the much awaited Assumption Bazaar on Nov. 19, Sunday, at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.
All these projects aim to raise funds for the Assumption Mission schools and the AAA’s other outreach programs. For inquiries, call 894-3561 or 0917-8000931.
(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)
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