A flash mob for Paing
Businessman and former Universal Rotary president Paing Hechanova celebrated his 90th birthday with a hundred close friends and his entire working heirs at their magnificent, sprawling mansion in upscale Makati.
Nene Quimson, Rudy Cuenca
Author Maurice Arcache, Conchita Toda
Two 20-foot-high indoor trees decked with tivoli lights adorned the entrance of the dashing living room. Tablescapes were decorated with driftwood, dark blue Ecuador roses, Snapdragon, Ivy vines, Gypsophilia, Casablanca, and assorted succulents flown in from abroad. The highlight of the evening was a short — too short as far as I am concerned — 20-minute program by 10 amazingly hypnotic and fabulous singers from Repertory Philippines doing a flash mob of One Day More from Les Miserables, culminating in a resounding rendition of Climb Every Mountain that brought everyone to a standing ovation in a rousing tribute to Paing. Paing was with his impeccably dressed wife Mely Concepcion H. and their supportive, workaholic children Renna and her husband, my buddy Ed Angeles, only son Raffy and his southern belle wife Gina Gabaldon, Raissa and hubby Monet Posadas, Riana and her husband Mon Trajano, and grandchildren when he blew out the candle from his birthday cake by Penk Ching. The Rep group closed it out with I Say A Little Prayer that had the upper A-listers singing with the group, palanggas. The sumptuous dinner was excellently catered by famille friend and Asia’s Best Female Chef Margarita Fores, which comprised of a burrata and bottarga di muggine, handmade fettucine in veal Bolognese ragu con panna, Philippine sea bass meuniere, lemon and basil sorbetto, braised and grilled US Angus short ribs with chocolat au jus, and cashew-crusted millefoglie with mascarpone foam. Enough to make any gourmand swoon with delight.
Ochie Santos, Edgardo Angeles, Malen Santos, Offie Recto
Fred and Jojo Borromeo
The terrific, giveaways were made-to-order monogrammed French crystal decanters in matching blue tied with a silver ribbon. Wow!
Most of his guests were his Rotary colleagues who flew in from San Francisco just to make sure they were present for Paing’s special day.
Cheers, palangga, Paing Hechanova! Here’s to the 100th.
