A party fit for a Diamond Star

It was a party she didn’t plan nor expect to happen. For her 39th birthday, Maricel Soriano was feted with a surprise party by the cast and production staff of her ABS-CBN sitcom Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis.

Maricel, who is fondly called Marya by close friends and showbiz colleagues, reported to the ABS-CBN studios last week for her regular taping for the sitcom. Little did she know a big birthday bash was planned out for her. The week before, the entire production staff of the sitcom was busy with preparations for her birthday celebration. In fact, the whole month of February was devoted to special episodes of Bida si Mister, Bida is Misis as part of her birthday month presentation.

Connivance was carried out to the hilt. Everyone was sworn to secrecy. Even Maricel’s sister, Bec-Bec Soriano, and her talent manager, Wyngard Tracy, helped out in making the surprise party possible.

On the production end of ABS-CBN, the "masterminds" were Joanna Gomez-Santos, vice president for comedy; Cynthia Jordan, production manager for comedy; and the sitcom director, Johnny Manahan, who is also the network’s senior vice president for talent development.

On that particular taping day, Bida is Mister, Bida si Mister used a different set, very similar to the one in John en Marsha the now-defunct sitcom where Maricel played the daughter of Dolphy and the late Nida Blanca. Maricel got the first surprise of the night when Dolphy emerged from the house and greeted her.

From the taping studio, Maricel was ushered into a bigger studio, where guests were gathered in dinner tables, waiting for the start of a musical-variety program which was to take the place of the regular episode of the sitcom. The production studios spruced up, complete with balloons, buffet dinner tables, big screen monitors and a huge backdrop of Maricel’s name onstage.

Film directors close to Maricel were there – Mel Chionglo, Chito Roño, Joel Lamangan, Jerry Sineneng. Her favorite hairdresser and long-time friend, James Cooper, was also among the guests.

ABS-CBN executives Charo Santos-Concio, Cory Vidanes and OIC Linggit Tan dropped by the taping to greet Maricel.

Maricel’s family members – son Tien-Tien, sister Bec-Bec, niece Meryll Soriano, brother Mel Martinez, uncle Nestor Soriano and two other nephews – likewise attended the surprise party.

Highlights of the evening were the special production numbers of the entire cast of Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis, led by Maricel’s leading man, Cesar Montano, who serenaded her with the live rendition of Keith Martin’s Because of You accompanied by a string quarter. Smokey Manaloto and Vhong Navarro went in drag and did a song-and-dance number. Other cast members who performed were Dyords Javier, Earl Ignacio, Shaina Magdayao, Mahal and Mura.

Ai Ai de las Alas carried out the dance steps which Maricel popularized in the ’80s – Body Body Dancer, Rico Mambo – and even Gloria Gaynor hits like I Am What I Am and I Will Survive which Maricel used to sing two decades ago. Judy Ann Santos dished out the favorite songs of Maricel.

Dolphy sang Times of Your Life for his favorite "daughter," while video clips of John en Marsha were flashed on the big screen, showing Maricel’s growth from her childhood to teens and then in her early ’20s as she played the popular role of "Shirley."

The rapport of Maricel and Cesar who play husband and wife in Bida si Mister Bida si Misis was very evident. More than being co-workers, they are also good friends in real life. In fact, after Cesar’s song number, he gave Maricel a smack on the lips and said, Si Marya lang ang tanging babaeng may ‘lisensya’ kay Sunshine para halikan ko" Sunshine Cruz, as most everyone knows, is Cesar’s wife of three years.

The special episode will be aired tonight, a day before Maricel’s actual birthday. Director is Johnny Manahan.