Last Thursday, nine days before her 66th birthday on July 28 (which is also The STAR’s 21st anniversary), Susan Roces was surprised by some of her friends who paid her an unscheduled visit on the set of her ABS-CBN sitcom John En Shirley (co-starring Dolphy and Maricel Soriano).
The “entourage” included Sen. Chiz Escudero and wife Tintin (due to deliver twins, a boy and a girl, sometime in October), Regal Matriarch Mother Lily, Armida “Tita Midz” Siguion-Reyna, Kitchie Benedicto, Makati City Mayor Jojo Binay with daughter Abby (Makati Congresswoman), Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda, Ethel Ramos and Dolor Guevarra (Susan’s manager).
Also present were Martin Nievera, Sam Milby, Piolo Pascual, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson who are among the guests in the sitcom’s special birthday tribute to Susan, slated for airing right on her birthday, next Saturday, July 28.
Susan knew that Martin was going to dedicate songs to her but she didn’t have any idea what the songs were.
Martin first sang Ikaw, followed by If, Kahit Isang Saglit and then Somewhere. And that’s when Susan suppressed a tear. You see, Somewhere (Barbra Streisand’s version) happens to be Susan and FPJ’s theme song.
“I don’t want to cry,” Susan was heard whispering, her voice breaking a bit.
So she tried to cover it up by cheering Martin right on!
Then, Piolo and Sam did duets of She and Just The Way You Are, making the Birthday Girl blush a bit and clap some more.
Kim and Gerald sang Close To You.
The taping resumed only after everybody partook of mouth-watering goodies catered by Avengonza.
As in her past two birthdays after FPJ died in Dec. 2004, Susan will celebrate the day with a quiet dinner with family members and very close friends.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@phil-star.net.ph)