Stars in yellow

MANILA, Philippines - The sea of yellow that filled Ayala Museum the day before former President Cory Aquino’s 77th birthday last Jan. 25 will be remembered, not only because it saw the unveiling of the Cory Aquino Tribute Watch by Swatch. It also stood out because it gathered the giants of business, politics and showbiz.

Mikee Cojuangco, first female endorser of Swatch, posed beside Ayala Group of Companies president Jaime Zobel for a photo op beside a replica of the commemorative watch.

“I’m so excited for two reasons,” gushed Mikee. “First, this event honors Tita Cory (sister of her father Peping Cojuangco). Second, Swatch’s sterling standards and Tita Cory’s memory are now combined.”

Glittering on Mikee’s wrist was a Swatch Hollywood Dream edition which she got when she was still a teenager.

Not far from her stood another relative, Jackie Aquino, daughter of Ninoy’s brother Butz Aquino (remember her in films with Roderick Paulate?). She flashed the Laban sign when Lea Salonga rendered a stirring version of Bayan Ko, theme of the EDSA revolution.

Martin Nievera had two songs for the yellow crowd: You Are the Sunshine of My Life and his own composition, Impossible Dreams.

The first few lines of Impossible Dreams go, “Where do we go from here/Back a time when love was near/She’s so far away/Our sunshine on a cloudy day…

“I wrote that song when Kris (Aquino) asked us to compose something for her mom. Ogie (Alcasid) came up with Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa (which Regine Velasquez sang). Kris told me she’s including Impossible Dreams in her next album,” says Martin.

The irrepressible Martin wore his changed political color on his sleeve.

“My family and I used to wear a different political color,” he admitted. “But that all changed starting Aug. 1, 2009 (the day Cory passed away).”

Liezl Martinez may not have heard what Martin said, since she was standing far away from him with husband Albert and daughter Alyanna.

Liezl was smiling from ear to ear after Cory and Ninoy’s eldest daughter Ballsy Aquino-Cruz praised the comebacking actress.

“She liked how I played her (Ballsy’s) character in Maalaala Mo Kaya. One of my preparations was studying her hairstyle,” Liezl reports.

“We were amused at seeing Gloria Diaz playing our grandma (Doña Metring, Cory’s mom)!” Ballsy reacted to the first part of the ABS-CBN special on her parents’ life. (The network teamed up with Swatch and collaborated with Jaime Zobel and the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation for the project.)

“The second part (which aired the other night) is more exciting though,” she added.

 The yellow confetti, the brass band playing Bahay Kubo and other well-loved Filipino songs, the yellow-colored food (e.g. banana, maiz con hielo, papaya, even yellow ice cream) emphasized this sunshiny feeling.

Let’s cross our fingers that the yellow fever will continue to rage and remind us that yes, we still have a lot to believe and fight for.