Ryzza gets her birthday wish

MANILA, Philippines - Ask Ryzza Mae how old she is and she will tell you with a wide smile and without batting an eyelash that she’s 80 years old. Of course, it’s a joke. She could mean she’s turning from 7 to 8 because, that’s it. She turned 8 Wednesday, June 12, which coincided with the country’s 115th Independence Day celebration. The Little Miss Philippines, touted as the new Child Wonder got her simple wish — that is, to share her special day with her playmates from her hometown in Pampanga, all of whom reminded the Birthday Girl not to change now that she’s famous.

Meanwhile, Ryzza’s mother, Riza Dizon, can’t help but feel blessed and thankful to Eat Bulaga! dabarkads for supporting her daughter’s endeavors, and her last words of reminder to her daughter “wag mong kalilimutan ang mga pinagdaanan natin.”

The kids were treated to parlor games at an afternoon party hosted by the producers of Eat Bulaga!, which opens every day with the Ryzza Mae Show in which Ryzza interviews celebrities, so far including beauty queens Gwendolyn Ruais and Shamcey Supsup, Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino, Mike Enriquez, Arnold Clavio, Jessica Soho, Derek Ramsay and Susan Roces.

All accounted for at the birthday party were Ryzza’s Bulaga! family including Vic Sotto with daughter Danica Sotto-Pingris and his grandchildren, Sen. Tito Sotto and wife Helen Gamboa with their daughter Ciara and their grandchildren, Joey de Leon and wife Eileen Macapagal, Jose Manalo and nephew, Wally Bayola and children, Anjo Yllana and son, Paolo Ballesteros and daughter, Julia Clarete and Keempee de Leon who sang together, and Ruby Rodriguez and Pauleen Luna who hosted the party.

Ryzza’s simple wish of noodles and spaghetti for her birthday turned into a grand party, wherein she became like a Disney princess with royal guests from showbiz such as Tape, Inc. SVP and COO Malou Choa-Fagar, Susan Roces, Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde, Pilita Corrales, Manay Ichu Maceda, Bibeth Orteza, Dolor Guevarra, Dr. Manny Calayan, Lolit Solis and German “Kuya Germs” Moreno.