Susan’s ‘secret’ wish

Since most of her well-wishers were seniors (Cinderella-types who must be home before the silver carriage becomes a pumpkin again at midnight), they requested Birthday Lady Susan Roces to blow the candles earlier on the three-tiered heart-shaped cake specially baked for her by Elise Torrejon, brought to the home of Susan’s daughter Grace Poe’s Corinthian Hills residence where the dinner was held, by Elise’s sister June Rufino.

It was Saturday, July 27, barely two hours before the start of her 72nd year, and the unwritten rule among the barkada is to kiss everybody goodbye earlier so they can drift into sweet slumber before the witching hour. Susan’s birthday coincides with The STAR’s anniversary (the 27th last Sunday, July 28), so she and the paper have a special bond. 

“What is your birthday wish?” Ethel Ramos asked Susan after she blew the candles.

“Secret!” said Susan.

“Muli mo na bang bubuksan ang iyong puso?” Ethel asked again, quoting the title of Susan’s new Kapamilya soap.

“Secret!” repeated Susan, FPJ’s widow since 2004.

FPJ was around, in fact…in spirit, that is…because he was widely-smiling from a blown-up photo that stood on a table in one corner of the receiving room beside the dining room where the buffet table was heaving with food glorious food, dominated by Spanish lechon stuffed with paella. Sen. Grace and her husband Neil Llamanzares happily obliged to pose with PFJ between them.

Most of those who showered Susan with praises in the “27 Reasons Why They Love Susan Roces” story published in this section as part of The STAR’s special anniversary issue were accounted for, posing for the de rigueur “family picture” during the barkada’s regular salu-salo holding three copies of it. (Mea culpa: A mix-up resulted in Gloria Romero’s tribute repeated under the name of Lawrence Tan who actually said: I love Susan for her grace and integrity in everything she does. There is always a quiet intensity about her that is always honest and thoughtful of others. There, record set straight.)

Sharing the spotlight with Susan was Ryzza Mae Dizon who gamely posed for pictures with everybody who, without being asked to, did what Ryzza would ask her guests on her eponymous Eat, Bulaga! pre-programming Monday-thru-Friday show which premiered with Susan as special guest — yes, look up and look happy!

Asked how she felt about being chosen as one of Yes! magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful Stars,” Ryzza (also named Best Child Star of The Year by OMG! Awards) wondered, “Maganda ba talaga ako?” Of course, she is, isn’t she? After eating (while watching the airing of Vampire Ang Daddy Ko, the GMA sitcom where she’s a cast member) bade everybody goodbye, beat to the door by Lolit Solis who is noted for her French Leave habit (she was the earliest to arrive anyway with boxes and boxes of cakes!).

Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde whispered to Funfare that she is invited to act as one of the principal sponsors at the [same-sex] wedding of GMA creative consultant Jun Lana and soon-to-be-ex-TV5-executive Perci Intalan sometime late this year). “Yes,” assured Mother Lily, “I will go to New York to attend the wedding.”

Before the group “adjourned,” the members discussed their next barkada trip abroad, after the first (Hong Kong) and the second (Bangkok where Tony “Mr. T” Tuviera treated them to a memorable dinner at Mandarin).

To Susan, may you retain The Face That Refreshes through the years. Many happy returns of the day!

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