Sen. Ralph turns Golden Boy in chilly Baguio City

MANILA, Philippines - So how does a man turning 50 celebrate the milestone?

In the case of Sen. Ralph Recto who turned Golden Boy last Jan. 11, it was a quiet family affair in chilly Baguio.

The entourage, with Ralph’s wife Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and sons Ryan Christian and Luis, included relatives and close friends (Ralph’s siblings Marissa and Ramon; Vilma’s sister Emelyn; Vilma’s brother Joel and his friend Yvonne; Vilma’s accountant/Girl Friday Aida Fandialan; Maricar and Neal Martinez).

They spent four days in Baguio (from Jan. 8 to 12). On Jan. 9, Ralph treated them (including some members of his Senate staff) to dinner at the Manor in the Country Club. On Jan. 10, the group greeted Ralph with an asalto at Camp John Hay; and on Jan. 11, they simply had fun at the Rectos’ ancestral home called Villa Aurora (acquired in 1936 by Ralph’s grandfather, Sen. Claro M. Recto).

Asked what Vilma gave Ralph as birthday gift, Aida said, ‘Assorted.’

Maribeth Bichara, Vilma’s choreographer on her show V.I.P. who happened to be also vacationing there, dropped by at the Manor, and so did Tirso Cruz III and wife Lyn Ynchausti, and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (at the Senate House where Ralph again treated the group to a nightcap).