Celebrating the well-lived life of Manolo Lopez

Manolo M. Lopez, also known as MML to friends and peers, current chairman of Rockwell Land, former chairman, president and CEO of Meralco and former ambassador to Japan, celebrated his 80th birthday last May 20 at the Fifth in Rockwell. Although the surprise party was filled with over 200 guests, it still felt very intimate.

We were all required to take an antigen test before entering the venue, just for precautionary measures. It was good to see that even at the reception area, where guests were waiting for their test results, friends were already chatting and catching up with one another.

Upon entering the ballroom, there was an ongoing Mass, officiated by Fr. Dennis Paez. As soon as it ended, Sheila Valderrama-Martinez and Carla Guevara-Laforteza serenaded the guests while waiting for dinner to be served.

Meanwhile, I saw many familiar faces, and even caught a glimpse of Freddie Garcia, who was enjoying a light moment with Philip Cruz. I even spotted former senator Serge Osmeña among the crowd, who came solo because his wife, Bettina, was in France visiting their grandchild.

As I was making my way towards the table of MML to greet him, I passed the Meralco table and saw president Oscar Reyes, Joe Guingona, Elpi Cuna and Jojo Villaluz. On the other hand, when I passed the Rockwell table, I saw president Tong Padilla with wife Nancy, and Susan Reyes. Also present was Sen. Franklin Drilon, who came with his wife, Mila. Legal luminaries Justices Antonio Carpio and Artemio Panganiban were also there to join in the celebration.

Former Ambassadors to Spain Charlie and Lita Salinas and Lani and Conchitina Bernardo made an appearance as well. Two-time ambassador to the court of St. James, Tonet Lagdameo, who also happens to be the brother-in-law of MML, arrived with his lovely wife, Linda Floirendo-Lagdameo. I also walked past the table of the Aquino sisters, Pinky and Ballsy. They came with their husbands, Manolo Abellada and Eldon Cruz.

Maritess Lopez, MML’s better half.

Current ABS-CBN CEO, Carlo Katigbak, was also present and was joined by his beautiful wife, Charisse. Of course, a party would never be complete without family. Most of MML’s nephews and nieces were there to celebrate. To name a few, Ernie and Michelle Lopez, Enteng and Cedie Lopez Vargas, Piki and Monina Lopez, siblings Rina, Jay and Angela Lopez, all joined in on the fun.

The delectable dinner was courtesy of the one and only, Chef Jessie Sincioco. For starters, we were served her famous dip alongside ciabatta bread and dinner rolls, a Mesclun and micro greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and her to-die-for spaghettini a la crème with seared scallop and pan-fried goose liver. To cleanse the palate, the appetizers were followed by a refreshing assorted berries sorbet. Our main course was grilled US black angus prime tenderloin medallion in wild mushroom sauce and pan-fried fillet of Chilean sea bass in pommery mustard sauce. As soon as these scrumptious dishes were served, the program was about to start.

The hosts for the evening, Robi Domingo and Bianca Gonzalez, came on stage to introduce the special guests that evening: Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez. Ogie sang Just the Way You Are, while Regine belted out And I Love You So. The crowd was enthralled as the couple gave their renditions of To Love Again and Kapantay ay Langit. However, the true surprise of the evening was the special and heartfelt audio-visual presentation (AVP) that featured the eight grandchildren of MML: Bettina and Isabella Lichauco, Manu, Jack, Luis, Miguel, Dea and Matti Lopez. Here, the grandkids professed their love for their Oyo (what they call MML), making it clear that they have a warm and special relationship with their grandparents.

After the AVP, the hosts called on Maritess Lopez, MML’s better half. Maritess revealed that MML hinted two months ago that he wanted a surprise party. So, upon hearing this, she went to work and enlisted the help of her children, Maita, Beaver, Mike and Mark, to pull it off.

As MML joined the toast and blew his candles, he said in jest that Maritess will be in shock when she gets the bill. To cap off a beautiful evening, there was one more surprise in store for all of us, each guest was given a hardbound book written by Ann Alcantara Mercado, titled Manolo, A Portrait. The book is a portrait of MML and the worlds in which he moves and which move within him.

For Maritess, “The book is a chronicle of a man well-loved who continues to lead a life well-lived. To me, he will always be the carefree and happy-go-lucky guy that I met that afternoon in San Francisco, who possessed a natural leadership and the passion of a true man of the world, who thrived in the company of family and friends — the boy who will always be our Manolo, and my beloved.”

MML’s daughter Maita Lopez-Lichauco.