Philippine Ballet Theatre turns 25

The Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) recently celebrated 25 years as a resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with cocktails prior to the first performance of its season-opener Romeo and Juliet. The classical ballet’s setting seemed to have spilled over to the CCP’s Silangan Room as guests were asked to dress reminiscent of the Shakespearean period. PBT president Cha-Cha Camacho even had the tables draped in black and a dagger with a gold hilt stuck in the middle of a bunch of red roses for a dramatic centerpiece! The gala night’s special guest was US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. who earlier gave a cocktail reception for prima ballerina Maniya Barredo and her two protégées at his residence. Needless to say, the production was a big hit. The chemistry between the two young principal dancers David Kiyak and Naomi Hergott, the choreography by Thomas Pazik under the direction of Maniya and music by FILharmoniKA with world-class conductor Gerard Salonga were simply awe-inspiring.

Congratulations to Philippine Ballet Theatre on your 25th anniversary and a successful show!

GREETINGS

Happy birthday to our celebrators today, Nini Layug, Jeannie Goulbourn and The Bellevue Hotel’s marketing and communications assistant manager Jehn Domingo.

Advance birthday greetings to Asia’s Queen of Song Pilita Corrales and Silk Cocoon’s Frances Lim, Aug. 22; Jenny Zamora and Allure’s Luis Espiritu, Aug. 23; Mameng Carag, Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Raul Teehankee, Aug. 24; golfer and theater magnate Bobby Yang and Summit Publishing boss Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Aug. 25; pediatrician Liaa Cojuangco-Bautista, Aug. 26; Bench boss Ben Chan, Aug. 27.

Belated birthday greetings to Francis de Leon, Aug. 15 and Michele Sison, Aug. 20.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)