Senate President Pro Tempore Manuel Villar and Sen. Noli de Castro danced the night away at a night spot, thrilling the mostly young crowd with their gyrations.
"Si Manny Villar! Si Kabayan!" remarked the customers and staff of Buzzky bar and concert hall on Clark Perimeter Road and California Street, referring to the two lawmakers as they strode in.
The owner of the bar excitedly approached the two senators, who were accompanied by reporters, and introduced herself and told them it was an honor to host them.
"Sir, sana mag-enjoy kayo. Buti po at napadaan kayo dito (Hope you enjoy. Good thing you dropped by)," owner Aileen Nacano told the two Senate neophytes.
Villar and De Castro, who were dressed in casual clothes after attending a workshop and fellowship with their colleagues, had a night out with media and saw how young people have their "gimik" these days.
"Yeah!" De Castro yelled Elvis-style, as the band singer asked the audience if they wanted to dance the night away. The band had barely launched into a number when Kabayan gamely accepted the invitation of a female radio reporter to be her partner on the dance floor.
And if you think Villar is a tad too stiff if not a killjoy, think again: he didn’t appear in that Rosanna Roces commercial for nothing. He also joined a young female broadcast journalist to bump and grind to "Horny," "She Bangs" and "Let’s Get Loud," among other disco hits.
Reporters who were with the two twinkle toes said it was difficult to be on the dance floor with them as people continuously cheered and pushed lesser mortals away for a chance at a photo opportunity.
And when the two repaired to the table for a breather, customers at nearby tables would ogle them. As Villar nursed a bottle of beer and De Castro sipped red wine — at room temperature as per his choice — they would intermittently grin and wave at the onlookers.
"Pinagpawisan ako (I was sweating)," Villar said, laughing at himself as he took his seat after the exertions occasioned by Abba’s "Dancing Queen."
"Sayaw kayo (Dance!)," Villar and De Castro prodded the more timid of the Senate reporters. "And drink. This may happen only once," they said, adding people should know how to have fun no matter how busy they are.
Both said it had been a long time since they danced that way, and jokingly admitted they enjoyed being with girls.
"But we just look, we’re good boys," they said. Kabayan even said he was afraid of his wife, who has a dominant personality.
The senators expressed admiration for the show bands billed that night, Most Wanted and Highlights.
"Ang galing! (Excellent)," they cheered and clapped their hands to the precision choreography, even as they were shocked to learn later that the bands earned only P1,000 per night.
They even kissed a female lead vocalist on the cheek when she went to their table to say hello while rendering a mellow number.
As some patrons left, they deliberately passed by the table of the two "special guests" and shook their hands.
They called it a night at 2:30 a.m., eager for a few hours’ sleep before the workshop continued again in the morning.