Mother Lily na-realize na hindi mahalaga ang datung para lumigaya

Isang bonggang-bonggang party ang ginanap para sa 72^nd birthday ni Mother Lily Monteverde last Friday night sa isang function room ng Century Imperial Suites.

As in dumagsa ang napakarami niyang kaibigan – non showbiz and showbiz friends. Actually ang buong akala ng mga ibang naimbita, isang intimate party ang mangyayari dahil sorpresa raw ito, pero kabaliktaran pala.

Kaya naman maligayang-maligaya si Mother Lily. “I turned 72 today – 73 according to the Chinese calendar. Shocking ba? I look and feel much younger.

“Friends always compliment me and ask me my secret. What keeps me young? My secret is very simple. Every morning when I wake up, I thank the Lord for another new day, another chance to correct my mistakes, learn from my experiences and become stronger and wiser in the face of challenges,” simula ng kanyang birthday speech.

“Every day, I learn a lot from the movies I watch and from the friends I make chismis with.

“It’s true what they say : You learn something new every day. If there’s one thing I learned in my life it’s that : Money cannot make you happy.

“You cannot bring material things with you to the next life, ‘di ba.

“I would like to thank all of you for being my teachers,” sabi ng Regal matriarch sa kanyang speech habang nakikinig at kumakain ang maraming bisita na marami ang nakasuot ng kulay pula.

Inulit din niya ang pasasalamat sa entertainment press na sabi niya ay never siyang iniwan through good times and bad, through thick and thin.

 “Thank you to my friends who have remained constant and loyal in spite of my shortcomings. I promise to make up to all of you this year,” dugtong niya ng pasasalamat sa lahat.

Ganundin sa kaniyang pamilya na parating nakaalalay sa kanya.

Kumpleto sila nang gabing ‘yun – mula sa husband niyang si Father Remy, mga anak na sina Meme, Roselle, Dondon, Goldwyn, at Winnie.

 “I may be krung-krung, but I am your wife, mother, grandmother and I love you for loving me no matter what. Life is not perfect, but because of you, my family and friends, life has become a beautiful journey.

“I may not be as wealthy as a taipan, but I am rich with friends and loved ones. Yes life is beautiful and let us enjoy every moment,” banggit pa niya.

Bukod sa mga non showbiz friends na combination ng mga Chinese and Pinoy, nagsidatingan din ang maraming artista na alaga ng Regal - mula pa noon.

Andun sina Nora Aunor, Gabby Concepcion, Sen. Bong Revilla, Rep. Lani Mercado, Ruffa Gutierrez at ang mga bida sa latest offering ng Regal Entertainment na My Neighbor’s Wife na sinasabing isang mainit, mapusok at mapangahas na pelikula ng taon na sina Dennis Trillo, Lovi Poe and Jake Cuenca. Hindi nakasipot si Carla Abellana na kasama sa pelikula. Present din si James Yap na ang manager ay ang anak ni Mother Lily na si Dondon. At marami pang iba.

Pero pinaka-highlight ng celebration ay ang birthday gift ni Mother Lily sa MOWELFUND na P500,000. Tinanggap ang nasabing regalo nina Manay Ichu Maceda and Ms. Boots Anson-Roa.

FPJ ka-edad lang sana ni Mother Lily

Magkasing-edad lang sana sina Mother Lily at dating Da King Fernando Poe Jr. Magkasunod lang din sila ng birthday – si Mother Lily last Friday at kahapon naman ang namayapang si FPJ.

Kahapon isang simpleng selebrasyon ang ginanap sa kanyang puntod. Kasama sa mga naki-birthday ang bestfriend niyang si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada.

Binati naman ni Lovi ang kanyang papa sa pamamagitan ng twitter account niya : “Pero its my dad’s birthday today! happy birthday papa! i can feel that youre still here breathing through me...” Biglang nagbatian na rin ang mga bagets na fans ng kanyang papa FPJ.