Going back to Jade Vine and to happy memories of 51 years

Jun Alvendia, son of Esperanza Pahati Alvendia, Maripaz Godinez  and I were having lunch at the Jade Vine Restaurant  on UN  Avenue, and we came to reminiscing the happy times when  in the  ’60s, Jade Vine played host to impersonations of Broadway shows. Members of Manila’s high society like Chona Kasten, Tingting Cojuangco and Elvira Manahan had the time of their lives.

Scenes impersonated were from  “The King and I,”    “Sound of Music,” “West Side Story,”  “South Pacific,” “Gypsy Rose Lee,” “Cabaret,” “My Fair Lady,”  “Hair,”  and “Flower Drum Song.”

Events director Oskar Atendido remembers that the impersonators were formalized into  a group by Quito Cu-Unjieng for the Cabaret Royale put up by Budji Layug’s family in Makati.

Bert Torrijos, president and general manager of Jade Vine, remembers those days of happy memories. He also remembers the cabinet ladies’ meetings of Eva Macapagal, the yearly birthdays of Vice President Fernando Lopez, catering at the 777 RPS Ang Pangulo for President Marcos.

The Spirit of ’67

To keep the sounds of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s alive, Sonny Alvendia, chair of the board,  formed the famous The Spirit of ’67  band (referring to Ateneo HS Class ’67).  The moment it hit any venue were they are asked to perform,  people would dance and dance.

To celebrate its 51st anniversary, Jade Vine Restaurant & Executive Inn welcomes “The Spirit of ’67” on Sept.  17 at 8 p.m.

A cover charge of P300, consumable, is available.  Call  Jade Vine at 5248601 to 05 and ask for Gloria Pahati, Christine Alvendia, Benie Arcega or Joey Tanteo.

Come listen to Koo Koo Gonzales (vocalist), Zoe Zuñiga (vocalist), Charlie Ysmael (vocalist), Tony Sabalsa (vocalist), Al Kaz Borromeo (lead guitar), Obet Arnalia (bass guitar), Arnold Austria (drums) and Ronald Vicencio (keyboard).

Why Jade Vine?

Carmelino “Jun” Alvendia says that the jade vine is the name of a beautiful flower  that grows in clusters in some forests in the Philippines.   He is not sure if his mother named the restaurant “Jade Vine” or her partners  Eding Teodoro and Martha Bernhardt (wife of an expat) did.  The flower has monochromatic shades of aqua blue to light blue.

When Esperanza Alvendia, who is called “Caring” by family, friends and staff, retired as head of the Home Economics department of  the University of Sto. Tomas, she concentrated on serving quality food at  her restaurant.  She trained Anselmo Aruego, who has been  with Jade Vine  for  36 years and his assistants Jess Diño and Rey Abad. This explains the consistent quality food that you can still enjoy.

See you at Jade Vine and come and reminisce the good times of good food and  dancing music.

St.  Philomene feast day

The town of Alcala in Cagayan Valley will celebrate their fiesta on Aug. 27 in honor of St. Philomene, their patroness.  The pilgrimage was brought to 25 barrio chapels during the preparation of the fiesta.  Monsignor Sergio Utleg, the new Archbishop  of Tuguegarao, will celebrate Mass on Aug. 27 at 9 a.m.

Fr. Rino Guaring, parish priest, is asking for help in providing a cover for  the ceiling of the church because it is so hot in Cagayan.  To help, text Fr. Rino at 0917-5789161.

Santa Rosa de Lima

Pasig Bishop Mylo Vergara will say the Fiesta Mass on Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. in honor of Sta. Rosa de Lima, patroness of Peru.  The  Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish is  on San Buenaventura Drive in Bagong Ilog, Pasig.  Parish priest is Fr. Mariano Baranda.

Santo Sepulcro  fiesta

The people of Paco and devotees of the “Santo Sepulcro” will mark his  feast today with Cardinal Rosales officiating the Concelebrated   Mass at l0 a.m.  Parish priest is Msgr. Rolando de la Cruz.   Hermanos mayores are the Knights of Columbus.  Parish lay coordinator is Aida Altamirano.  Sol Alturas Yu is in charge of  sponsors.

San Lorenzo Ruiz in New York

The image of San Lorenzo Ruiz  will be enthroned at the St. Margaret Mary Church in Staten Island, New York, on Aug. 28. by Fr. Erno Diaz.  Geraldine Osias and Sonia Atabug of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry  brought the image  to New York via Eva Air.   Donor is Tony Luna.

A future enthronement is  scheduled  at the Chapel of Naia 3  on the occasion of its anniversary.  Arranging the event is Guia Gonzalez of the Naia admin office.  Donor is engineer Rolando Ruiz Luna, project manager of  Denver International Airport in Colorado.

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