Baguio City’s nippy weather makes it more fun and conducive to party and toast the good life. It’s Christmastime, a peak season for tourism in this mountain resort.
It’s also our second time to visit The Manor hotel in Camp John Hay (CJH), which is fully booked with families and couples enjoying the holidays.
Happy hour at The Manor’s Piano Bar gets going with Los Amigos, a trio of musicians which reminds us of Trio Los Panchos with a local flavor. Another act, the vocals-and-piano quartet On Call, proceeds to sing Yuletide carols as we drink San Miguel Pale Pilsen.
The beer, though ice-cold, warms us up as our group anticipates the excitement of going to a dance party the following night. It’s actually a Christmas party of CJH employees, who decided to turn it into a benefit event for Supertyphoon “Yolanda” survivors.
Happy at work
A few hours before the party, dubbed “Light Up the Dark,” The Manor general manager Ramon Cabrera and managing director Heiner Maulbecker join us for a chat. Cabrera agrees that Yolanda’s aftermath has reminded Baguio residents, including CJH staff, of the 1990 earthquake. That’s why everyone here has been earnest in donating cash and kind for the Visayas.
Golf tournaments in CJH, Cabrera says, have raised P3 million for the Visayas. Some P220,000 worth of goods have also been donated by CJH employees, he adds.
We ask Maulbecker, who has been a Baguio resident since 1978, what makes him happy here.
“Hearing the sound of birds chirping, catching the sun, seeing blue skies,” he says.
Later, speaking at a recognition program for CJH employees, he stresses the importance of being happy at work.
Itchy to dance
A few minutes upon entering the party venue, CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, we spot three DJs from the old Spirits Disco manning the turntable and CD decks. We expect to hear a lot of 1980s music, which is what Spirits was known for.
But it’s good to hear Owl City’s “Good Time,” released just last year, serving as warm-up sounds along with Phil Fearon’s “Dancing Tight” and Madonna’s “Borderline.”
Even better, videos of Billy Idol, Billy Joel, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen and INXS are played on a screen, although on silent mode.
It’s past 9 p.m. and our feet get itchy to dance. Alas, everybody seems too shy to shake it up on the floor, or maybe the music—consisting of remixed tracks by Hall & Oates, Steve Perry, Spandau Ballet and Simply Red—is not hot enough.
Finally the crowd gets fired up as the tempo picks up with Swing Out Sister, Technotronic and Rick Astley hits.
Perfect sendoff
When Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” comes on, 11-year-old Diego Ysmael, one of several guests from Manila, gets up from his seat and does the Moonwalk.
His mom, Ika Roxas-Ysmael, smiles as she dances in an elegant, slow-mo style. His aunt, Rosary Ysmael, shouts out her approval, as she gets busy herself, sweating it out with vintage disco moves.
By the time New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” is heard, we feel like a 20-year-old kid with boundless energy. Red wine flows, but the alcohol wears off from all the dancing.
As the hours tick and the music plays on, the video screen flashes the amount of money being raised from ticket and drink sales. Later we are told that proceeds reach P300,000; this will be added to the P3 million that CJH golf events have collected, all for the Visayas.
As we leave the dance floor and head for the exit, the song playing, Shalamar’s “A Night to Remember,” serves as a perfect sendoff—the chilly wind tickling our ears.