Aside from the delectable Chinese food and ice-cold beer that Inquirer management and staff partook of to celebrate the paper’s 32nd anniversary Dec. 9 at Resorts World Manila’s Passion restaurant, whisky and vodka helped uplift the mood of the party.
Lining the bar were bottles of Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky and Absolut Vodka, sponsored by Pernod Ricard Philippines.
There were endless toasts to a bright future, even as Inquirer employees were momentarily overcome with mixed emotions following president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez’s bittersweet speech about continuing to “dream for a better Philippines” and being optimistic amid the paper’s impending change in ownership.
Live music spiced up the party: jazz by Henry Katindig and Jeannie Tiongco; musical theater by Tanya Manalang; and classic pop-rock by Pido Lalimarmo with Wowee Posadas and Gibson Viduya.
The crowd burst into roars of approval over Tiongco’s sensuous singing of samba classics punctuated by Katindig’s cascading keyboard improvisations; Manalang’s exhilarating rendition of “Don’t Rain On My Parade” and Aegis hits; and Lalimarmo’s sentimental take on James Taylor, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Bread, America, and Kalapana.
In between the musical numbers was the uproarious comedy act of Alex Calleja.
By midnight, everyone had their fill of good food, great music, and two of the best-tasting drinks for a party.
