AS parties go year in and year out, Sebastian Chua’s birthdays always hide one or a few surprises. As host, he’s also a springer of surprises. In 2016 he invited Joseph Estrada and the brothers Manny and Ronnie Zamora, when the air was politically charged and tense due to the San Juan elections (Ronnie’s vice mayor-son, Francis, versus Erap’s candidate, reelectionist Mayor Guia Gomez). In 2015, when the name of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte began popping up as a probable presidential candidate’s and he was on a “listening tour” all over the islands, Digong showed up at Basty’s bash, the man of the hour and celebrity of the day.
Last Saturday, at his favorite party place, Gloria Maris in Greenhills, no surprise there, Basty brought three February-borns together under one roof – himself, former President Benigno S. Aquino III, and former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. There were two ex-Presidents in the same room, Mr. Aquino and Mr. Estrada. Surprisingly, Mr. Aquino approached Senator Enrile’s table and there were no fireworks, only the briefest and most cordial of greetings. I was not near enough to observe their body language or to hear what words were exchanged; suffice it to say that neither fists nor voices were raised.
Basty is the kind of friend for whom Tessie Sy-Coson made it a point to rush and greet at 9:30, when most everyone was already downstairs waiting for their cars to bring them home. Same with Senators Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay, plus former senator Nikki Coseteng, who showed up despite a loaded Saturday sked – Cynthia coming from a wedding in a long gown and Nancy arriving in the nick of time just before dessert.
Based on the highest number of the winning raffle tickets called out by the emcee, Basty had 282 guests, including Lily Monteverde, Odette Ong, Charo Yu, Charito Planas, and the unflappable ladies of his merienda club. The raffle was as always a highlight of the party; what was surprising this time was the big number of raffle prizes, 100 in all, featuring Xiaomi products from China that include “everything” from rubber pillows to luggage to cellphones. Now you know, they’re Basty’s latest toys. (Jullie Y. Daza)