HOW DO SENIOR stars celebrate gatherings of any sort? One of the groups of veteran actors and actresses, as time permits, often congregate, eat and talk together no matter no special occasion.
In the case of the recent birthday bash marking the start of octogenarian life, former sex siren Divina Valencia gathered not only her fellow senior colleagues but the younger set of stars as well in the entertainment industry.
Although it was showbiz fixture and star maker assistant Pempe Rodrigo (daughter of the late senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo and sister of King Rodrigo) who organized the event, it was Divina who invited some of the guests to her party held at the former’s house in New Manila.
You see, Valencia is one of the active members of Balik-Samahan, an organization of male and female veteran stars which Pempe helped founded, like the living Boots, Nova Villa, Sarah Calvin, Perla Bautista, Liza Lorena, Romeo Rivera, Marita Zobel, Marissa Delgado, Nori Dalisay, Evangeline Pascual, Barbara Perez, Deborah Sun, Jessica Pica, Tina Loy, Caridad Sanchez, Rosemarie Gil, Elizabeth Oropesa, Liz Alindogan, Eva Darren, Lita Rivera, Rez Cortez, Tessie Villarama, Priscilla Cellona, among others and dearly departed Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes, Lollie Mara, Liberty Ilagan, Roger Calvin, Pepito Rodriguez and Minda Morena.
THANKSGIVING PARTY
“Thanksgiving party for Divina,” exclaimed Marissa in a phone interview Friday morning.
“Kaya nagtipun-tipon kaming mga miyembro ng (That’s why we gathered together the available members of) Balik-Samahan,” added Delgado who just came from a US sojourn with her beauty queen, daughter, Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 1987, Avon Garcia.
Meanwhile, Divina also came from the US months ago but she wanted to celebrate her natal day with friends in the Philippines.
“Si Pempe ang naghanda para sa (It was Pempe who prepared the) party,” volunteered Marissa, one of Divina’s best friends in and out of the movie and TV industries.
“Pero (But) we contributed for the food,” clarified Delgado.
According to her, it wasn’t only fun and reunion of friends that the birthday gig brought but the camaraderie and social conscience as well.
“Hindi lang kasiyahan ang birthday party ni Divine (The event isn’t only for fun). Pag ganyan na nagkikita-kita kami, nag-aambag-ambag kami at pag may natitira, ibinibigay namin sa mga nangangailangan (If we see each other like this, we also chip in amount of money and if there are excess funds, we give them to the needy),” informed Marissa.
The last time, she said, the group extended a financial support was to the ailing entertainment reporter and talent coordinator Virgie Balatico who was brought to a home care in Tanay, Rizal through the effort of Gina de Venecia, the former congresswoman of Pangasinan.
DIAMOND STAR TOO
Divina’s celebration was also a melting pot of multigenerational movie, theater and television stars.
“Inimbitahan ni Divina si (She invited) Maricel Soriano,” confirmed Marissa.
The Diamond Star who is twice younger than the majority of Balik-Samahan members gladly showed up.
“Nakipagsosyalan talaga si Maria sa aming mga beterano (She really socialized with us veterans),” reported Delgado happily.
Debonaire and young actor and singer Rannie Raymundo came in.
Aside from representing the youth sector of the local entertainment world, Rannie was representing her mom, Nina Zaldua, a former actress and contemporary of Marissa and Divina.
Of course, actor and visual artist Reb Belleza didn’t miss the birthday get-together of her mom.
Sadly, a few days after the party, Reb was rushed to The Medical City in Pasig City for an emergency health case but he is, at the moment, out of danger.
Relatively new movie reporter Renz Spangler was also around to document the party for his media outlets.
Valencia’s event was also a venue to catch up with the latest happenings in showbiz, attested Marissa.
“Maraming kwentuhan (So many stories told),” she said.
And it was a post-mortem time for the recent demise of Roger.
“Nakakamiss si (I sorely miss) Roger Calvin. Napakaaktibo niya sa grupo. Sayang. May ginawa lang kasi ako nang pumunta ang Balik-Samahan sa (He was very active in the group. I regret I didn’t pay my last respects to him in his funeral wake. I did something when the group went to) Floridablanca, Pampanga,” she lamented.
“Nahimatay pala si Cher Calvin sa pagkamatay ni Roger (Oh! She reportedly passed out when her father died),” quipped Delgado referring to the daughter of the actor who is a famous newscaster at the KTLA, the flagship station for CW and Nexstar in Los Angeles, California.