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| Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion |
It was an evening of understated elegance, beautiful music and gastronomic delights. Norma Aquino Garbanzos’ 75th birthday celebration recently at La Proa of L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City was certainly an event to remember.
The elegant guests added glamour to the occasion, with the ladies dressed to the nines in stunning evening gowns bedecked in sparkling jewelry, and the gentlemen in coat and tie or barong. Even the décor had the right touch of class and refined taste with swathes of objects in delicate shades of purple peeking out every so often. A multi-tiered birthday cake was the focal point on the stage.
Norma’s siblings, who arrived from the States and planned a big surprise for the occasion, were there to welcome the guests while waiting for the birthday celebrator. Guests were served excellent wine while enjoying the old favorite songs played by the band.
Suddenly, the doors opened and there she was! Norma made her grand entrance looking “drop-dead-gorgeous” in an exquisite off-white gown with a glittering bodice splashed with crystals and beads vividly enhanced by a magenta stole, dramatically draped over one shoulder.
What an entrance! She was greeted with rapturous applause as she made her way to the stage where she was seated at the center. Monsignor GG Gaston gave the invocation extolling Norma’s gift of music to the people of Bacolod. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to the glowing celebrator.
Dinner was a lavish array of specially prepared dishes designed to delight every palate. The entertainment was a perfect selection of musical numbers - Juliet Benitez, a fantastic saxophone player who could sing “La Vie En Rose” like Edith Piaf (complete with a French accent!), and a child prodigy piano student of Norma, Mark James Desitone, who wowed the crowd with his superb piano rendition.
Norman Garbanzos delighted us with his brilliant piano performances of old standards, like “The Nearness of You”, “In Other Words”, “The Way You Look Tonight”, etc. Norma’s daughter, Sally, offered a touching toast to her loving Mother, who was almost teary-eyed as she thanked all those who “manipulated” (her exact words!) her birthday celebration.
Wotta night! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORMA!*
