Grand Dame Armida Siguion-Reyna celebrates her 79th birthday
Photography: Melo Balingit
Updated: 11/05/2009
Views: 216222
Prominent people coming from both showbiz and politics fill the Whitespace events venue in Makati City on November 4.
But the gathering is neither a political rally nor an awards night. It is the celebration of Arminda Siguion-Reyna's birthday, and at 79, she outshines them all.

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Celebrator Armida Siguion-Reyna with her husband Atty. Leonardo Siguion-Reyna (second from left), daughter Monique Villonco (left), and son Carlitos (right)—who is also celebrating his 52nd birthday.
The three-layered cake beside her is a gift from Senator Loren Legarda.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Imelda Marcos, who rarely attends showbiz-related functions these days, arrives very early and sits down
with the birthday lady for most part of the evening.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Susan Roces with her ninang Imelda and children, Imee Marcos-Araneta (left) and Ilocos Norte representative Bongbong Marcos (right).
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Multi-awarded actress Gloria Romero (left) shows up with German Moreno, who delivers a message even if it isn't originally part of the program.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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While Barbara Perez has yet to work with the celebrator,
her husband Robert Arevalo starred in two movies with Armida and used to be a perennial
guest in Armida's show, Aawitan Kita.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Just like Tita Midz, who served as chairperson of MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board), Boots Anson-Roa also pursues advocacies that will contribute to the upliftment of the movie industry.
Boots is presently executive director of Mowelfund.
Both women also became members of CEB (Cinema Evaluation Board).
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Lani Mercado (middle)
greets her mentor when it comes to singing kundimans.
wife of Bong Revilla graced the TV show
Aawitan Kita for a couple of times.
Looking on is Rosa Rosal (left), who used to be the governor of Philippine National Red Cross.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Dawn Zulueta (middle) is greeted warmly by Tita Midz, who produced the actress's hit films Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit in 1991 and Iisa Pa Lamang in 1992.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Gretchen Barretto, who shows up with longtime partner Tonyboy
Cojuangco, gives Tita Midz a kiss on the cheek.
Armida was the producer of Gretchen's 1993
film Kailangan Kita, which was directed by her son, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Richard Gomez and wife Lucy Torres-Gomez by the
heavily-curtained entrance.
Richard is the undisputed favorite leading man of
Reyna Films, the Armida-owned film outfit that produced Hihintayin Kita Sa
Langit and Iisa Pa Lamang, which earned the actor awards and critical acclaim.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Senator Chiz Escudero and his Cebuana wife, Christine Elizabeth, are also present.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Former Senator Ernesto Maceda is among the early well-wishers.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Senator Jinggoy Estrada's name is always included in the guest list of Armida, who's a good friend of his dad, former President Joseph Estrada.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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San Juan mayor Jayvee Ejercito arrives in solo.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Former performers of the TV show Aawitan Kita
sing the theme from the musical program that ran for many years.
Also included, the birthday lady's granddaughter Cris Villonco (in light green dress).
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Jon Santos as Armida Siguion-Macarena is the evening's
showstopper.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Gretchen, in her vintage Oscar dela Renta kimono, surprises
everyone with her rendition of the song "Can You Read My Mind" accompanied by
her own pianist.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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The lady bosses of ABS-CBN Charo Santos-Concio (right), president of the network, and Cory Vidanes, television head, always make time for the parties hosted by Armida.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Ace director Jose Javier Reyes and multi-awarded actor Ricky Davao have one thing in common: Their love for singing.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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Close friends and sisters-in-scriptwriting Raquel
Villavicencio and Bibeth Orteza, who's also the daughter in law of Armida.
Photography: Melo Balingit
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With the senator Juan Ponce-Enrile, who regals the
evening's audience with memories of meeting his "kapatid na sumpungin" Armida.
Photography: Melo Balingit
