Ang ballroom ng Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria ang venue ng star-studded at grand 80th birthday celebration ni Regal Entertainment Inc. producer Lily Yu Monteverde aka Mother Lily na ginanap ngayong gabi, August 19.
Malakas na palakpakan ang sumalubong kay Mother Lily nang pumasok ito sa grand ballroom, kasama ang kanyang mga back-up dancer habang sumasayaw sila sa tugtog ng "Mamma Mia."
Photo by Jojo Gabinete
Nagsasayaw na binati ni Mother Lily ang lahat ng mga bisita niya at nang makarating sa stage, sinabayan siya sa pagsasayaw ng kanyang mga anak, manugang at mga apo.
“I am rich” ang favorite expression ni Mother Lily at alam ito ng mga taong malapit sa kanya.
Sa birthday speech ng movie producer na itinuturing na institusyon sa Philippine movie industry, ipinaliwanag niya ang sariling definition ng kanyang favorite expression.
“I always tell people I am rich. But they do know what I mean.
“I am rich not because of the things I own or can buy.
“I am rich because God has made my life so full.
“I am rich because through all the years of my life…my struggles have all been rewarded.
“I am rich because I have filled this room with people who I know who have been and still are a part of my life.
“When I look around and see all of you, I realize how truly blessed I am.
“What I am feeling right now… this happiness of being surrounded by people who I love and respect is something that money cannot and can never buy.
“I am rich because of my family. When Remy and I started, we worked hard for our children.
“Everything has always been for them. Now look at where they are.
“Look at the good lives they are leading and how they will always be the pride of our family home.
“I will say it again. I am rich. I am rich because I am now eighty years old and standing in front of all of you.
“I am rich because of all the love and support you have given me through the years. More important, I am not only rich. I am happy.
“And that is because you are all here to share this moment with me. Thank you so much.”
Mga kilalang personalidad sa mundo ng showbiz, business at pulitika ang mga bisita ni Mother Lily sa 80th birthday party niya.
Sina Susan Roces, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Ruffa Gutierrez, Lorna Tolentino, Gary Valenciano, Charo Santos-Concio, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Angel Locsin, Vice Ganda, ang mga executive ng ABS-CBN at GMA-7, former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, PEP Editor-in-Chief Jo-Ann Maglipon, Lolit Solis, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Senators Loren Legarda and Grace Poe, McDonald’s Philippines founder George Yang, at former SM Prime President Hans Sy ang ilan sa napakaraming well-wishers ni Mother Lily.