Florinda's day

Florinda Ramos Corral, wife of the late Dr. Hugo Corral, was honored by her family on her 81st birthday at the ballroom of Nature Village Resort in Talisay City recently. With all her children and grandchildren around her, the celebrator bloomed as if she were 18 instead of 81.

The venue was adorned with balloons, ribbons, fruits, flowers and greens. Gossamer ivory tulle formed a soft and romantic canopy over the stage. The decors blended into a palette of gold, autumn yellow, and various hues of orange. Tea lights flickered through dainty emerald leaf designs on tangerine glass candle holders.

Friends and relatives, especially from the big Ramos clan came to wish happiness to the celebrator.

The celebration was a gift from New Yorker Danielus "Danny" Corral, her elder son, who is a topnotch executive of a well-known resort chain in the U.S., with wife Amelia "Meya," who works at the UNDP, son Daryl, who just graduated from GLION Hotel School of Switzerland, and daughter Dana who is a freshman theatre major at New York University, who jetted in from New York and hosted the grand celebration.

The local end was handled by Florinda's younger son, Hugo Jr. "Tutay," his wife Marissa, and their daughters, Trina and Ria, who took care of the groundwork and details. A mini-concert and dance party followed the sumptuous dinner.

The celebrator obliged with a duet with her high school classmate, international music artist Pancho Uytiepo. Her nephew, Joe Leonardia, brother Toti Ramos, and "balaye", former mayor Digoy Montalvo, also rendered their signature pieces during coffee and tea time.

Butterflies were released, confetti popped, the Birthday Song was sung, the cake candles were blown, and there was a toast and waltz.

But that was just the beginning of the fun…

Twenty-seven years ago Danny and Tutay were among the "Crush ng Bayan" of their college days. That night they reproduced the concert "Something Special" with their old friends, also music artists, who were present at the affair. The original cast of the concert, Gerry Grey and Marilou Aragon, staged "Something Special II" again after 27 years, providing and sentimental mood.

Additional surprises were the celebrator's granddaughter, Dana, who rendered spectacular songs from musicals such as The Company, Miss Saigon, and Jekyll and Hyde. Another Leah Salonga in the making?

The wee hours of the morning came but the dance party went on to the live band music of GMT. It was surely sweet dreams for the celebrator who stayed up to do some dance steps with her sons and grandchildren on this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Truly, something special.*

Remember: "There are many who need assistance that only you can offer."