Birthdays

Doña Gloria Esteban celebrated her 93rd birthday at her mansion recently and it was a night of fun and dancing.

Doña Gloria, who was the better half of the late Antonio Esteban, with whom she has four accomplished daughters: Amelia, Glorietta, Ma. Xenia and Ma. Merlie, traces her roots to the Aranetas of Negros. She rose to become a political pillar of Negros, and up to now maintains her youthful glow.

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Portia Koelman celebrated her birthday at Group K recently. The better half of Dutchman Kees Koelman, Portia Parcon, is a former flight attendant who hails from Isabela. She is mother to Aliya Parcs, known in Bacolod as Myla Koelman, who has been cited as one of the most beautiful women in the Philippines.

Aliya surprised her mom by coming home with her band, and, belted out songs, including a mom-daughter duet.

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A party was tendered for balikbayan siblings Terry Sanchez-Pison and Cecil Sanchez, with the latter celebrating her birthday at the sprawling garden of Sonny and Imelda Sanchez-Luzuriaga.

Her siblings from the Sanchez side came in full force, and so did the Carams. Sonny and Imelda Sanchez de Luzuriaga are the parents of Negrense beauties Camen and Carmel, the better halves of Cebu industrialist brothers Tourism Secretary Ace and Red Durano.

Cecil is a retired nurse now living in Canada, while Terry, who used to work in a US hospital is also retired and presently residing in the US.*