Florence Fulfilled!

Dynamic Florence Gaudinez-Vitug Peña left a prestigious job with the Pasig City Governor's office to seek greener pastures in the land of milk and honey, the good old U. S. of A.

Not only was she the private secretary of then Governor Rodriguez, she dabbled in show business too. Of course, with her bubble personality and being the daughter of the late policewoman, Captain Victoria Gaudinez-Vitug, she was the toast of Makati in the early seventies. With husband Chris Peña, son Bernard and daughter Donna they left all this behind, hopped on a jet plane and settled in then booming Silicon Valley – San Jose . Florence worked hard dabbling in the electronics, real estate and later on the rent-a-car business. With her “no-nonsense” and “tough as doornails” work ethics she became an enormous success. With American born son Kevin and brother Rhuddee, a dear old friend from my San Francisco disco days, she now lives in a mini mansion in the ritzy part of San Jose and is the “Pearl Mesta” of the Filipino-American community of the valley. Her older children now have their own families and lives and are equally successful in their respective fields. Aaahhh the American Dream come true!

To celebrate her entry into her sixtieth year, grand dame Florence did an “Ingrid Bergman in The Visit”, like MacArthur returned to her beloved Makati and threw a party to end all parties. The Makati Park Pavilion was “dressed to the nines” with flowers, balloons and ribbons and the buffet table was groaning with delectable starting with “Bird's Nest Soup”, “Pasta Carbonara” “Lengua Madrileña”, “Porc with Sesame and Poppy Seeds”, “Chicken with Vegetables”, “Breaded Fish with Aleoli Sauce” “Lechon” and a moist and yummy Marble Birthday cake. Truly an international menu! Let me tell you! It was more of a production with the Vitug siblings Joey, Dottie and Rhuddee, not only in full attendance, but also doing three costume changes with getups by Ben Farrales and the haute couture house of Yabut. Part of the program was the awarding of Señora Florence as the new outstanding senior citizen of Makati by city officials Ver Yabyabin and Secretary to Mayor Binay Noli Villafuerte.

Heading the honorable guest list were mega businessman Peter Ison with wife Lina and daughter Jonna, Peter and Cheche Estampador, Tess and Anne (she did the exquisite make-up of the birthday gal) Castaño, flying from Chicago Leo and Tita Nicholas, Jeonfry Paras, Aging Paras, Mely and Benny Reyes, Dr. Tess Yabut, charming Len Yabut, Noel and Chona Reyes, Charito Yabut, from the San Jose Valley Jonas Enrile, Rico Nazareno, Rev. Angel Mariano, S.J. (more old time pals of mine) and denizens of the very fortunate, fortunate and not so fortunate Vitug, Gaudinez and Yuson clans.

Music by the Moonstruck Band was certainly a big plus for the “slam-bang” party scene. The vivacious Vitug triumvirate is honorary Dumaguete folk because of their innumerable visits to our gentle city.

“Flattery is music to a woman's ear and warms her soul” so here's to excesses for the woman of the month Florence Vitug Peña.

Happy Birthday dear…….NOUS!*