Music, memories, and festivities
“When time passes, it’s the people who knew you whom you want to see.” — John Irving
Homecoming is about togetherness. It is the place that started with love, hope, and dreams. Many decades later, from our chosen life paths, our Assumption HS 81 batch got together again to celebrate Assumption Velada—an annual homecoming celebration that highlights different batches every five years.
This year, we are the Sapphire Batch, 45 years after high school. We are back in Assumption and eager to refuel because we are not tired but tested. Reinventing to advance, we revisit the decades past when we surged with energy and youth.
After weeks of dance practice, costume detailing, and endless catch-ups, our batch leaders Popsie Gamboa, Jojo Ongsiako, Pia Lorenzo, and Janine Dario have created a stunning visual dance presentation that truly ignited our Sapphire spirit. Each of our classmates in our early 60s found energy and encouragement to move our hips and sway to the beat.
And from here we recharge, summoning greater strength and renewing purpose to be the most brilliant stars yet in our very own Sapphire sky!
Celebrating 70 years after high school, AC HS 1956 is the Platinum Batch. Among the 23 classmates participating, my mother, Marixi Prieto, happily joined their song and dance number. Choreographed by coach Batche Tan, this solid batch delivered an amazing presentation.
It is so heartfelt to see how wonderfully close they have remained all these years.
Assumption Velada is quite a phenomenon. The ties that bind these Assumption classmates are the strongest. They are no longer just classmates—they’re family, too.
“Home of Christmas”
A week after the Red Charity Gala, I find myself once again at The Peninsula Manila to celebrate its golden anniversary with an unforgettable evening of music, memories, and festivities.
Fifty years of cherished memories, enduring friendships, and legendary hospitality called for a celebration to remember. On Oct. 7, The Peninsula Manila marked its golden anniversary with a spectacular Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and gala—welcoming some 900 guests to an evening of music, Champagne, fine food, and dancing in its iconic lobby.
Leading the celebration was The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH), accompanied by his son Philip Kadoorie, HSH deputy chairman, and daughter-in-law Audrey. HSH chief executive officer Benjamin Vuchot, chief operating officer Gareth Roberts, and The Peninsula Manila managing director Kevin Tsang were also present.
Joining them were members of the HSH and The Peninsula Manila Boards of Directors, descendants of founding fathers P.L. Lim and Charlie Palanca, Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, diplomats, business and society figures, and generations of friends of The Pen. Among the guests was Mila Magsaysay Valenzuela, daughter of former President Ramon Magsaysay and the hotel’s original public relations and social director.
Hosted by musical theater luminary Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, the evening opened with The Peninsula’s 50th anniversary song and a video tracing the hotel’s history since 1976. Managing director Kevin Tsang welcomed guests to one of the hotel’s most cherished traditions, recalling The Peninsula Manila’s place in the lives of Filipino families and its enduring reputation as the “home of Christmas.”
For Sir Kadoorie, the occasion was especially personal. He recalled the friendship between his father, Lord Lawrence Kadoorie, his uncle Horace Kadoorie, and their Philippine partners, whose vision brought the first Peninsula hotel outside Hong Kong to Manila in 1976.
He also fondly remembered Las Guitarras playing “Cielito Lindo” in The Lobby and paid a heartfelt tribute to the “unmatched Filipino charm” that has distinguished the hotel for five decades. That spirit of hospitality, he observes, has traveled far beyond Manila—carried by Filipino colleagues who have gone on to serve and lead Peninsula hotels around the world.
As one guest remarked afterward, Sir Michael’s speech beautifully captured the Filipino character.
The evening’s most magical moment came when Sir Michael Kadoorie, Philip Kadoorie, Benjamin Vuchot, Gareth Roberts, and Kevin Tsang joined together to illuminate the hotel’s magnificent 45-foot Christmas tree and the entire Peninsula Manila. The Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, dressed as miniature Peninsula pages, filled The Lobby with Christmas carols, while the AMP Big Band kept the celebrations going with big band favorites and hits spanning the 1970s to the present.
Meanwhile, Peninsula Champagne and red and white wines flowed freely, while lavish buffet stations showcased specialties from all 12 Peninsula hotels worldwide. Soon, guests were dancing in The Lobby and Salon de Ning, surrounded by familiar faces, old friends, and generations of families whose lives have been intertwined with the hotel.
Through 50 years of Manila’s changing fortunes, The Peninsula Manila has remained a beloved landmark and gathering place. But perhaps its greatest achievement is something less tangible: the affection of a city that long ago gave it two familiar names, “Manila Pen” and “The Pen.”
And on this golden anniversary evening, it was clear that Manila still knew how to celebrate with The Pen.
Exploring the origins of creativity
As the Christmas season draws closer, check out Manila Art 2026 at the SM Aura Convention Center. Showcasing so many artists in different mediums, Manila Art brings together galleries, collectors, and art enthusiasts for a celebration of Philippine contemporary art.
Guided by this year’s theme, “Where The Line Begins,” the fair explores the origins of creativity, from the first stroke to the final artwork. Joining the fair are my lawyer, Atty. Tei Leonardo, who is exhibiting two of her colorful works, and sculptor Patrick Naval, who works with wood and glass.
Manila Art is happening until today only. May we all find beauty in local art and support our very own. Let the merriest season of the year begin with a bang!
