Rappler and the Star Magic Ball

MANILA, Philippines – I felt lost at the Star Magic Ball.

Held on September 1 at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel (The program followed a 3.5-hour red carpet entrance for the Star Magic celebrities and ABS-CBN executives. It was an event all its own. Check out RAPPLER Entertainment editor Kai Magsanoc’s live blog straight from the red carpet.), it was a private function; no different from the weddings and other celebrations I’ve attended.

Each table was filled with people dining and socializing with each other. The only difference was that I was media — an outsider who didn’t know anybody — and I had no idea where to sit.

I tried asking several waiters and organizers where the designated “media area” was. No one seemed to know.

So I picked the emptiest table at the edge of the room. There were only 3 other people seated at the opposite end.

As far as I could tell, they weren’t celebrities (and if they were, I hope they don’t get offended as I don’t watch TV).

From that point on, I expected to cover the event from a detached and comfortable distance.

And that’s when John Lapus aka “Sweet” suddenly sat beside me with his friends. The waiters started serving me the courses.

“This is so weird and awkward!” I tweeted.

“Saan ka nagsusulat?” Sweet finally turned to me.

“Rappler,” I answered.

“Basta may mga sasabihin ako mamaya na hindi mo narinig, ha. Sige kumain ka lang diyan. Sagot kita.”

I must say that the best cure to feeling socially awkward is to end up at the becky (Pinoy slang for “gay”) table. I may have been alone, but I was entertained.

Sweet cracked jokes about how Direk Jojo Saguin had transformed into Lovi Poe Jr. with the ethereal white dress, the deep tan, smokey eye and flowing curls.

“Ikaw na si LPJ. Hindi LPG ha, iba yun. Gasul yun.”

“Sandali lang!” he begged organizers to let him finish his dessert before he stood up to co-host the program. He animatedly pretended to wolf everything down, patay-gutom style. We all burst out laughing.

Sweet was unabashedly glad and kilig to be hosting the Star Magic Ball next to the dashing John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual.

The first part of the program was a cotillion where Star Magic presented its newest artists.

Then we took a trip down memory lane through an audio-visual presentation of past shows, such as Ang TV, Tabing Ilog and the show that defined my pre-teen years, G-Mik.

It was surreal being shown teeny-bopper takes of Camille Prats, Angelica Panganiban, Carlo Aquino, John Prats and Stefano Mori. All those years of self-inflicted puberty drama came rushing back. It was fun while it lasted.

The Maestro, Ryan Cayabyab, accompanied the likes of Richard Poon, Vina Morales, Nyoy Volante, Yeng Constantino and Erik Santos in a musical tribute to Star Magic VP, Tita Mariol Alberta.

Khalil Ramos and Sam Milby gave a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow on ukulele.

The hosts then presented the winners of the Star Magic Ball Awards 2012.

“Ilang manok ang pinatay ni Rajo Laurel para diyan,” Sweet commented on Jaw Dropping Stunner Awardee Bea Alonzo’s black feathered gown.

Matteo Guidicelli and Coco Martin reconciled over a hug when the former presented the latter with the Stand Out Star Award. The two got into a riff over Maja Salvador last year at the same event.

“Hanggang mamaya na yan ha,” Sweet commented on the positive moment between the two former rivals.

Martin Nievera arrived straight from his taping of Pinoy X-Factor to perform an original composition, Magic.

Jed Madela sealed the night of musical performances with his own rendition of The Distance. – Rappler.com

 

If you think you’ve read the last of our Star Magic Ball 2012 stories, you’re wrong! Keep posted for more stories on and more photos of your favorite celebs, only here in RAPPLER!

Cate de Leon is a Musicology major in UP Diliman and a freelance writer. Aside from RAPPLER, she also regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan Philippines and Philippine Star Supreme.