December 16, 2019
We were invited to the 72nd birthday dinner celebration of our balae-to-be Philip attended by 160 guests consisting mainly of his family and relatives, and close friends.
Philip is the epitome of a fabulous host. He makes everyone feel like family and it’s a big advantage that he also likes to sing. He entertains everyone with his singing.
After singing one nice song, he probably was very pleased with it, he said: “Oh, I think I’m going to sing this at the wedding.” He introduced Oyen to everyone and announced that all of them are invited to Oyen and Derrick’s wedding in October. Aside from having a big clan, the Yao family has many friends. Derrick is their youngest child and I am sure they are just as excited to share the happy occasion with their relatives and friends.
Bobby de Ocampo is never absent from Philip’s birthday parties. They are very close friends. Bobby and I first met on the PAL flight from HK to Manila I don’t remember anymore when. Oh, during the presidency of Cory Aquino. He was appointed by Pres. Cory as chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines. He served as Secretary of Finance under Pres. Fidel V. Ramos. Bobby is a crooner.
About 5 or 6 years ago, when I first learned that a certain Derrick was courting Oyen, when I saw Freddie at a business gathering, I pulled him aside and asked him “Freddie, merong nanliligaw sa anak ko, Derrick, anak daw ni Philip Yao, uncle ka daw….. mabait ba yung pamilya nila?”
Freddie and I have known each other for twenty years.
Philip and Babes Oreta are very close like brothers. They grew up together, magkinakapatid sila. Babes and Edmund found some common interests— golf and basketball.
