MEDIUM RARE Jullie Y. Daza What a grand gathering of politicians and apolitical civilians, newsmakers and photographable, photogenic people — a convention-size party to mark JPE’s birthday, his coming-out party, so to speak, on his 99th Valentine’s Day! KPE, aka Katrina Ponce Enrile, engineered the entire event using the long arm of an on-the-job experience. For the past 62 years, she admitted, she’s never had a Valentine’s Day date because it was always her dad’s birthday, the only priority. For the night’s entertainment, she and JPE’s grandchildren produced a short film to record the venerable nonagenarian’s journey from “poverty through mortal dangers,” encompassing an entire history of service, controversy, conflict, sacrifice, high-stakes trouble and downplayed or delayed glories. The film began with a portrait of their “Lilo” Juan Ponce Enrile as a caveman in the age of dinosaurs, proceeded to show him as a half-naked warrior wearing war paint on his face and chest. Amid the audience’s cheers and jeers, came flashes of the alpha-male JPE showing off his black-belt martial arts chops and black-and-white photos of a career that has spanned eight presidencies, including the current one where he is the President’s legal counsel. Obliging calls for a “Speech! Speech!” which he did with charm, as usual, PBBM ended his impromptu remarks with this admission: “Each time I speak with Manong Johnny, I learn something.” I had promised myself to look for 99 celebrities among JPE’s guests at White Space, the events place, but succeeded only in spotting BBM, First Lady Liza (virtual), VP Sara Duterte, Cristina Ponce Enrile, Imelda R. Marcos, Martin Romualdez, Gloria and Mike Arroyo, Anton and Dawn Lagdameo, Tessie Sy-Coson, Gibo and Nicky Teodoro; Dr. Claver Ramos, Lin I. Bildner, Lorna Kapunan, Edna Camcam, Katrina’s daughter Kara, Ces Drilon, Mike Toledo, Irene and Greggy Araneta, Tonichi Nocom, Maurice Lim, Gaita Fores; Art Yap, Estelito Mendoza, John Ivan Uy, Fred Pascual, Cris Villongco, Willie Avila, Sonny Espiritu, Carlitos Siguion Reyna, Victor Barba, Randy Ortiz; Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Jayvee Ejercito, Rodante Marcoleta, Toby Tiangco, Agnes Hui Bonhoa, Henry Calayag, Toots Tolentino. That’s 47, well below target. Oh, well, there’s next year’s numbers to look forward to! And what’s JPE’s birthday wish? A true affirmation: “I want to live!”