There was a time many years ago when the chief presidential legal counsel was also my legal counsel, i.e., he was my go-to consultant on matters of law such as newly passed legislation or laws that I needed to understand in connection with my work or even my private life.

That was Lolong Lazaro, father of Michelle Lazaro, corporate secretary of Okada Hotel and Casino. Last Saturday, Michelle and her sister Apple hosted lunch to celebrate the 89th birthday of their mom, Rose B. Lazaro. “With thanksgiving,” added Mrs. Lazaro.

Relatives, friends, and more occupied the ballroom, including several of whom were also at the formal dinner held at Manila Hotel’s ballroom two nights previously. That evening’s highlight, I was told, was a fashion show.

For the luncheon at Okada — which seems to grow in size with every visit I make — Mrs. Lazaro wore a becoming shade of pinkly beige (or beigely pink). Presiding over the VIP table, she made small talk with her daughters and guests, including Imelda Marcos, who was in birthday red from top to toe. Other guests in my line of sight were Mely Ablaza, Benny and Nene Pe Lim, Nenuca Blardony, Letty Hahn, Conchita Carpio Morales, Chichi Laperal, Justice and Mrs. Santiago Ranada, Maurice Lim, Raul Sunico, Baby de Jesus, Celine Bautista.

The menu was a super meal of scallops, crab meat, duck, beef, sea bass, strawberry sorbet, black forest cake, and coffee caramel biscuit, burp! (One needed two cups of hot tea to wash it down!)

It was a happy surprise — at least to me — to see Gary Valenciano in person, serenading the birthday girl and her guests with a medley of half a dozen songs, including “Sana Maulit Muli,” a perennial favorite. The energetic, tireless Gary did not need a band, he came complete with his own sound and music equipment.

As I write this, the 12 newly elected senators will be celebrating their hard-won victory. As usual after every election of a more or less similar nature, I challenge my housemates: Can you name the winners without consulting your newspaper? Somewhere in the background I hear a whisper, “The challenge should be directed at the winners. Do they remember why they ran for public office?”