MOVIEGOER: Charo glorious at 70
Published Nov 13, 2025 08:25 am
Three of the country’s leading men, dapper in their suits, handsome in their film star aura, serenaded Ms. Charo Santos-Concio, as she celebrated her golden (50th) anniversary in media and entertainment Nov. 5 at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila. The event was also in celebration of Charo’s 70th birth anniversary.
Charo Santos (Instagram)
First to come out on stage was Piolo Pascual, who sang Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, followed by Jericho Rosales, with his entry, How Deep Is Your Love. Finally, it was Dingdong Dantes’ turn to play sweet music, Till There Was You, with the celebrator.
Earlier, Piolo 'lamented’ that most of his acting projects with Charo cast them as mother and son.
“Mabuti pa si Dong, nakaisa,” referring to Dingdong’s leading man role to Charo in romance-drama Only We Know.
All three leading men, said to be among Charo’s favorites, thanked the former ABS-CBN president for the kind of one-on-one friendship she offered and, most of all, the pieces of advice she would dish out.
Other highlights of the glamour-filled event that started with a formal sit-down dinner of Beetroot Carpaccio with Orange Dressing, Cream of Spinach with Tofu Soup; Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Potato Croquette, Baby Carrots and Bone Marrow Sauce, and Coffee Caramel Dome with Biscuit Breton.
Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, and Jericho Rosales
Before breaking into a duet of Both Sides Now, Martin Nievera and Sharon Cuneta similarly paid tribute to Charo for the way she helped groom them to stardom.
Helen Gamboa-Sotto and Boots Anson-Rodrigo recalled their first encounters with Charo, then a neophyte beauty queen-turned actress.
Other guests spotted include Vice Ganda, Bea Alonzo, Ian Veneracion, Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino, Amy Austria, Tirso Cruz III, Dimples Romana, Freddie Garcia, Carlo Katigbak, Johnny Manahan, and many other ABS-CBN mainstays.
Veteran movie journalist Baby K. Jimenez, in town from Toronto, Canada, remembered how she voted for Charo as lead in Itim, the actress’ breakout role. “That started a life-long friendship with her,” BK said.
RJ Agustin, CreaZion Studios’ president and CEO, said it took a lot of convincing before Charo said yes to the golden event. “Am I worth celebrating?,” Charo, in her usual, low-key manner, kept asking, said RJ.
The event was put together by CreaZion Studios, whose management arm is handling the career of Charo. DIGIWORX, meanwhile, is behind the production of Charo’s fast-growing social media outings, promoting her in various moods, from funny to crazy to just plain, pure and simple Charo.