AYAYAY SINGS POP

Last January 28, Oni Mayo invited the Ayayays for a night out since it was his Birthday. From the elegant birthday dinners the group usually have, they had something different that night. They went to the RED BOX karaoke place in Greenbelt. Those that were hungry had to do with the simple buffet that was there. Lydia Echaus had a craving for peanuts and there was none in the menu. The room attendant received an earful from the hard-nosed executives in the party. There is no excuse for a decent restaurant not to have the basic peanut appetizer.

Tony Sotelo disappeared but came back soon enough with a bag full of chichiriya including Lydia's craving. A denizen of Makati commercial center, Tony knew the Greenbelt layout so he went to the movie house area to secure the goodies. Being the shrewed bargainer that he is, he also intimidated the attendant. He declared that outsourced food should have no corkage charges since the resto is remiss for not having peanuts.



Despite this initial inconvenience, the rest of the night was for the singers in the group. Noni Dolera started the show with his Diomedes version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Cora Claudio raised goose bumps (and eyebrows) with her coloratura version of the same song. As the Cliff Richard and Jack Jones numbers kicked in, Tony Sotelo and Tito Legasto contributed to the music. And then it was the Broadway and Elvis tunes on the Karaoke system. By this time, these familiar tunes coming out of the speakers had everyone - Lydia, Chit Manabat, Temay Padero, Sonny Vicente and Celia Aureliano - taking turns (or altogether in harmony) crooning on the mic.

By about 10:30 pm, things were getting hot (and hoarse?). it was too bad that Celia had to pull a Cinderella. She was being serviced by a borrowed driver and had to leave. The group broke up then but not before flashing their Senior Cards that enabled Oni to get a hefty discount on the bill. Overall, the group seemingly gladly participated in the singing. It is hoped that they will now be familiar with karaoke procedures for the next time they do this. For now, until next time and thanks again for coming to the party and for the gifts.