Christine Escudero opted for an intimate
post-Valentines concert with friends at Teatrino at the
Promenade in Greenhills.
The senator was of course most prominent in
the crowd, with good reason since his role for the night was
that of a supportive husband. Later in the evening Susan Roces
along with Manay Ichu Maceda, arrive and the former was all too
prepared for the role of encouraging ninang to the
beaming couple, most especially Christine.
Christine shared the concert spotlight with
friends Odette Garcia and Marisse Santos with Bimbo Cerrudo as
special guest. Bimbo, who has since change his marquee name to
the shorter "Bo" Cerrudo, performed his competent self, his
singing style now with more polish.
It was Christine Escudero’s night, and she
was in her element. The beneficiary of her concert Friday would
be the Department of Social Work and Development in Sorsogon,
which has been busy at work.
"I would like the concert to be able to
assist particularly the DSWD’s Women and Children’s Help Desk in
Sorsogon," she said, adding that no matter the size of the
contribution, it would go a long way among the abused young
women and needy children there.
While the singer maintained her passion for
music, she has learned to balance it with her new roles, as wife
and mother to twins Chesi and Quino.
"My wife is her own person and I am very
happy that she develops as a person separate and distinct from
me, from her family. I feel that she’s just happy to love me and
the kids, and I think it’s coming from the fulfillment she gets
as Christine Escudero, the artist, the teacher and the mother
and not Christine Escudero as the wife of…," said the Senator
with his characteristic smile.
Towards the end of the show, Christine called
on Senator Escudero to join her on stage, which he reluctantly
obliged to do. No, she didn’t get him to sing this time. The
only time he ever did sing a song to her, and in public at that,
was when he decided to propose marriage. At that time, she was
flabbergasted that she said yes to his marriage offer.
"While she was onstage preparing for a new
song, I came up singing my song for her. It was ‘Beautiful In My
Eyes’ [by Joshua Kadison]. Buti na lang she accepted my
proposal, ‘di nasayang ang kahihiyan ng pagkanta ko," he
recalled.
Senator Chiz had invited both their families then to bear
witness to his romantic feat, along with the rest of that
evening’s guests dining at the lounge. It was one memorable
night for Chiz and Christine, and not for the Senator meeting
the challenge of a song for Christine.