MANILA, Philippines - In the week that was, two very different parties brightened up show biz: the birthday bash of Rodrigo Santino, Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago?s son, who turned 1 on July 19, and the book launch of Comedy King Dolphy, who turned 80 yesterday.

Kiddie bash

Raymart noticed that Santino seemed aware that all the hubbub was for him. ?He stared at the people who greeted him.?

The proud parents were also celebrating their birthday that day (July 20), but they let their son hog the limelight.

Earlier that day, Santino had his dedication (or christening). Celeb godparents Robin Padilla, Manny Pacquiao, Liz Almoro, Meryll Soriano and Edu Manzano were on hand to welcome him to the Christian world.

?He has at least 20 godparents,? explained Claudine. ?I was still pregnant when I decided that Edu and Robin should be among the ninongs.?

It was a huge party, Raymart conceded. At least three function rooms were packed in Blue Leaf at the Fort, which was decorated with a Barney theme by the couple?s friend, Heidi Lu, of Balloon Creations.

Lots of celebrities were on the list, but Claudine noted that most of the guests aren?t from the biz. ?Some are Raymart?s triathlon teammates, others are friends from church (Victory).?

Of course, Raymart?s brothers Randy and Rowell and Claudine?s sisters Gretchen and Marjorie, were present, along with grandparents Cielito (Raymart?s mom) and Inday and Miguel (Claudine?s parents).

?Everyone knows one another here,? Raymart said. ?Just like on our wedding day (in 2006).?

There was a giant slide for the kids, and the parents played a ?Fear Factor? game. Celeb moms Cherry Pie Picache, Mylene Dizon and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan faced it off with celeb dads. (The moms won.) There was also a game for the nannies.

Sabina was excited for her brother. Claudine related: ?Sabina told me: ?Mama, my party was bigger last year.? Kawawa daw si Santino.?

Still, Santino had a blast, said Claudine. ?He?s very friendly. He smiles at all the photographers.? All that partying, however, can be tiring. In the middle of one game, he dozed off in the arms of his mom.

Send in the clown

On Wednesday, the King of Comedy

Dolphy celebrated his birthday in advance by launching his biography, ?Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-Isa? at the NBC Tent, also at the Fort.

Inaugurated that same day was the Dolphy Aid Para sa Pinoy Foundation, which aims to ?provide educational assistance to underprivileged Pinoys,? especially Overseas Filipino Workers, said Eric Quizon, book publisher and Dolphy?s son.

Eric recalled that his dad was among the first overseas workers, as entertainer in Hong Kong and Japan in the 1950s.

Author Bibeth Orteza said she felt ?honored? that she was chosen to write ?the biography of a kind man.?

Show biz royalty Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Eddie Garcia, Barbara Perez, Robert Arevalo, Celia Rodriguez came to toast the King. Also spotted were Sampaguita?s Azucena Vera-Perez and daughter Marichu Maceda and Regal?s Lily Monteverde and daughter Roselle M. Teo.

Dolphy turned sprightly upon seeing an aunt, who?s 94 years old.

He made light of partner Zsazsa Padilla?s absence (which intrigue-mongers pounced on earlier): ?Wala si Zsazsa dahil may concert abroad ? dollars ang bayad!?

Bibeth recounted: ?He said his first love?s name begins with an A. His current partner is Zsazsa. His love life spans ? A to Z!

Dolphy joked that he wouldn?t dare enumerate all the girls he loved in the past ?kasi baka umagahin tayo.?

It is precisely Dolphy?s humor that shines through as one of the vital lessons of his life, said ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio in her speech: ?He reminds us that a person who is positive and jolly laughs to forget, while a person who is negative and grumpy forgets to laugh.?

Only a man of his iconic stature could gather officers of competing networks in one room, said Concio: ?With Tito Dolphy, there are no network lines to be drawn, as Kapamilyas, Kabarkadas and Kapusos unite to celebrate.?

True to form, Dolphy exclaimed that the celebration was ?heartening ? nakakataba ng puso baka ma-bypass na naman ako!?

A grand tribute is set on July 31 at the Meralco Theater, to be televised as part of a docu special on Aug 3.

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