Maricel Soriano Pulls Out All the Stops for Her 60th Birthday

Maricel Soriano celebrated her milestone 60th birthday with a dazzling celebration on April 8 at the New Frontier Theatre (NFT) in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.

- razzle-Daza WITH PAT-P

When our country's one and only Diamond Star turns 60, what else can she do but throw a party that pulls out all the stops?

Fondly known as Marya, the iconic actress radiated in a pink Inno Sotto pantsuit, not letting even back pain from spinal arthritis (which she is addressing with therapy) dampen her mood to party with her family and closest friends in the showbiz industry.

The NFT was transformed from a theater into a vibrant party venue, with the seats removed to make way for a central circular bar and numerous roundtables. Drinks flowed freely, a delightful surprise being the Pidol's Banayad whiskey brought by Eric Quizon that was named such as a touching tribute to his dad, the late Comedy King Dolphy.

Dolphy was also a father figure to Maricel during her rise to fame in the sitcom "John en Marsha." He, of course, played papa John Puruntong to her Shirley on the show that catapulted her to stardom.