President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino chats with Philippine Daily Inquirer Chairperson Marixi Romualdez before he delivers his speech at Inquirer’s 30th Anniversary held at Mariott Grand Ballroom. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
THE President of the Philippines came, but it was “Dionne Warwick,” “Tina Turner,” “Madonna,” “Axl Rose” and “Kuya Germs” who stole the show.
The Inquirer marked its 30th anniversary with the ultimate throwback party Wednesday night, turning one hall at Marriot’s plush Grand Ballroom into a virtual time capsule.
“I don’t know how it was like in the ‘80s ha, I had to Google this,” joked Inquirer President and CEO Sandy Prieto Romualdez, bobbing her head and shaking her shoulders to the music as she danced with the pumped up crowd.
She arrived at the party like a time traveler from the decade: shirt on skirt, knee-high pink and white socks worn under white platform sandals, white shades, bracelet-size yellow hoop earings, side ponytail.
Executives of the Inquirer group, among them Inquirer chair Marixi Prieto and husband Alex, came together with employees in conga lines, arms stretched out to the person in front, everyone with smiles and laughs like nothing else mattered in the world at the moment.
Altogether, it was a rare moment when the Inquirer, the institution born in 1985 with a mission for change-making and nation-building, let its hair down.
The party followed a thanksgiving mass and awards for employees who have reached their milestone years of service with the Inquirer: five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years, the group of pioneers who have been with the paper from the very start.
During the service awards, Inquirer Managing Editor Joey Nolasco recognized Inquirer founding chair Eugenia Apostol in his remarks on behalf of the pioneers.