NEWSFLASH

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THE ALL-STAR CAST INAUGURATION AT LUNETA

Manila, July 17, 1998 - After President Joseph Estrada took his oath at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, his colleagues in the movie industry regaled him with an all-star cast show at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta.

The tribute was called "Saludo sa Bagong Pangulo, Handog ng Industriya ng Pelikulang Pilipino directed by Bernardo Bernardo from a script by Roy Iglesias, Nonong Buencamino was musical director.

The show had three sets of emcees --Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla Jr and Mikee Cojuangco, Eric Quizon and Zsa Zsa Padilla and husband-and-wife team Rudy Fernandez and Lorna Tolentino. Superstar Nora Aunor sang the national anthem a cappella. Pops Fernandez sang "Sakay Na", a Buencamino composition specially for the inauguration. Pops was backed by theBobby Ongkiko dancers and Lyn Tamayo dancers.

Nonoy Zuniga, Marco Sison and Ivy Violan sang Estrada's favorite songs in a medley called "Arangkada Pangulo". The songs were Gaano Kita Kamahal, Saan Ka Man Naroroon and Kahit na Magtiis. Regine Velasquez rendered a solo of "Sana Maulit Muli". Vina Morales, Jerome Florentino and Rachel Alejandro performed in a production number called Biyaheng Agrikultura, Biyaheng Kalikasan featuring songs about farming and the environment.

Biyaheng Bagets: Delikado Delikadeza had young stars Jolina Magdangal, Judy Ann Santos, Wowie de Guzman, Claudine Barreto, Diether Ocampo and Streetboys.

In Biyaheng Pelikula, Pilita Corrales and Bert Nievera sang the theme songs of Estrada's movies such as Mamang Sorbetero, Bakya Mo Neneng and Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Tigang na Lupa. Nora Aunor returned with a solo of Iduyan Mo, a Basil Valdez original. The Meralco Choir sang Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi.

There were many more! One of the biggest organizers and producers of the tribute is the one and only Fernando Poe Jr.

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