← Balita · Issue 4108 · 1 October 2026 Fellowship

Timeless Duets: A Sinatra & Streisand Evening

The Rotary Club of Manila held its first Sinatra and Streisand-themed dinner show fellowship at the Quezon Club, Solaire North.

By President Reginald T. Yu

President Reginald T. Yu with the extraordinary Carla Guevara Laforteza and David Ezra, whose captivating performances brought romance, nostalgia, and irresistible energy to our "Timeless Duets: A Sinatra & Streisand Evening" at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. Their renditions of beloved classics made this first-of-its-kind Rotary Club of Manila fellowship a wonderful celebration of music and friendship. Inspired by PP Boy Guevara's suggestion and organized by our Fellowship Committee under Chairman Chris Tamesis and Director Nico Valencia, the evening brought our members together over great food, familiar melodies, and dancing that continued into the closing moments.

The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) introduced a new fellowship format with Timeless Duets: A Sinatra & Streisand Evening, bringing more than 50 Rotarians, many accompanied by their significant others, to the Quezon Club at Solaire North for a dinner show featuring Carla Guevara Laforteza and David Ezra.

Organized by the Fellowship Committee under Chairman Atty. Chris Tamesis and Director Nico Valencia, the gathering combined live performances of beloved classics with dining and informal fellowship. The event marked the first time the Club had organized a fellowship of this kind and drew enthusiastic feedback from participants, particularly for its ambiance, food, company, and musical selection.

Warm smiles around a welcoming table capture the spirit of our Timeless Duets fellowship at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. Our Manila Rotarians and their significant others enjoyed an evening where good food, beloved melodies, and cherished friendships came together in just the right setting.

The concept originated with Past President Boy Guevara, who suggested making his daughter Carla's month-long engagement at the Quezon Club the centerpiece of an RCM gathering. The Fellowship Committee developed the suggestion into a Club event, providing members with an opportunity to enjoy a professional dinner show together in a relaxed setting.

Carla Guevara Laforteza and David Ezra presented a 27-song program that ranged from Sinatra and Streisand favorites to standards and musical theatre selections. Opening with "Come Fly with Me" and "Pure Imagination," the performers established a program that alternated between romantic ballads, reflective solos, playful duets, and lively numbers.

With a hand raised and an expression full of theatrical energy, David Ezra commands the stage during our "Timeless Duets" fellowship at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. His performances brought both the romance and exuberance of familiar standards to life, from the tenderness of "The Way You Look Tonight" to the spirited sweep of "New York, New York."

Laforteza's selections included "Some Enchanted Evening," "Papa, Can You Hear Me?," "Don't Rain on My Parade," "Evergreen," "The Way We Were," "People," and "Somewhere." Ezra performed such familiar favorites as "The Way You Look Tonight," "Strangers in the Night," "New York, New York," "Blue Moon," "My Way," and "Fly Me to the Moon."

Their duets included "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "I Finally Found Someone," "Till I Loved You," "Guilty," and "Unforgettable." The range of songs gave the evening both variety and a consistent appeal to members who enjoy familiar, expressive classics.

"Timeless Duets" at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. Around tables like these, the evening's music found its perfect companion in lively conversation and the easy warmth of friendship. Our Fellowship Committee had given us every reason to settle in and stay awhile.

The repertoire proved particularly well suited to the Club's older members and the spouses and partners who joined them. The combination of romantic standards and more upbeat selections offered opportunities to listen, reminisce, and eventually take to the floor.

Food subsidized by the Fellowship Committee contributed to the gathering's appeal. Members enjoyed their meals alongside the performances, while the venue provided space for conversations and exchanges beyond the structure of regular Club meetings.

A cheerful thumbs-up and smiles down the table capture the wholehearted response to our "Timeless Duets" fellowship at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. Sharing good food and beloved music, our Manila Rotarians and their significant others found plenty to enjoy in this first-of-its-kind Club gathering. Here was fellowship at its most welcoming, with familiar faces around the table and fresh memories to take home.

RCM President Reginald Tieng Yu welcomed the positive response to the new format, noting members' appreciation for the combination of setting, music, food, and companionship. Feedback received after the gathering indicated that participants found the evening closely matched their preferences for an enjoyable fellowship occasion.

Some attendees expressed interest in booking a similar format at the Quezon Club for their own private parties, reflecting how strongly the experience resonated with them. The response suggested that the dinner-show concept could provide a model for future gatherings.

RCM Past Director and former Oriental Mindoro Governor Rod Valencia joins in the dancing during our "Timeless Duets" fellowship at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. Looking dapper in a gray suit with a bright red pocket square, he shares in the easy charm of an evening filled with familiar melodies and friendly company.

The evening also included a salubong for Director Nico Valencia's 50th birthday. Accompanied by his wife, Zyrene, Valencia blew out his birthday candle as the gathering celebrated his milestone. The birthday observance added a personal element to an event he had helped organize.

Other memorable moments included Past President Boy Guevara dancing with his wife, Monette, while their daughter Carla serenaded them. The scene brought a family dimension to the fellowship and highlighted the connection behind the event's original concept.

Immediate Past President Raoul Creencia engages fellow attendees in a lively conversation during our "Timeless Duets" fellowship at the Quezon Club, Solaire North. His animated gesture and their attentive expressions capture the easy camaraderie that complemented the evening's music and dining.

The program concluded with the duet "They Can't Take That Away from Me." Nico and Zyrene shared a slow dance, followed by several other Rotarians and their significant others. Members subsequently rose to their feet to enjoy the music together, with dancing, applause, and animated conversation filling the room.

Complimentary bubbly and wine added to the celebratory atmosphere. Many RCM attendees remained after other guests had departed, staying until the venue was nearly empty and effectively becoming the evening's last group standing.

A dance to remember as Director Nico Valencia and his wife, Zyrene, share a tender moment during our Timeless Duets fellowship. As "They Can't Take That Away from Me" brought the program to a close, their slow dance encouraged other Rotarians and their partners to join them, adding a lovely final scene to an evening of music and friendship.

The Fellowship Committee's initiative demonstrated the appeal of introducing a new experience built around members' shared interests. With its strong attendance, enthusiastic feedback, and requests for similar occasions, Timeless Duets added a well-received new format to the Rotary Club of Manila's fellowship activities.