Timeless Duets: A Sinatra & Streisand Evening

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.