Last night, Arlene Cu, wife of Globe CEO Ernest Cu, celebrated her birthday at the sleek halls of Whitespace Manila. Surrounded by friends and family, Arlene decided to do something different than what she was used to. Through the years they would always opt for a more intimate setting, but flipped the script for the special day. She celebrated beforehand in a private lunch with family, making the night’s festivities a much more conspicuous affair.
Arlene Cu accompanied by a squad of dancers
The notable guest list included the likes of Christian Bautista and Cristalle Belo, along with several business partners from Globe and beyond. Each one came to celebrate with the Cu family and wish Arlene a happy birthday. However, at one point in the party Arlene seemingly dipped away. In her absence, husband Ernest Cu mingled with guests, peeling away his CEO persona and stepped into the role of host and loving husband.
As guests continue to eat and drink, the music suddenly stopped and the lights turned off. When all attention was drawn to the empty darkness, the lights flashed back on. Arlene had returned from her absence, now flanked by a massive troupe of dancers. What followed was the highlight of the night—an epic series of dances that went from hip hop to samba, with Arlene herself showing off her dancing skills. The very first number of the lengthy show included the birthday girl hoisted up in the air as dancers paraded around her. The crowd was enthralled to say the least, cheering her on and applauding after each set.
As Arlene finished her performance, she was joined on stage by her dancers and immediate family. She thanked everyone for coming, joking that if her 92-year old mother can keep on through the night, so must everyone else. Ernest had the last words of the night. In a loving speech to his wife, he promised many more wonderful memories together with the entire family. “The kids and I love you. We’ve had so many things together in the last 35 years,” He said. He closed with the words “I am so happy to see you so happy.”
From the remarkable guests to the one of a kind program, the party showed how much the matriarch was loved, and how she gave that same amount of love back. Although a quiet dinner can be an intimate way to celebrate life and love, this loud and thriving party was a great way for Arlene to be with the people she cared about most.
