Angara's 50th birthday party raised P3M for PGH foundation

The over P3 million raised during Senator Sonny Angara's 50th birthday party over the weekend will be donated to the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation, the senator said.

In his social media posts, Angara expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and his fellow senators for gracing the celebration.

"Best part of the night is that we raised over PhP3 million for the PGH Foundation — our chosen beneficiary in lieu of gifts," Angara wrote in his posts.

He said PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi was also present during the event and "helped loosen the purse strings" of the guests.

"[God bless] all of you for giving generously... madami po kayong matutulungang mahihirap na pasyente," he said.

Marcos and several senators and congressmen attended Angara's 50th birthday celebration at the Manila Polo Club on Saturday evening.

A video posted on Facebook by Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla, wife of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., showed Marcos singing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” along with other senators.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, one of the senators seen singing with Marcos during the event, defended the public officials who graced the affair.

"Well napaka-killjoy naman 'yung mga nagsasabi niyan dapat inaalam din nila siguro ang reason kung bakit ano ba ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit kami nandon," Tulfo said in an interview with reporters when asked about criticisms that public officials are having fun while the nation is facing the problem of inflation.

(Those who criticized us for attending the party were killjoy, they should have asked first why we were there.)

"Una e tao lang naman kami, marunong din dapat kaming mag-relax 'di ba and then pangalawa, it was for a cause din from what I've heard nakapag-ipon ng 3 million pesos 'yung party na 'yon at 'yung 3 million pesos na 'yon ibibigay 'yon sa PGH. So may naitulong 'yung party na 'yon hindi lang pagsasayaw-sayaw kundi for a good cause, charity," he added.

(First, we are human and we also know how to relax and, second, it was for a cause. From what I've heard, P3 million was raised during the party and it will be donated to the PGH. That party was for a good cause, charity.)—AOL, GMA News