BAHAGYANG naurong ang pagsisimula ng inauguration ng Taal Imperial Hotel and Resort ng Regal produ na si Mother Lily Monteverde kahapon dahil naglagare muna sa isang feeding program at medical mission ang panauhing pandangal na si Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto.

Malaki ang ginawang formal blessing dahil bukod kay Gov. Vi, dumalo rin ang ilang matataas na opisyales ng Taal at Batangas tulad nina Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, Mayor Michael Montenegro at Vice Mayor Pong Mercado.

Ang cowboy na si Archbishop Ted Madlangbayan ng Taal Basilica ang nag-officiate ng blessing.

Bukod sa mga pulitiko, dumayo rin sa Taal ang ilang malalapit na kaibigan ni Mother sa showbiz gaya nina Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda, Lilybeth Vera-Perez, TAPE, Inc. exec Malou Choa-Fagar, talent managers Ethel Ramos, Shirley Kuan, Girlie Rodis at Dolor Guevarra, ilang miyembro ng showbiz press at marami pang iba.

Kuwela ang kuwento sa likod ng nasabing okasyon. Tsika ni Gov. Vi, tinawagan niya minsan si Mother para i-book ang Taal Imperial para sa insurgency meeting niya kasama ang 70 sundalo.

Kinagabihan, tinawagan daw siya ng Girl Friday niyang si Aida Fandialan at sinabing hindi na lang simpleng insurgency meeting ang gagawin, kundi blessing.

No wonder, nagkalat sa paligid ng Taal Imperial ang mga sundalo’t pulis, hahaha!

Halatang miss ni Gov. Vi ang showbiz people dahil sabik na sabik niyang niyakap ang mga ito. Ilang beses din niyang sinabi na she’s “home” dahil nga kasama niya ang mga ito.

Anyway, sa kanyang appreciation speech, sinabi naman ni Mother Lily na si Gov. Vi ang inspirasyon niya sa pagpapatayo ng kanyang bagong “baby.”

Sey ni Madera: “What inspired me to give birth to this baby? Of course, one big factor is my admiration for Gov. Vi's accomplishments for Batangas.

“She is such an enterprising leader who has turned Batangas into one of the country's most booming provinces.

“Ito ay hindi sipsip, I've known her since she was young. She is like a daughter to me. Our relationship goes beyond business and profession.

“Taal Imperial Hotel & Resort is here today as a testament to the kind of friendship Gov. Vi and Mother Lily have built through the years.

“I would also like to thank Vice Mayor Pong Mercado for all the help and support he has given me and my staff.

“Lastly, I would like to thank friends, family and members of the entertainment press who came all the way from Manila to be with Mother Lily today.

“I hope you enjoy your stay and promise me this won't be your last. God bless Taal Imperial & Resort. God bless Gov.Vi, God bless Mother Lily, God bless everybody.”