PHILIPPINE Senate President Franklin Drilon will celebrate his 68th birthday on Thursday, November 28. Drilon is currently serving his third term in the Senate. He is also the Chairman of the Liberal Party and Senior Counsel of the ACCRA Law Offices.
Drilon was born in 1945 in Iloilo City, and is the eldest son of Cesar Drilon Sr. and Primitiva Magtunao. He finished his primary education at the Baluarte Elementary School in Molo, Iloilo in 1957. He finished his secondary education at the UP-Iloilo College (now University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo) in 1961.
In college, he went to UP, initially taking up a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. He was the Associate Editor of the Philippine Collegian and served as councilor of the UP Student Council. Among his classmates were future politicians Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ronaldo Zamora. In 1969, he completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) at the UP College of Law. In the same year, he took the bar exams and finished with the third highest score. He immediately served as an associate lawyer to the Sycip, Salazar, Luna, Manalo & Feliciano Law Offices (now Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan).
He moved to the Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) in 1974, where he currently serves as Senior Counsel. He was elevated to partner in 1975, co-managing partner in 1981 and managing partner in 1986. He was also a bar examiner on Labor and Social Legislation in 1979 and 1984 bar examinations. He became the Vice President and Governor of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Vice President, Board Member and Treasurer of the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).
Other prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this Thanksgiving month are:
November 1 – Former Mrs. RP-USA winner Arlene Lindalop;
November 2 – Former San Francisco top fashion designer Encarnito “Ito” Curata, and caregiver Myna Padilla Bautista;
November 3 – Star for All Seasons and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto, New Haven Health and Hospice owner Eunice Bejar Lee, and Kadok’s Restaurant owner Ricky Tejada;
November 5 – Actor Gabby Concepcion, former Miss Philippines Earth winner Melissa Sokukawa, and Fil-Am basketball cager J Taylor;
November 6 – Kapuso singer/actress Jolina Magdangal;
November 8 – ABS-CBN Vice President for Entertainment Deo Edrinal, Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas, actress Angelica Panganiban and balladeer Basil Valdez;
November 9 – Eat Bulaga co-host and actress Pauleen Luna, The Buzz ng Bayan co-host Janice de Belen, actress Tuesday Vargas, actor Rafael Rosell, and San Francisco lawyer Ted Laguatan;
November 10 – Pittsburg party planner Susan Tanedo;
November 11 – Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay who will be turning 71;
November 13 – International wine distributor Ronald Villar, and San Bruno community leader Alma de Leon Scott;
November 14 – Former Mrs. RP-USA winner Leilani Vinegas of Fairfield, and San Francisco Entertainment Commissioner and Pistahan organizer Al Perez;
November 18 – Medical Link Provider Executive Director Remy Acedillo, and actor/swimmer Enchong Dee;
November 19 – Antioch community leaders Joselito and Margarita Cabrera;
November 20 – State Senator Leland Yee, and actress Shaina Magdayao;
November 22 – Buri-Buri Senior Association President Moring Macalinao;
November 24 – ABS-CBN News Bureau Chief Ging Reyes;
November 25 – Former Bb. Pilipinas Universe winner and actress Bianca Manalo, actor Randy Santiago, and comedienne Melai Cantiveros;
November 26 – Singer Sheryn Regis, who is now residing in Texas;
November 28 – Kapatid TV 5 Artist Relations Chief Jeff Remigio;
November 30 – San Francisco veteran photographer Bonifacio Valera, entertainment producer Sunny Tila, and music/piano instructor Mila Edawrs.
Happy birthday to all celebrants!
(SF Magazine November 1, 2013 pg.4)