THE rich and famous showed up at the Manila Hotel on Friday, where they paid up to P25,000 for dinner to help build a shrine to the Virgin Mary in Batangas City.

Government officials and diplomats shelled out P5,000, P10,000, P15,000, and up to P25,000 per plate in the fundraiser, where Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, Senator Manny Villar, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez donated P100,000 each.

National Deputy Security Adviser Luis Singson came with his foreign businessmen and diplomat friends for a P250,000 table at the hotel, where they were entertained by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and his band?who waived their P300,000 talent fee?and other performers.

?I was scared at first that I would be the lead performer in a very high-end concert,? Libanan said.

?This was my most expensive concert at P25,000 a plate, but I trusted God that since it was for Mother Mary, people would come to help build a shrine.? Christine F. Herrera