It was a wonderful gathering of family and friends at the Delaney Hall in UP Diliman when former UP President Emanuel "Noel" Soriano and professional framemaker Ricardo "Johnny" Soriano, held a two-man show entitled "Soriano meets Soriano...Noel and Johnny!" which coincided with Noel's 62nd birthday.

More than two years ago, on July 14, 1996, Noel survived a massive stroke which rendered him "speechless" and caused the paralysis of his right extremities. At the time of his stroke, Noel had been deeply involved in management education as a faculty member of the Asian Institute of Management, De la Salle University, and the Development Academy of the Philippines. He had earlier retired from government service although he remained active with NGOs and cause-oriented groups. Noel can communicate sufficiently through non-verbal means. After two years of therapy with Speech Therapist Nathalie Magay, Noel can now complete phrases by filling in words, like the way he recites his prayer before meals and the Lord's Prayer.

Noel remains largely afflicted with what is called "expressive aphasia" whereby his comprehension remains intact but his expressive faculties, both oral and written, are limited to a few words spoken spontaneously and through letters and drawings. He cannot write words or phrases spontaneously although he can copy written text. The exhibit was essentially a collection of quotations that Noel had managed to copy. An added treat to the guests, however, were the 18 watercolor paintings which he did through art therapy with Maria Abulencia of the Center for Healing and Creative Arts (Chacra).

Noel's "works" were framed by Ricardo "Johnny" Soriano, the "frame authority" who has provided the frames for a wide range of exhibits for a number of artists and art galleries in Metro Manila, including the Ayala Museum and the Malacanang Heritage Foundation.

A short program was organized for the occasion. After Noel's opening prayer with his wife, Angge, Fr. Intengan, S.J., gave the invocation and thanked Noel for his courage and his family for their support. Among Noel's well wishers were Chief Justice Jun Davide who expressed appreciation for Noel's message of love and faith through his selection of quotations. Among Noel's and Johnny's common friends were Virgie Moreno and Larry Francia who both spoke of their valuable work together in UP through the President's Commission for the Arts.

It was a lot of fun for the Sorianos' guests going through their work and choosing the quotations they wanted to take home with them. Among Chief Justice Davide's choices was "Bloom where you are planted." Fr. Intengan chose the beautiful thought from Kahlil Gibran, "Work is love incarnate." Dolly Cardinales, Noel's former colleague at the National Security Council, chose "The heck who gets the credit as long as the job is done!" A favorite quotation - among the more humorous ones - went to Georgie Encanto, former Dean of UP Mass Communications: "Do not criticize your wife's faults. Remember it could have been these shortcomings that kept her from getting a better husband!".

A special birthday treat for Noel was classical guitarist Demetillo's rendition of Bach's "Joy of Man's Desire." Song rendered, too, by his favorite, Yoyoy Villame, whose song "Bo Tsi Kik " Noel had actually transcribed himself, as he used to listen to '' music in the car. The show was dedicated to two young men: Soriano and Kirn Soriano. Dodoy, who turned 30 last Dec. 20, 1 Noel's youngest child. Kim, 25, is Johnny's eldest child. Dodoy and Kim both grew up as "special children." So that makes Noel and "special fathers".

It was a joyful celebration and reunion of old friends and the meeting of new ones among Noel's and Johnny's many, many circle of friends.