Happy 52nd Birthday to Director Vince Tañada

Ni Oggie Medina

I sent a recent message to chat group PSF Workshop 2026 by extending birthday message to Atty. Vince Tañada in Japanese: “Tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu Vince san” (polite form for happy birthday greeting). I was a former resident of Japan, reviewing my knowledge of katakana, hiragana and kanji writings.

This was followed by birthday greeting from my fellow PSF workshopper Maia Alcazar in French which I took in college: “Puissiez-vous prendre plaisir à célébrer vos 52 ans, Directeur Vince” (May you take pleasure in celebrating your 52nd birthday, Director Vince).

Then stage actress Oj Ar Ci broke the monotone by getting an excerpt from a famous monologue from the Hungarian character Katalin Hunyak in the musical Chicago: “Mit keresek én itt? Azt mondják, a híres lakóm lefogta a férjem, én meg lecsaptam a fejét. De nem igaz. En ártatlan vagyok. Nem tudom, miért mondja Uncle Sam, hogy én voltam. Probaltam a rendõrségen megmagyarázni, de nem értették meg. Uh ah, not guilty” (What am I doing here? They say my famous tenant held down my husband, and I chopped off his head. But it is not true. I am innocent. I don’t know why Uncle Sam says that I did it. I tried to explain it at the police station, but they didn’t understand. Uh-ah, not guilty).

Finally, Vince Tañada wrote in the chat group: “Kruk Kruk Inamerz”, the phrase that serves as a humorous exclamation used online and in everyday conversation by Filipinos to signify “good vibes,” chaotic energy, or playful nonsense.

The iconic phrase “Kruk Kruk Inamerz” is a famous comedic pop culture line delivered by comedian-TV host Vice Ganda in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival hit movie Beauty and the Bestie.

What an informative, learning minutes with the celebrator Vince Tañada who took the time to have “good vibes” remarks despite hectic schedule from futuristic epic play Rizal 3000 that is being staged in Metro Manila.

Happy 52nd birthday, Direk Vince and a myriad blessings to you.