Wellington “Willy” C. Soong, chair and president of Autostrada Motore Inc. and Ferrari Philippines, said jazz singer Art Manuntag, popularly known as the Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra of the Philippines, suffered a massive heart attack after singing “I got you under my skin” and collapsed on stage.
Soong said the celebratory mood suddenly turned somber because the singer was his close friend. “It’s a very sad episode,” he recalled.
“Right after he finished, he walked to the band and collapsed. It was such a traumatic experience for all of us,” said Soong.
“Everybody was shocked. We were numbed, so I had to come up on stage and tell our friends what had just transpired,” he said.
“We decided to end the evening and everybody said it was the best decision. Nobody complained. There was solidarity in concern,” he said.
“I have to commend the audience for that,” he added.
Manuntag remains comatose in a Baguio hospital as of press time. Meanwhile, Soong said the whole event was part of the global celebration of Ferrari which started in 1947.
He said all international dealers have their own versions.
“We celebrated it in the Philippines by having this great drive to Camp John Hay which is a Unesco heritage site,” he said.
Soong said 18 Ferrari cars joined the event which only happens every 10 years, with the next one scheduled in 2027 for Ferrari’s 80th anniversary.
Soong said Ferrari close the 70th year with the La Ferrari Aperta which is priced at close to $8 million and very limited with only 249 units made.
“It a convertible but all sold out,” he said.
“We were planning 24 cars but because of the weather, we came up with only 18 Ferraris,” he said.
The three-day event started with a Ferrari motorcade on November 10 from Manila and all the way to Baguio City.
The next day was the assembly at the Manor for cocktails and Ferrari’s 70th celebration with a Gala Banquet.
The last leg was a drive from Baguio City to the sprawling Pradera Verde Leisure Resort here.
