MANILA, Philippines -- It all began with a 12-year-old boy’s quest for a dream.

A 40-minute musical on the colorful life of Philippine retail king Henry Sy Sr., founder of the SM mall chain, debuted on Saturday night, a tribute to the mall mogul as the company kicked off its golden anniversary celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The grand production number titled “I Dream,” which featured professional actors, SM executives and employees, essayed the milestones in the 83-year-old Sy’s life: From the day he left his native Jinjiang, China, in 1936 for Manila to the day he opened the nation’s biggest mall complex, SM Mall of Asia, in 2006.

“To kick off our 50th anniversary, we pay tribute to Henry Sy by immortalizing his life and passion … Much like we built SM from scratch, we bring his life on stage also from scratch,” said Cora Guidote, SM vice president for investor relations, as a way of introducing the play to some 1,600 guests.

The red-carpet event gathered a well-dressed audience that included SM investors, suppliers and employees, a sprinkling of entertainment and fashion celebrities, Philippine business tycoons, among them Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corp. chair and CEO; Socorro Ramos of the National Book Store Foundation Inc. (NBSFI) and Manny Pangilinan, Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. chair.

Church leaders Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Bishop Teodoro Bacani were also there. A select few from politics came, including Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of Senate President Manuel Villar.

Speaking about SM’s current expansion and diversified businesses, Sy’s daughter, Teresita Sy-Coson, said: “These all began 20 years before 1958 with a young man who dared to dream big. He dreamt about a bigger and better world as he established his business, nurturing it, hoping to sell a pair of shoes to every Filipino.”

The play featured eight original songs by arranger and musical director Roy del Valle and lyricist George de Jesus III. Budding actor Renzo Almario portrayed Sy as a young man, while stage actor Audie Gemora played the older Sy.

Top executives from SM mall chain participated in the production which made the evening memorable. They included senior vice president for controllership Ricky Lim, who played the role of Sy’s father, and executives Jose Sio, Carolyn Yu, Daisy Tan Chua, Bernard Paul Lim, Rudy Villar Jr. and Richard Clemente.

The musical recounted Sy’s journey starting as an impoverished immigrant in Manila, how he helped his father run the family’s two sari-sari stores, and how he made his first break in enterprise after World War II which left the city and its people in ruins.

“The ravages of war gave way to an acute shortage of footwear in Manila, which the astute teenager saw as an opportunity to sell shoes brought in by American GIs (soldiers),” said the program notes on Sy’s life story.

From this simple beginning, Sy’s business grew, allowing him to open a store he called Shoemart on Rizal Avenue in Quiapo, Manila in 1958. Determined to bring only the latest fashion to Manila, he traveled to the United States in the ’60s and brought home what he learned about shoes. He later expanded the business by opening branches in Makati City and Cubao, Quezon City.

Soon after, he changed the store chain’s name to SM, the brand known to Filipinos across all social classes.

The musical also showed how SM survived the turbulent years that led to the 1986 Edsa “People Power” Revolution, a time when the business expanded.

The play closed with a scene replaying Sy’s opening of the SM Mall of Asia, a sprawling mall complex that has revitalized a once desolate estate by the Manila Bay.

“He is a symbol of determination, guts and grounded optimism. We are proud of what he has accomplished in the past 50 years. His story is an inspiration to everyone who believes in hard work and perseverance as success to him is dreaming big and working hard to make this a reality,” said Sy-Coson.

Sy, wheelchair-bound at the center table of the expansive hall, delivered his message through video, which was recorded earlier.

“Thank you for believing in my vision and supporting my effort. I believe SM will grow stronger [and will become] a world class institution,” said Sy.

During Saturday’s four-hour, black-tie event, Coca-Cola, a longtime SM business partner, also unveiled its special edition Coke cans featuring SM’s 50th anniversary logo. The company also inaugurated an exhibit of SM’s 50-year history.

Entertaining guests were top-caliber entertainers Gary Valenciano, Basil Valdez, vocal group The Company and singing sweethearts Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid.