I gazed in awe at the enormous birthday cake prominently placed near the entrance of the Rigodon ballroom of the Manila hotel. It is pure elegance, it sat on a profusion of American roses in varied colors.
The top tier is conveniently placed at the bottom for easy access for blowing the cake candle.
The ballroom was an explosion of color and glitter;, exquisitely beautiful and truly amazing. Strings of golden leaves and lights hang from the ceiling above the dance floor.
There are huge floral arrangements at the foot of the stage with twinkling lights; part of the stage mimic a floral garden.
Thats me in front of the stage.
The tablecloth has a shimmering lace cover that shouted festive. A huge flower arrangement, tall candles with flickering lights and capiz ornaments decked the center of each table.
“Take charge” sibling no.3, Tess, my friend and walking buddy, from whom we owe this invite.
Tess almost single-handedly put together this whole event with minimal consultation with her siblings.
She reserved the Venue early and helped booked accommodations for the out-of-town guests. She arranged the program, the invites, the souvenirs, the cake and gowns for her sisters who live abroad.
She contracted the singers, Lemuel Llamas and another equally great singer whom she flew in from Samar. That’s Lemuel in the photo below.
How do I know all these? We walk 10,000 steps almost everyday, oftentimes breakfast too when she’s in town unless she has houseguests.
The mass was celebrated by Fr Aldrin, a family friend and Sports Director of Adamson university. In the homily he mentioned that the celebration started earlier in Adamson where student volunteers helped serve 500 deprived people free lunch. Such a generous act, it is a family tradition to share their blessings during birthdays of family members.
The family love to sing and dance, including their children. A grandchild of Ma’am Patria, Vince Gutay gave an outstanding performance of Quando Quando Quando that awed the guests.
I was called on a stage for the “best in something” contest. I may have done good in the Q & A portion but I can’t dance like the winner, the young and lovely Grace, first from left on the photo.
The siblings also performed a lively dance number which they did with gusto.
The surprise number was the giving of ampao to all of the 250 guests by the celebrant. Instead of the guests bringing gifts; with Ma’am Patria, it is the other way around. She finds joy in giving and sharing her blessings.
That’s Joy and I toasting each other after we got our ampao.
Happy maybe too weak a word to describe the event. So I ask Google for help and came out with JOYOUS, used in formal writing to describe an occasion filled with happiness. Yes, joyous it is!
You all should know how Tess put together this event into a resounding success.
Ma’am Patria, you are the epitome of selflessness. You have raised your children well, surely you are the “wind beneath their wings”.
Here is a photo of the fruits of your labor, your gifts and your treasures.
Congratulations! Happy birthday!
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