Older!?!
Care for some cake?
Well, ok, this wasn’t my birthday cake. But the idea came as an afterthought, after all of it was already gone. Right out of the blue, after quite a long hiatus, I felt the urge to write about the surprise party, the cake and the people who were with me. I was specially touched by the gesture, it made me hale and hearty enough to spring back from the slump and blog again.
I had no plan of making a fuss about turning older. In fact, I dreaded the thought of it. I was cool with being 35 last year, but 36!?! How close is that to 75!?! It felt like I have crossed the defining line between young and old. I was hoping nobody would remember, except my family, of course. My father’s birthday comes the day after mine, and as he never enjoys parties, we both are used to celebrating it in silence. I was fine about the thought that it should be over soon without anyone noticing.
After spending the entire day at the clinic, I had a quick dinner with my family, brought some ice cream and then decided to go out. The city was peculiarly quiet for a Saturday night and I figured it must be because the usual night people were home for voters’ registration the previous day and were enjoying a longer weekend. As there’s nothing much to see or do, I opted to catch the last full show at the cinema and see Ratatouille, alone.
So they waited ’til past 9:00 o’clock. Good thing my sister-in-law baked. Her chocolate cake has made it to the local grapevine, and we heard, even to the States (sent as a gift by a politician patron). The less discerning often gets it confused with that which is made by a popular caterer/bakeshop here, and only because it looks almost the same. Which she must change, should she decide to make a real business out of it. Because it tastes way better. At least they had something to do and talk about, the cake (I hope), and not me (don’t people just love talking about the one who isn’t there?).
An impromptu party it was, when I came. I don’t believe Robert and Welmie came from Pagadian City just for it, but the thought of them remembering, going out of their way to gather a few others closest to me, and celebrate wasn’t bad at all. Marvin and Rosa Lyn took us to their new home and graciously hosted, giving the others a chance to see and admire it. Architect Yancey (who designed the house, and lives right next to it) came with his wife, my brother Iolan and his small family came with me. Party fare was odd, we just dropped by the fruit stall — the women couldn’t resist the wafting smell of ripe jackfruit, and buko/coconut (of all things!) — and the nearest convenience store for cheap wine and beer. Entertainment was videoke, the kids, and gossip.
So there. It was simple, it was brief. But everything and everyone I value most and want were there… friends who care, the family I cherish, life’s modest pleasures… I never asked, but was given. It got us together after some time, to catch up on what’s new, and even had us recalling the old. No, that doesn’t refer to me, of course. 
Click on photo for more.
Weee! At ako ang unang naka-comment!
I was actually checking your blog every now and then to see if you already have new posts. Haha! Nice to have you back!
Niwei, belated happy birthday nga pala!
The chocolate cake looks exquisite. 
And kapapanood ko lang ng Ratatouille kanina.
Someone should applaud their scriptwriter! Ang galing ng mga linya! Hands Down! 
And I looooooooooove Anton Ego’s character. 
Haha! At tulad ng nakasanayan ng karamihan *throws confetti*
ISANG MALIGAYANG BATI MULI SAYO!
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agosalamat sa greeting, Bam.
yeah, i thought Ratatouille was fantastic! who would have thought that an animated rat would elevate my appreciation of food to a new level? and there was much attention to detail, you’d like to believe it’s all real.
one critic at rottentomatoes rants that it would have been better if bigger celebrities did the voices, but i digress. it could have spoiled the movie by getting attention off the charming story and the lovable characters. i went to see the animation, and not the featured stars.
anyway, i liked it so much, i took my 4-year old nephew to see it the following day. and he actually enjoyed it so much, it got his full attention the entire two hours(?)…
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agofinally. after a long wait, nag post ka na din doc. hapi bertday. ratatouille’s in the theaters now? didn’t know about that. looks like i’ll be nuts deciding whether to watch the rat movie or bourne ultimatum. it’s the kid in me vs. the mad man. let’s see who’s gona win.
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agoyes, probably seen you in bisdak just want welcome you…i am one of the member, coco is my name in bisdakplanet hope to hear from you again take care.
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agohello, salamat sa pag-daan sa site ko.
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agobisaya ka?
care to ex-link?
just like my parents.. they never wanted parties and all.. they want a select few with them though..
touching when your friends make an effort…. and of course simple things touches a person most.
Blessed birthday! Glad you are back!
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agoJun!
Happy Birthday, bro! Pareho pala tayong Leo! Hehehe! Glad to see you back… long time no hear eh…!
36 is just a number… don’t fret too much.
Wish you all the best, man!
Many more birthdays and root canals to come!
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agomagandang idea yan, Chuck. mas ok nga kayang magbilang ng root canals kesa edad, masaya yun!
thanks for the belated greeting (eh panu nga naman, belated din yung aking post)…
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks agoI would’ve greeted you Happy Birthday sooner, but I’ve been out of the blogosphere for 3+ weeks.
Belated happy birthday, dude!
(Whoah, that cake looks… divine. I want… 
Posted 11 months, 2 weeks agofrom Ratatouille>>>
Anton Ego: In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau’s, who is, in this critic’s opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau’s soon, hungry for more.
Posted 11 months, 2 weeks agothanks, Massa P, for the greeting! i haven’t been active at blogging too, longer than you were actually.
congratulations for winning 7th in the 2007 Influential Emerging Blogs!
Posted 11 months, 2 weeks agoPretty Interesting.
Posted 11 months ago