Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Fabulous birthday bash By Nanette Roa
LA FAMILIA Bautista planned for nearly a year the 75th birthday of their beloved patriach, Teddy.
Loving wife, Letty, a prominent internist of the city and daughter, Melody, a radiologist, son Alan, a top honcho of Unilab and their respective spouses, Derrick and Gel, helped in the meticulous planning that included food tasting forays since it was to be the party of all parties - a tribute to their dad who was not only a gourmand but a whiz in the kitchen.
Another daughter, Charmaine, a radiologist-oncologist at the John Hopkins Hospital in Singapore regularly sends her ideas through email. Not to be outdone, only grandchild Mico also contributed his share on how his Lolo's party should be celebrated.
It was a big gathering of relatives and friends at the ballroom of the Xavier Sports and Country Club that was stylishly draped and decorated in blue and white motif. At the main door near a small waterfall was the celebrant, Teddy, who looked dapper in a blue suit and Letty was in an elegant black off-shouldered gown.
Each guest was assigned to a table named after the fruits and vegetables that Teddy grows in his Kabula farm. Like in the eggplant table sat the city's beautiful and bejeweled widows who were so amused at their table assignment. The centerpiece of each table was a tall crystal vase filled with fruits or veggies and topped with a floral arrangement of calla lillies, blue milflores and white roses. Tucked in each blue linen napkin was a giveaway - a cocktail stirrer in butterfly and beetle designs. Small blue pots of oregano were also in the table for guests to bring home to.
Guests mingled in the flower-laden hall enjoying the fine wine and cocktails from an open bar and scrumptious hors d'ouvres. There was a small program where all of the children of Teddy's siblings sang a medley of his favorite songs. The couple's prayer group Namaste led by Dr. Bing Juarez gave a dance number that culminated with a waltz for Teddy and Letty. This was emceed by close family friend, Dr. Amor Torres. Only son Alan gave the birthday toast.
The buffet tables offered sumptuous food - from salads to pasta and seafoods. One table had roast turkeys, calf and lambs and baby back ribs. The dessert station had superb sweet and creamy concoctions that made all the guests come back for more. After all the wining and dining, guests led by Teddy's "dancerous" nephew, Representative Rufus Rodriguez, danced the night and calories away with live nonstop music by the Executive Band. All agreed that it was a fabulous bithday bash. But it did not end there...
A few days after the party, the family flew to Macau and stayed at the fantastic Venetian Hotel where after another birthday dinner at the legendary restaurant Morton's, they brought Teddy to watch the live performance of his favorite singer, world famous diva Celine Dion at the hotel.
What made Teddy very happy was that in lieu of gifts, the guests gave hefty monetary contributions to the Kabula Learning Center, a small secondary school that he helped set up with Letty and friends. The beneficiaries are the poor but gifted kids in that area.
