Monday, October 09, 2006 Speak Out: Looking forward to my centennial By Invicto C. Alcantara Dalaguete, Cebu
I TURNED 81 last Sept. 21. My wife and my children teased me that I would be celebrating my debut (81 is 18 in reverse).
I had earlier advised my wife that we only celebrate with pansit-pansit lang.
But no. My wife said that not everyone gets to reach that age. My children apparently had the same idea since most of them showed up for my birthday. One of my daughters flew in from Davao City where she now resides. Another daughter arrived from Baybay, Leyte. A third daughter drove in with her children from Cebu City.
My eldest son and a younger brother were also present.
But my son in the United States, my other son in Japan and another son in Manila, all couldn’t make the celebration.
At least five of my nine children (one already passed away) were present.
And so a lavish gastronomic feast unfolded in a local resort that foreigners patronize.
During the brief program, I told my wife, my children and all the other guests that before the celebration, I wanted to “go” already to Balud, that’s where the cemetery is located, to rest. I did not want to burden my family anymore financially and physically.
But with their open show of deep concern and love for me, I said: “I want to live to a century, or more.”
