This was having a grand birthday party that his children Ray, Nancy, John, Gerry and Bunny, all in America, insisted on splurging in his honor.
This was celebrating a new life: A rebirth after a near-fatal stroke that sent son, United States Air Force Colonel John jetting down from the US National Aeronautic Space Administration to mobilize the Philippine Air Force plane to airlift him from Camiguin to Cebu.
This was having Laguna Garden serve everything his heart and taste glands desired—from lechon to leche flan.
This was putting his arms around his wife, Carmen "Caria" Tolentino, hugging her tight. Dear Caria, who has always been at his side, keeping house for him, raising their children, pampering him through all the 50 years; 20 of them in America, residency training in Boston, medical practice in Texas, and over 10 years of blissful retirement in Camiguin.
This was getting together with classmates from U.P. Med school, medical colleagues of Cebu Doctors' Hospital, Rotarians waxing sentimental and laughing uproariously over the good old days.
This was being in old Cebu with everybody knowing everybody else, picking up where they left off with old friends. Old but not decrepit, not broken down and withering, waiting in loneliness to fade away. Old, yes, but vigorously, wonderfully old committed to living life as it should be lived; intensely involved with his wonderful business of doing a bit of charity work, indulging in community service and reaching out to help others; simply doing good things and having time to smell the roses.
*****
There were Sammy and Editha Trocio, Mario and Julie Mabalay, Joe and Nene Cola, Rudy and Corito Abalos, Ben and LIta Aldana, Jun and Zeny Larrazabal, Felix Vicuña, George and Minnie Dosdos, Chita Ypil, Suga and Minnie Yuvienco, Mercedes and Annie Planas, Lilia Hermosisima, Charito Climaco, Elo Fernan, Rolly and Elena Jarantilla, Inday Blanco, Mike and Titang Mancao, Manet, Mila, Mark and Lallie Tolentino, Clark and Fe and Pete Cinco, Peter and Patsy Calderon, Dodong and Marle Alegrado, Adet Amigo, Benny Antigua, Cesar, Mila and Dodong Chan, Jackie Deen, Crispin and Rhodora Diaz, Cely Elliot, Pio and Judith Go, Pacita Jordana, Yayoy and Linda Muaña, Lito and Lisa Almendras, Narciso and Mely Patalinghug, Pina Poblete, Chito and Ann Paulin, Cely, Bert and Samantha Santos, and so many more!
All these and heaven’s blessings, too. Everything else is already a bonus. Love you, Dong!
*****
Something fishy over at Sue Grey’s last month which was marvelous.
Getting her friends together for an annual party honoring those who, like her, were born under the Zodiac sign of Pisces, she baited dinner that caught us hook, line and sinker. Her Manhattan clam chowder was superb; we had seconds, tasted like the French bouillabaisse Cheling Sala agreed; plump shrimps on an avocado boat with herbs and spices, a Greek salad and her crowing glory—rum cake baked in fish molded pans.
Bonhomie and banter sparkled all though the long table. Across me, that darling Gregory Aaron, who looks like a Botticelli angel and dances like Nuryev, just got back from a highly successful performance in Atlanta, Nicolas Pacana, staying over for an extended stint as Peter Pan.
April Perez who plays the bassoon for the Philharmonic, delighting the company with a fascinating account of plants turning away from rock music and actually blossoming when facing the music of classic masters. April had been on a two-year scholarship in London and now teaches music in the University of the Philippines. Speaking of London, a beautiful, a charming British lady, Mary Lawrence here on a visit, a visit with Sue whom the dog met in Hongkong 26 years ago.
A wonderful reunion, sightseeing and shoppping. Sungka-an, complete with a bag of bog-bog which she hopes to learn how to play. Ooh-la-la Lala Lava, Delia Jurado’s pert and pretty daughter proudly celebrating the 20th anniversary of her handicraft job in Mabolo.
A lively discussion going on at the end of the table with Cheling and Susan Sala and Cris Lava. Eavesdropping I, thought they were talking golf, hard wood, iron wood and tiger wood. To my chagrin and embarrassment, they were talking about Philippine hardwood, narra, yakal and some wood that had stripes like a tiger. Cris Lava seems most knowledgeable about it.
To my right, Arnold Pringle, an Australian who has made ‘Consolation" in Cebu his home, (says) 9he loves it here and will settle down "forever". Rum cakes, molded like fish, for take home and remember the Pisces Party of Sue with every whiff and tang of rum.
