Thursday, August 09, 2007 Magsaysay: 'Confined' delights By Jo Magsaysay Whatever
A galloping case of bronchitis confined me indoors for the past three weeks.
To keep the virus all to myself before my oldmonia develops into pneumonia (Ugh!
That corny pun!) and spreads it all around, my lifestyle has been cut down to zero. So much for my angst, my aches and pains.
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Now, here’s one of my favorite people, Zeny Deen, from whom I am learning forbearance and a great deal of other disciplines to cope with the strictures of disability. We all know Zeny. She is sweet and lovely, a devoted wife to Danny, a loving mother, a doting grandmother and a staunch, if unsung advocate of the underprivileged, the marginalized, the impaired.
Only few, however, know about the terrible stroke that struck her down, that incapacitated her so completely, she was comatose, hovering over life and death for several days. Prayers, the healing hand of Msgr. Cris Garcia and the miracle that is God’s love which woke her out of a coma but left her paralyzed.
Medication, intensive care, rehabilitation, and medical science to stimulate the inert body, but deep in the dark recesses of her subconscious, Zeny clung to a glimmer of hope that she will recover. She willed her psyche with fierce determination to get well. Only her heart’s desire, her mother’s dream to attend her youngest daughter’s wedding in Manila motivated her. And get well she did, enough to sit up in a wheelchair, smiling proud and beautiful, the cynosure of all admiring attention at Vanessa’s wedding.
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A few moths later, Zeny was on her feet; fragile and yet firmly standing straight, welcoming her guests…shhh!... to the surprise birthday party of Danny at the Country Club. The birthday boy was pleasantly “shocked” (his words) at the unexpected chorus of good wishes from golf cronies and friends: among them, Lui and Annie Aboitiz, Douglas and Annabel Luym, Iker and Amanda Luym Aboitiz, Josephine Booth, Romy and Chiqui Ronquillo, Cheling and Rosebud Sala, Teresin Mendezona, Onker Pido…He did not seem to mind taking a back seat to Zeny being overwhelmed with hugs and kisses congratulating her on her amazing recovery. I have always loved Zeny, now more than ever, for unknowingly teaching me it takes her kind of guts and courage to cope and survive.
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In the Acacia Room, I found myself seated at the table with junior matrons, dewy-eyed with fulfillment and the prospect of motherhood. A radiantly infanticipating Vanessa and her adoring husband Ramon Araneta, had already a name all picked out for their baby boy. Xavier with an X, definitely asserted the young father-to-be. Rica King Deen, the petite and dainty wife of Darren, who is acquiring the name for the hostess with the mostest among the young married, while Mary Love, the delightful wife of Eric, whose Adina shop in Ayala caters to the fabulously fat women like me to make us look good, is also expecting another Deen scion. A sparkling diamond on her third finger flashed an announcement of Selina Selma’s engagement to Justin Romualdez, son of prominent socialite and culinary artist Beth Romualdez. Wedding in the offing next year; meantime, Selina is in the throes of opening her Tea Square in SM Northwing. The cute-as-a-doll young girl turned out to be Xacah Kiener Chang, Winglip and Pinky’s daughter-in-law who had recently given them the honorable distinction of being lolo and lola.
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Cheesecake Etc. is utterly delicious etcetera! Missed the pastry shop opening in IT Park but did not miss a single helping of cheesecakes that my indulgent daughters gave to perk up my spirits. An assortment of colorful, flavorful, wonderful cheesecakes to choose from but I was limited to sugar free delights: raspberry, lemon and mocha which were absolutely divine!
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Carcar Heritage has another prideful restoration to crow about. Inday Ipang’s celebrated pastel de leche, flaky, wafer-thin crusty envelopes wrapping up lemon scented toffee. Ambrosia. The legendary Carcar ampao has acquired a new look and taste. Cubes of puffed rice with bits of mango, chocolate chips and nuts packed in bright colors. Carcar’s Heritage in trendy packaging proudly served at Luz Mancao Sandiego’s Cafe Rafael, her newly opened coffee corner at Capitol Site.
