Monday, January 22, 2007 Dazzling eve at Eden Nature Park By Id Acaylar
DEPITE the rain on the last day of 2006, I went out and brought my children to Eden Nature Park for a new experience on a new year.
In previous years we celebrated the coming of a new year quietly in the confines of our home. So I was not surprised by my kids' reluctance in joining me celebrate New Year's Eve away from home. I had to be extra persuasive. And their obedience was well rewarded for until today they remain bewitched by their experience of the event aptly titled 2007 New Year Dazzle.
Simply, they were bedazzled. On the way up to the resort, by the kaleidoscopic display of lights and Christmas decorations in Barangay Bayabas and Barangay Eden, both winning participants in the Pasko Fiesta Dayan-dayan sa Barangay competition. And at the resort, by the various resplendent installations and the many exciting activities that awaited them.
First, we attended the New Year's Eve Mass at the Garden Hall officiated by Fr. Felix Labor and backed up by the GSIS parochial choir. Then, we had buffet dinner at the Vista Restaurant where we were serenaded and entertained by Souled Out Band. But prior to dinner, perhaps to hype up the event, we were provided with colorful, glittering beads a la New Orleans and crowns of varied styles that made me feel ridiculously royal but happy.
The hundreds of guests who filled all available dining spaces must have enjoyed the sumptuous meal Liza Tonogbanua specially planned for the occasion. For I did. I feasted on chicken relleno, embutido, paella and roasted calf unmindful of the salads, pastas and many other entrees.
My children, however, were overjoyed by the Backyard Carnival where they hopped from one booth to another, had their faces painted or plastered with Henna tattoo, participated in games and got mesmerized by the conjuring skills of James Infiesto.
While the youngsters were having great fun, the adults were being entertained with games, dance exhibitions and performances highlighted by the magician James Infiesto's illusional act, an adaptation of the Bagobo's legend on creation. He was accompanied by Raffy Ayala's adept playing of the kulintang, which to me was a revelation.
Raffy has indeed mastered this indigenous musical art, which I think he learned from Dr. Helen Tejero, the founding director of Kariala Ensemble and mentor of Kaliwat Theater Collective.
As midnight was approaching, the guests were getting restlessly ecstatic to welcome the New Year. Then the countdown began and culminated with a shower of balloons and confetti amid resounding toots of blow horns. A euphoric welcome to 2007 that made us oblivious of the entrancing wonders of city banned pyrotechnics. And the party commenced.
The air was joyous and the people were joyful as they danced at the dawning of the New Year. Then family by family, for memento, queued at an improvised studio for a photographic session with award winning photographer, Roland Jumawan who was gracious enough to lend me most of the pictures shown on this spread.
On our way home, I asked my children if they somehow regretted their joining me. They chorused "Not a bit!" And they added, "Next Year Uli!"
