At 60, it's a BEAUTIFUL LIFE!

And Lolo wrote:

"A week before my birthday, Susan jokingly told me to invite my friends over since 60 is not an ordinary milestone in one's life. I retorted that it's not necessary that with the recession looming on the Philippine horizon. She said not to worry since somebody will take care of the expenses. Ok, but I insisted that I prefer a small and private affair. So we invited only Virgie's clan and Danny and Joy. I learned they were preparing the ubiquitous kare-kare with anti swine flu vegetables, special lumpia from chicken and bangus, the usual bihon pansit for long life oozing with calamansi, everybody's favorite sliced tenderloin with mushrooms and gravy, plain coke, fruits like banana, mango, apple. In my mind I mused that they forgot something appropriate for such an affair, cake.

All went well on that special day, so well that even the weather permitted us to savor the spirit of the event. The radiant sun was up but hiding a little behind white clouds, not a drop of rain fell. Mira, Acho, Paul, Hershey and her yaya Michelle, Danny, Joy, Geli, JM, Susan and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The special gift I got, a collection of my pictures brought the house down as I reminisced to them the meaning of each picture. It triggered memories from them too as they started to retell the events we had together, with Mira leading the assault on memory lane. Then somebody shouted "Let's go swimming". Each one had a choice of where to go : Mira suggested San Juan Batangas, Danny-Covelandia Cavite, Geli-Tagaytay Highlands, Acho-Cebu, JM-Ayala Alabang pool, Ben-Golden Gate swimming pool, Susan-Villa Cristina Burol 1st, Paul-Don Bosco Makati and Heshey was saying something too, her pampers was full. Finally it was La Roca.

Unfortunately it was closed already since it was past 5pm. So we just decided to go to Pansol, have a look and got Hacienda Resort. It was old but it had 3 pools; 7 feet, 5 ft and 3 ft.. we were practically the only ones there so we got what most desired, a private pool. We stayed there from 7pm to 7am. We swam till we dropped. We sung videoke till hoarsed up and relished our baon. Back at home, we just slept.

Incidentally, Geli ordered a special cake. It was the first cake in my life.

So at 60, it's a beautiful life."

And we say, "Happy happy 60th birthday Lolo!" - Niels, Mama and Papa