Baptismal party

Seldom do we attend functions on Sundays especially at night except when it’s really necessary or we couldn’t say no.
The only parties we’ve attended to on Sundays were the birthday parties of Benjie Yu’s children. But those were held on Sunday afternoons. Benjie is a dear friend and I am the ninang sa binyag of his son Baron.

A few weeks ago, I found a small invitation card on our kitchen counter. It’s from Adrian, Edmund’s friend from his golf community.

Edmund and I attended Adrian’s wedding six years ago. And for a while parang sabi ni Edmund, nahihirapan daw magka-baby. Eto na at long last, they’ve been blessed with an angel.

Omb——— ‘Oh wow, tart may baby na sila?”
Edm——— “Bibinyagan na nga”.
Omb——— “Pupunta kayo?”
Edm——— “Tayo”.

That said,

Omb——— “Bibili ako ng gift”.
My kids and I went to Rustan’s. I didn’t realize a lot of people pala buy toys maybe because it was a Sunday. Ang kukulit pa, nag-uunahan kasi lahat nagmamadali, like me.

I really find it completely unnecessary writing a card addressed to the baby. I always have trouble thinking of what to say. I just find this an exercise in futility.

What do I say to a three month old girl? Happy baptism? Welcome to the Christian world? Welcome to this polluted and congested world infested by cruel humans?
Here’s my gift, I hope your parents would like it?

She’s not going to read it. She can’t. Even when she’s already in college, I doubt very much if she would be curious. “Teka nga, let me see, who gave me gifts on my baptismal day? What were their words of wisdom?”

We were one of the lasts to arrive at the baptismal party because Edmund thought the reception would be at 7 pm instead of 5:30 pm, plus we didn’t know exactly where the building was. He had to call his friends several times for landmarks.
Finally, the restaurant pala is on top of the building at the corner of C5 and Eastwood.
Parking is on the second or third floor.

We entered a room and saw an elevator door, pasok kami, ha? Why this dirty?

It went up straight to the penthouse, when the door opened, we were right in their kitchen just like in the movies. Nagulat yung mga waiters na kumakain. It was their service elevator pala.

The guests were already eating when we came.
Chino Raymundo with friends

Joye Quimson’s sons with Loel De Leon

Matthew and his girlfriend were the last to arrive. They watched The Buzz daw kasi it was Boy Abunda’s feature on Vhong Navarro. Matt said the last time he saw me was 6 years ago and I still look the same. Thank you. Siya naman tila he lost a lot of weight. Matt is the younger brother of Honor Mendoza. He and Honor play golf with Edmund.

Honor’s daughters with Bea De Leon. Bea is only 17 or 18, 5’10” na sya. One inch na lang mahahabol na nya ako.

Arby (owner of Razon’s) and girlfriend,
the married ones: Kit and Honor, Elmer and Det, Joey and wife

The very married: he and she

Why is Adrian so happy? Maybe he has another baby coming.

The restaurant’s name is Chef Jessie 100 Revolving Restaurant.

I didn’t eat much. This must be Edmund’s french onion soup.

There were no other diners except for our group. Maybe there’s no buffet here on ordinary days.

Edmund always likes to have his beef pan fried after carving. His friends followed suit and requested the waiters to have theirs pan fried. The waiters were hesitant at first.
Mas masarap kasi pag pan fried and eat it while still hot.

The mom is the one wearing a black and white top standing behind Edmund.

(left to right) standing:
Aznar, Matt, Elmer de Leon, Adrian and Kaye (parents of the baby), ____ , her family owns the biggest shopping mall in Lipa, the Fiesta Mall.

The one in checkered pink polo is Adrian’s dad.