To answer my question, I really don’t know. God only knows. Others live a healthy lifestyle, meaning they get enough rest and sleep, exercise regularly, and eat healthy foods devoid of bad cholesterol, sugar, alcohol, etc. They avoid stress. Yet they, too, die from some other causes and don’t live up to 91. Many live half her age, and her husband died at age 50.
If stress could kill, just like what we all believe, then my parents should have died younger because they lived a very stressful life, raising six children, managing their small businesses, and providing jobs for their employees and families. But then again, maybe if they were not too stressed out, they could have lived longer, up to one hundred years old. My papa died at age 79 from cancer of the colon, and my mama at 82. My mother in law has had her fair share of stresses dealing with her life, unexpected twists in her fate, and worrying about her loved ones. So I don’t really know the formula how to live a very long life. How to reach 91 and going. We are all stressed and tensed, even Theo gets stressed when we are chasing to tickle him.
My mother-in-law, Soling, celebrated her 91st birthday on November 25. We had a lunch celebration on Sunday, November 24 on the second floor of Gloria Maris Seafood Restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila.
I credit myself for being the one who thought of throwing a birthday luncheon for her, even a simple one. Malungkot naman kung konti lang kami, so I encouraged my husband to ask his mom to invite her friends. The more, the merrier. From an original 20 guests, the list went up to 55. She got excited, and she also invited her close relatives from the province of Antique, in Western Visayas. That was where her first three children were born, including my husband.
At first my husband said wala daw handa (no feast). Her mom daw will most likely spend her birthday at her home because of her mobility issues. But why would anyone celebrate a very auspicious day alone in her room? Ninety (91) is a huge number. H U G E. It’s the truest definition of a long life. Pretty looooonnnnnngggggg. So why waste that day without partying?
My husband agreed that we’ll host an informal party for her. Kahit simple lang. Not at her house or at our house kasi mahirap mag-asikaso ng party sa bahay. And when I designed our house 17 years ago, I didn’t take into consideration that one day Edmund and I will get old and will have difficulty navigating staircases. My mother in law and her friends will definitely hate climbing steps so hindi pwede sa bahay namin. Easier if we’ll have it in Gloria Maris, everyone likes Chinese food and in fairness, Gloria Maris has good Lauriat and an elevator too.
Para hindi malungkot, I contacted top classical singer in the country, Jonathan Badon, to serenade my mother in law and her friends with songs of the past. Julienne hired a stylist to create a nice backdrop. I hired a photographer, Ricky, whom I met at one of Johnny Litton’s party. He turned out to be Ilonggo and lives in the same village as my mother in law. What a small world indeed.
Lots of food, pero mahinang kumain kaya every table has goodie bags. Sayang ang bayad dun sa unlimited drinks which we paid. Mahina namang uminom kahit tubig and softdrinks. Hindi sulit.
The video and pictures shot by the professional photographer were better but It’s too much work for me to go over the thousands of shots and video clips he had taken. The following shots came from my iPhone.
Naku poo, malabo na makarating ako ng 91 but if and when I turn 91, I will have a whole year celebration. A party in Las Vegas, at The Strip, with 100 guests in tow all aged 80 and above. I will hire the Chippendales to entertain us. A more wholesome Disney cruise party for my younger guests. And more!!!!! Thinking about this makes me start planning already. Parang na excite ako. Exaggerated but true. Ililibre ko kayo lahat basta buhay pa ako, nakakalakad, at may pera. Syempre I need money to pay for the one year of travel and booze.
