| February 22nd was one of the few Fridays that
I decided to take a day-off. Past lunchtime, my phone rang.
I hesitated to answer figuring out that no one really knows that I am not
at work. It’s probably a telemarketer. But I was surprised
to learn it was Beng who was calling me. She was inviting me to Terry’s
birthday the following day.
Just what most of us are dreading to face,
we will all be turning 40 soon. The church group that Terry Javier
belong to planned a surprise birthday party. The whole event was
orchestrated by Julius, Terry’s loving husband. Beng decided to add
spice to the party by inviting Torresians in Vancouver.
Ruben, Fenchie, Terry, Julius, Mary Joan, Celso, Beng
and Mandy (with Gigi in the picture above)
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It turned out to be a very successful event.
Terry was in tears most of the time to receive surprises after surprises.
She was not expecting Torresians to be there. At last, all of us
here in Vancouver had an instant mini-reunion. Hindi kasi mabuo-buo
tuwing magpaplano noon. In attendance were: Beng Evangelista &
family, Celso Galvez and family, Gigi Paiste & daughter, Charmaine,
Ruben with Nathan and “moi”.
After dinner, Terry was asked to listen to
a taped overseas call where all the members of her family from the Philippines
and Calgary greeted her. Being the youngest in a family of 8, dad,
mom and all the "kuyas" and "ates" gave their emotional greetings.
Video tape was also shown with Terry’s pictures from childhood to “40"hood.
As for us Torresians, it was really a blast
to be able to see each other. We have discovered so many things:
• It was only then that I learned that Gigi live just five minutes
drive away from our place.
• I also learned that Gigi’s youngest, Charmaine, used to go the the
same school as my Florence.
• At last we had a chance to see Celso’s newborn baby girl. Sa
tutoo lang, ang gandang bata itong bunso ni Celso. Tinatanong ko
nga si Celso kung paano nangyari yun? Siguro nagmana kay Joan.
• We get to taste Celso’s famous “palitaw”.
• Sa wakas, nagkita rin kami ni Beng. I got the chance to meet
her little angels for the first time.
• My Nathan was so thrilled again to play with Terry’s two boys, JJ
and JT.
• Magaling palang mag-boogie si Celso at Terry.
We can’t stop giggling like high school kids
especially when we started reminiscing and copying famous high school teachers.
Of course, as you can see in the pictures, Terry and Celso can’t keep still.
Kenkoyan ng kenkoyan. For one magical Saturday night, we all became
16 years old again. And all we’ve been waiting for is for Terry to
turn 40.
Happy Birthday again, my friend.
- Fenchie
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