THE Grand Dame of Philippine Fiesta in America, the effervescent Mila Mendez, celebrated her nth birthday in the towering function loft of a posh edifice with an elevation of four-stories above street level along the busy Broadway Avenue West of Manhattan. Attended by close friends and associates in the business, Mila painstakingly diced, chopped, sliced, whipped, and personally concocted every single dish especially for her invited friends and guests. On a table laden with sumptuously prepared “finished products,” Mila’s well-wishers insatiably enjoyed sampling the “results” of her culinary expertise.
While other parties often focus on a theme or elaborate settings, Mila’s main concern was what to serve and entertain her guests. With a program ably hosted by Ogie Afable, the high spirited ongoings neither suffered from a lull nor boredom. A night of fun, dancing, singing and even a naughtily-conceived parlor game kept the party ambience alive and atmospheric spirit at its ultimate high.
“I thank you all for coming and sharing with me the very essence of this event,” was Mila’s opening line when requested to speak when the clock struck 9pm (to take advantage of whatever good vibes 09-09-09 brings). “I have no regrets in life, whatsoever. Yes, there may be some hassles but I merely consider them as some sort of variety to spice up my life.”
“I always see my glass as half-full so that there will always be room for new options and reinventions!” were Mila’s sincere pronouncements on how she lives her life. And at this point, she received a heartfelt buzz from hubby Nanding, who, in his own capacity, took the multi-tasking roles of a party planner, receptionist-host and Mila’s personal photographer that evening.
With all her loved ones and friends around her, Mila, like a coy and blushing debutante, gently relished a full wisp of air “to extinguish” a generous number of candles that crowded the top layer of her birthday cake… after uttering a silent wish. “Please, don’t ask me my age!” She begs kiddingly.
Undoubtedly, the venue was cozy. The ambience, ambivalent. The food, overflowing and great home cooking! The crowd, warm and friendly! In a capsule, Mila’s birthday bash was nothing but excellent!
Guests started to kiss the birthday celebrator goodnight before the strike of 12 midnight… and after the final music played and the final glass was empty of its last drop, the last group of guests bade Mila goodnight but left still unknowledgeable about Mila’s real age. The guessing game unrelentingly continues. Our guess is safe though: Mila is merely eighteen with just more than 20 years of experience.
Celebrating birthday isn’t a convention but an occasion to celebrate growth, maturity, and development accumulated in 365 days. Quoting Daniel Francois Esprit Aubert that: “Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life,” but then I say, it will take a long while to be able to grow young again… but in the end, it’s not the years in your life that will matter… it’s how to live life in your remaining days.
And to Mila: You will know you’re getting old when the candles you blow next year cost more than your birthday cake. Happy Birthday again… and thank you for your friendship!
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