Birthday ni JV

Hindi pala ganun ganun lang magpagawa ng lobo.

Weeks before, nagkita kmi ni Aireen - pinsan at kumare ko. Nasa Red Ribbon siya (pa-ex-deal na lang po pag sikat na ang blog ko) at nag-oorder ng cake para sa 7th Birthday ni JV. Debut ng bata: 7 years old. Then syempre invited kami ni Elmo. Tinanung ko kung saan. Ang dinig ko pa nga eh, Calaylayan (barangay sa Abucay Bataan). Kala Ilaya pla. Ibig sabihin, sa Resort nina Doktor Ilaya (sikat na doktor dito).

Excited pa naman kami ma-invite si Elmo sa party ng Jollibee kasi addict siya sa mascot ng Jollibee sa napapanood niya sa DVD. Ilang beses na rin namin pinag-isipan na mag-gatecrash na lang pag sabado sa Jollibee kung may party. Magbabayad na lang kami sa magulang para sa one slot ni Elmo. Nakakahiya yata.

After few days ko lang nalaman na ako pala ang naka-assign sa balloons. Last time ko pa yata nagpagawa ng balloons 2 years ago nung 70th birthday ni daddy. (ung naka-post din sa blog na eto). 72 na si daddy ngayon pero wala nang party nung nag 71 at 72 siya. May handa naman pero wala na sa level ng mayroon pang balloons.

Day before ng birthday ni JV, lumuwas punta ko ng Angeles so hindi na ako nag-order. Dagdag pamasahe pa kaya. Walk in na lang (para lang nag-aapply ng trabaho). Pagktapos ako tanggihan ng unang establishment na pinuntahan ko, eto na ako nag-aabang ng lobo. "Buti na lang wala kami masyado tanggap di kasi pwede rush" sabi ng

may-ari, matapos ko silang kulitin at makiusap.

Suma tutal ng oras ng pinaghintay ko: 2 hours. Ala-una na natapos. Hindi ako pwede magreklamo kasi nun nakiusap ako noong alas-onse, sinabihan naman ako na balikan na lang. ako lang ang makulit kasi dagdag pamasahe pa kun babalik ako.

43 pieces.

1 mother balloon.

Red ang kulay.

"Cars" the movie ang drawing.

Birthday ni JV.

43 pieces kasi ung budget ang naka-set. Divided by kung magkano, equals 43.

di naman ako nagrequest ng mother balloon. libre pla.

Red lang ang kulay lahat. Gusto lang ni ninong.

"Cars" ang tintatak na characters kasi, wala silang Hotwheels. related naman sa Hotwheels theme ng party.

"Birthday ni JV' ang nakalagay sa balloon.

Ang baduy kaya ng "Happy 7th Birthday Justin Vince Garcia!" March 26, 2011, Love Ninong Richie, Ninang Tian and Elmo.

Sa birthday mismo?

Wala naman akong kuwento.

Late kami. Dumating kami ng alas kuwatro, nakaligpit na.

Nakatulog kasi si Elmo, hinintay ko magising. Baka mamerwisyo kung mabitin ang tulog.

Buti idinaan ko na ng alauna. kung sinunod ko ang una kong plano na alas dos na lang ako magpagawa before pumunta ng party... plus 2 hours. alas kuwatro. uwian na.

“ Bless Ninong, siya po ung Anak ni Doktora”.

It took a while before Elmo – our first-born, finally has been christened. Born Erasmus Navarro Guevara nine months ago, December 6, 2009 marks his baptism as a Roman Catholic. This is after months of countless explanations that we are pending his baptism date in the hopes that his lolo could attend once he arrives from the U. S.

Though it may bother that 9-month old Elmo does not (anymore) look like, the several day old baby in the hanging tarpaulin, his parents have multitudes of other things to think about.

As early as 2 to 3 months of conception, I’ve already notified friends to become my baby’s godparents, only to retract it weeks before the Christening upon realizing that we had too many. Anyways, I really hope to have more babies to accommodate dear friends and several kin.

I used to be Ninong ng Bayan, I am pleased that these parents gave much thought on it – and ended up having me as their kumpare. For Elmo’s godparents, I am amazed that after the ceremony we’re no longer just friends. We chose them to be demi-parents of our child. Those kumpares-kumares chosen by my wife happen to now have same bond even I’m not that close friends with them.

Definitely, there are lots of things to remember about th

is day. The helpers of the caterer were totally annoyed that I insist that they have to set everything up, not on the second floor but on the third floor of the venue. I have to personally inflate the balloons when the manual pump malfunctions. I barely washed my face and changed clothes to get to church on time. I have to keep all godparents to sit closely on three rows in order to secure our space inside the church. Anyways, this is not special baptism, we're sharing the ceremony with other 30-plus-babies.

More than anything, I hope that what we have for the day for Elmo is a start of Christian life ahead of him. The values and morals thought by parents and family members are the basic things that I want to live by as example for him. Should he at one point wish to take another religion or sect, it would be one great upset for me (but

that’s too soon to think about).

It’s likewise bothersome that you want to share this day to everyone and at the same time that it gets to your nerves that the food may not be enough if too many people might come.

There’s not much OA (overacting) things that we have to do just to prove that we are good Christian parents. For his age, I think it’s enough to start up carrying him along religiously on Sunday mass.

We’re just thankful for this day despite our further explanation that we pushed this through even without his lolo.

*** *** ***

Erasmus N. Guevara’s Christening

St. Joseph Cathedral Balanga City, Bataan

December 6, 2009

Reception:

Brgy. Multi Purpose Hall Cupang West

Balanga City, Bataan

Godparents:

Joseph Macaspac, Jasper Cadiz, Allan Ocampo, Raymond Munoz, Jernie Jett Nisay, Paul Richard Facturan, Kenneth Vergara, Antonio Carreon

Claire Cafirma, Sharon Ravelo, Bennilyn Gigante, Lorena Du, Dra. Epols Gutierrez, Ma. Veronica Dologmandin,

This is written, more than a year after the event.

Today - March 4, 2011, I can consider that Elmo may not be capable of doing all things at his age. He may still have difficulties in speech, but (with all pride, may I share that) he knows how to do the sign of the cross.

This is one result of bringing Elmo to mass every week; which at most times he’s in the “thank you ninang” get up. It’s a private joke that we would say a complimentary “Thank you Ninang Laarni for my clothes”, whenever Elmo wears clothes given (either as gift or pass over from kinakapatid, Kuya James) by her ninang.

On different note, there’s one instances that I have to introduce Elmo to his ninong when he makes mano, “ Bless Ninong, siya po ung anak ni doktora”.