Karylle's Belated Birthday Bash

How do you convince your only daughter that her birthday is to be celebrated by just the three of us when she thought that birthdays are celebrated either in Jollibee or McDonald's? It has always been like that since her memory worked. Wish we could go out together but March 28, 2009 marked the launching of our expansion project in Garden of Peace - Taytay. A birthday cake from Red Ribbon isn't enough, that's why we planned of having this swimming party at Parkridge Estates, Antipolo.

The available dates aren't at all available. We can't get a date. We have deadlines to beat, reports to finish and activities to attend to and we never had a date close enough for the birthday celebration. Believing that nothing really happens until you say and resolve that it is going to happen, we just decided that it will be on May o2, 2009, just a few days before the actual date. And magically, so it became May 02, 2009. As excpected, not everyone came due to the very short notice but we had enough number to get going.

We made sure Karylle's close friends were present namely Daisy, Aubrey and Joe Vince. Actually they are all her first cousins and they all grew up a few houses apart in Mandaluyong City. Calay also came, a neighbor and Karylle is all but too happy to see her friends again! I fetched them from Mandaluyong and on the way back passed through Nanay Amelia to get that Famous Kalderetang Pork Spare Ribs.

The accounting and treasury groups made their own arrangements in going to the venue. Coming via Sumulong Highway through the north gate of Valley Golf, Ase and Donna went straight to Parkridge. Mostly originated from Taytay office where Paul, the driver is waiting to ferry them out to Parkridge via the south gate of Valley Golf. Allan and Limuel just caught up with the service vehicle at Ortigas Extension corner Valley Golf.

They say there is no perfect wedding ceremony. Upon arriving at the swimming pool area, it's too frustrating to know that there was no reservation made for the group. I called up Mang Boy, the caretaker and asked what happened. He said that their head office personnel were not able to relay the confirmation of our reservation. But he offered us the next best place available – the clubhouse – overlooking the pool area. Everything could have been perfect except that Happy, my wife who is 3 months preggy won’t be able to sit by the poolside to tend for Karylle.

And so we swam, played .... had fun ...

In this picture, it's not Lando who's the tallest, but Arlene having the strongest legs and back.
Limuel said, "I can stay like this forever, not seeing anything but smelling forever ang hindi nahugasang kamay ni Arlene."

Hold it, Joseph! You're killing Lando.

Paul, hindi manibela yang balikat ni Lando!

Is it a bird? Is it a dolphin? No, it's Limuel!

Did the girls knew someone just flew overhead? I didn't know Limuel got a knack on diving.

Eto ang poolside para sa mga Cute at Pa-cute. Only Donna is wearing a dress. The rest... I don't know.

Here's the birthday celebrant. Belated Happy Birthday, Karylle! Yeah, I agree, you're No. One.

No, it's not the rain. It's the mini-falls that the children are enjoying. Pools plus falls - double whammy!

All up and ready to eat!

Tenting during swimming party, anyone? Mom Happy is all eyes. Karylle might get lost in the jungle.

Nabitin sa swimming pool, tinapos sa bahay. Daming pagkain, pero sa totoo lang, mga sobra lang yan sa Parkridge. I'm worried with Ase. Her diet might get affected.

After the swimming, Paul ferried his passengers back to the East. We had this chance to see the new home of Tolits and Joan. It is quite far but accessible. St. Monique is beautiful, good place to inhale fresh air and jog around. The group went back to our home, had dinner and whined the night away. What a day... and night. Tomorrow is landmark day - London Bridge will fall under the left fist of Manny Pacquiao. Hatton will have the worst good night sleep of his life. But this will be another topic. See you, guys!