A Celebration!

Went to a celebration last Saturday. My friend Rach's eldest daughter Chit graduated from college, Summa cum Laude and class Valedictorian. The graduation ceremony was held the Sunday before. she had an average of 1.15 for her whole stay in UPLB. Supposedly her lowest grade was 2.25, but that's a different story.

Rach rented the club House of a neighboring subdivision which had a pool. The Thanksgiving mass was scheduled for 10:00am. And the party was "scheduled" up to 6:00pm. We arrived "after lunch" around 1:30pm and the party was still in full swing. The bulk of the guests have left by then, but Rach was still harried and busy attending to guests. I introduced my family, Lilia, Kenneth and Darwi. There was only one time when Lilia met Rach, and that was when she was in Manila studying for the Chemistry Board exam. And Rach was about twenty pounds lighter then. Lilia later gave a comment that she looks a whole lot better with the additional poundage (and curves).

It was the first time Lilia met Rach's children, and the first time Rach got to see my kids in person. After lunch, Darwi went with the other "kids" and "swam" in the pool. I tried to catch up, chatting with Rach and her sister, Lea. And later, Kenneth and I played basketball. Lilia was
content sitting at the table chatting with Lea and other guests. There guests were in groups sitting at the tables, some were drinking beer, the ladies were drinking wine. There was a karaoke/videoke machine and a continuous stream of singers, as the mike was passed from person to person.

One of the guests was Lily, another graduate of Chemistry from UPLB. Last I saw her was by accident in Bolinao when they had an outreach program. She works for IRRI. I guess she's been working for IRRI since after college. She was with her husband and two wonderful daughters, the eldest was six years old.

Late to the party were Red and Loi. Red still works for a government agency. And he brought along his son and daughter, his wife stayed home with the youngest. Loi is a doctor, surgeon actually, specializing on cancer and trauma. I still can't get over that combination. And he's also a police officer, complete with badge, ID and snub-nosed pistol. THAT combination I can't really get over with. There was the usual joking around, and old jokes, and some chit-chat about friends who weren't there. If Loi hadn't picked up Red, they would not have come at all.

It was a light party. Somewhat loud, but as far as I can tell, everyone was occupied with something and nobody (I hope) got bored. It was a time to touch bases, and keeping up with the news about old friends.

Not enough of those celebrations, I guess. Maybe next time.

To Chit, again, congratulations and good luck. To Rach, thank you very much for being a friend.

--andoy
3 May 2005