Last October 11 (2007), my dad got a surprise of his life - a day shy of his 70th birthday, his colleagues and family decided to toss a party for him. To keep him from knowing what their plans were, the conspirators had to work their plans around him - and this kept going on for the better part of a month or two. The fact that they were able to do it is testament to their capabilities - and my dad's non-questioning ways.I first learned about the party roughly about a month into the preparation, and we (that is, my wife - Barbie, and I) were asked to help make some kind of presentation for said celebration involving our kids - his grandchildren. This naturally included my sister's (Tizza, that is) kids as well... in all, four of them, made of two girls and two boys - Patty - (Tizza's eldest), Migs(Tizza's son), Bryce and Bernice.
Coordination for this was not so easy, since my sister lives in Batangas - a two hours drive outside of Manila on good traffic days, and the only way we could do it was to plan a visit to them over a weekend. Not exactly easy when your work schedule sometimes eats your weekends. But it took just one day to decide and polish their dance number... thanks to Barbie and Tizza's knack for showbiz ideas.
Call it parental pride, but I must say that seeing the kids dance was a great sight, and I was thinking that if I was feeling this way just for starters, I'm sure the audience come party time would, likewise, like what they will see. Kudos, of course has to be given to Tizza and Barbie for coming up with choreography inspired from a Vhong Navarro song. The song, by itself, had funny lyrics - while the dance was cute.
As the day for my Dad's surprise party approached, we had to prepare for Tizza and kids' sleep-over at our place, complicated by the fact that Barbie and I had to still go to work on that day, and further realizing that Bernice also had to attend afternoon practice for her Scouting.
Needless to say, it sometimes seemed more trouble than it was worth - but I can just imagine how the main organizers felt in making sure every detail was happening as planned.
As the day came, arrangements had to be made for Tizza and all the kids to be fetched using my dad's van - as they all could not fit into a car made for five at most - and definitely not designed to ably accommodate three adults, three teens (or near teens) and one kid - not to forget mentioning that Tizza and Patty are not exactly slim, so it would have been a very tight fit for a long drive, had we forced ourselves to use the car. Besides, I was at work, so the car was not available to bring them for a much needed early dress rehearsal at the Palms, in Alabang. Still, I clocked off 2 hours early to compensate for having to fetch Barbie in her office, and avoiding the rush hour traffic. For those familiar with Metro Manila, I was coming from Gateway mall, in Cubao - rushing to Bicutan, which is all the way in Parañaque for Barbie. Then, we'd be proceeding to the Palms Clubhouse at Alabang. Just thinking about it was worrisome, and I wondered if I had done right by getting off just two hours before the afternoon / evening rush.
It was quite a trip - and I must say that, with exception to a little gridlock near the Alabang exit, I was very lucky for having avoided traffic jams all the way from Gateway to the Palms.
Upon our arrival, we saw the kids, Grace (my dad's wife and one major co-conspirator for this evening's events) and a few of my aunts rehearsing and watching last minute things being set-up.
The first thing I noticed was the presence of so many printed faces of my dad - props to be used upon his entrance, I'm later told, and a big tarpoline backdrop by the stage - which is also set up as an altar (for a thanksgiving mass preceding the party). Arching over the tarpoline is a twisting design of blue and white balloons. While the Palm's ballroom is arranged with round tables; with each table easily accommodating up to 10 people, and I counted at least 20 of these tables, spread out in the room around a wooden parquet, doubling as a dance floor, adjacent to the stage.
As the party's guest of honor arrived, everyone was instructed to stand, cover their faces with all those printed faces of my dad - so as he enters a darkened ballroom, the first sgiht to greet him, would be a surreal sight of many printed faces (all his) staring back at him. See, Grace and comapny executed well - my dad came to the clubhouse prepared for a meeting - hoping to get it over with, and possibly salvage a late movie date with Grace, a party was the last thing in his mind.
As he entered amidst the dim lights and all those 'faces' staring back at him - a video camera was filming and projecting to a wide screen thus showing his reaction, capturing every moment of his initial shock, surprise - and later, wide smile upon seeing all the gathered people to greet him.
The program then went on - with Maricris, his office colleague (and Grace's co-conspirator), playing genial host and calling on each and every presenter, speaker or entertainer.
There were recorded messages from branch offices around the country greeting him, a collage of pictures showing him in different places and ages - I was even surprised to see Barbie and me in at least one... maybe two of said pictures (was I ever that thin?), then the kids did their dance number, and everyone thought it cute - they even had a surprise second number - which I did not know of, so it was a surprise to me too - where they pulled their grandfather to the stage and share a dance with them... which he, gamely, did.Later, I, together with my younger brother Simon gave a mini speech - citing a few anecdotes in our past, to present our dad, in what was to us, memorable experiences with him - or lessons he taught us... consciously or not. Overall, our dual skit was funny, touching and applauded.
I was the more seasoned speaker - but for this night I made Simon do most of the more poignant stuff. After all, he had lived with dad a whole lot longer... and I was generous in sharing the spotlight. I was, also, earlier exposed to speaking that same night when I read mass' first reading and led in the responsorial psalm.
The food was aplenty - the kids enjoyed, and I got to rub elbows with a few long time relatives that I have not seen for a long time. Its nice to have these reunions - more so when the celebrations are for happy occasions. Dad definitely enjoyed - and we enjoyed entertaining him for one night. He was finally allowed to speak, and he thanked everyone profusely. He also wondered how this happened without his discovering it - and he normally prides himself at discovering things... making him joke in a self-depreciating manner that he must be inept for not discovering the plot. Overall, he did say that waiting until his 70th brithday for such a night to happen, was worth it. At his current state of health, he may easily live to reach 80 too.
Simon mentioned as part of our speech, that the reason he was seemingly strong was due to his humor and outlook in life. I'll have to agree... the old man can still beat me in badminton.
He's had a great life - despite its challenges. Surviving a collapsed lung early in life - beating intestinal cancer around his sixth decade, and he certainly continues to enjoy life and people... his co-workers really love and respect him... I'd say that he certainly is doing many things right. I might venture to say that good Karma is rewarding him.
There were many times I tried to be different from him - yet there were also many lessons I learned from him. That particular night, I was glad to see so many people loving him. I don't expect a similar celebration in my future... though I surely would like one - I would lie if I said otherwise.
That particular night, I'm sure dad felt well loved by many - and who wouldn't want to feel that? Great celebration - congratulations to the planners... and I'm glad to have been part of it - even in a small way.
