Birthday celebrators this Christmas season

Birthdays are an annual ritual that celebrates the particular day on which a person was born. Christians commemorate the birthday of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And that day, Christmas Day is merely 48 hours from now.

Some birthdays are more important than others. In the Jewish faith, boys have a bar mitzvah on their 13th birthday and festivities sometimes rival a wedding ceremony. Depending on the country of origin, we reach legal age when we are 18 or 21 years of age. At age 60, we do acquire a second citizenship…that of a senior citizen. If a birthday cake is present, the candles cost more than the ingredients of the cake itself!

I do recall our family celebrating a series of birthdays from December 24 to December 31 since the birthdays of my relatives conveniently occurred during these dates. When you add the family reunions, Christmas was indeed one long festive season.

One of my friends who celebrated his birthday this season is Augustus Pe Jr. It is an annual event and rare are the instances that I miss his birthday celebration. Usually discussion of politics and religion are avoided in a party because such topics are too intense. But the birthday celebrator is an incumbent Cebu City Councilor running for re-election; in this dinner, inevitable gyud that centerpiece of conversation is Election 2010. Even Senator Loren Legarda who is running for the Vice- President took leave from her commitments to greet the birthday celebrant.

At Boosog Restaurant, the usual spread of lechons was served but our most gracious host wanted to offer something different, this time it was a roasted whole lamb. Regular native dishes were prepared so your favorite columnist medyo relax in his duties until he tasted the Mongo Soup and the native chorizo. This legume version of a Friday night routine in our home took a whole new meaning with some sea food incorporated into the mix. And the chorizo was not the pork fat laden concoctions hanging in Carbon market but lean meat with an exciting blend of spices.

Onwards to the 60th Birthday Celebration of Bobby Joseph the Consul of Latvia last December 9, 2009 at the Casino Español de Cebu. Invited guests were close family friends and top executives from the Tourism Industry. Simple reason is that he is one of the pillars of the industry since he created the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, Travel Cooperative of the Philippines and League of Tourism Students of the Philippines. At present, Bobby is the Chairman of the R. Joseph Holdings whose business empire encompasses the Coltrans Cargo Group of Companies, Philippine Wine Merchants Inc. (PWM), Food and Beverages Inc., Ralph’s Wine & Spirits…, etc.

Very simple food, excuse me, were prepared for the celebration since only five food stations were put up: The Sushi, Sashimi and Salad Bar, Pasta, Slow Roasted US Angus Beef, Quesadillas and Empanaditas and the Dessert Station. I always have an affinity for empanadas, a kind of comfort food and a gentle reminder that once upon a long time ago, it was lunch itself for an impoverished U.P. student.

I devoted most of my time at the triple “S” bar but the craving for some meat was intense; yield na lang to the Slow Roasted US Angus Beef Chuck Roll Of Beef. And one thing was definitely sure in this party, it never ran out of wine!

Many invitation received during this season were sent through electronic messaging and, at times, followed by printed invitations. Life is indeed difficult without all these gadgets. Pretty soon, we will all communicate like this father who greeted his son through email.

Dear son: How have you been? Your mother and I are fine. We miss you. Please sign off your computer and come down for Christmas dinner. Love, Dad.