What’s your most memorable birthday?
August 8, 2004 | 12:00am
Birthdays are always special to me. Every birthday is a good time to examine if I have successfully hurdled the challenges of the past year. It is also a perfect time to thank the Lord for the blessings he has given me for the year. It’s always nice to look back on how we celebrated a special birthday because it never fails to bring back happy memories. Let’s see what personalities have to say about their most memorable birthdays.
MALOLI ESPINOSA MANALASTAS, vice president of government, corporate affairs and public relations of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.: Having gone through 44 birthdays already, I must admit that my 18th birthday is one occasion I remember clearly. I recall it distinctly because despite the super hectic work schedule my father, the late Congressman Moises Espinosa Sr., had during those days, he organized a grand party and personally attended to every detail of that party. As a true-blooded Masbate local, he decided to use an out-of-the-box type debut celebration, a festive barn party which was a luxurious celebration there. Hundreds of guests attended, a boogie cotillion dance was presented, the famous singing group the Rainmakers and their band were hired to provide the music, and the specially cooked lechon baka from Masbate and lechon manok from Lipa were served among others.
I just realized that my 18th birthday was also a celebration in honor of my mother, Ludivina "Ludy" Espinosa. It was her first time to party after she recovered from an ovarian carcinoma illness which makes it more memorable for me today.
KATA INOCENCIO, broadcast journalist/TV host, Diyos at Bayan: My first-ever birthday celebrated out of the country and away from the family was the most memorable. It was on Sept. 15, 2002 on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. I was there for ministry work. Early in the morning, I went out of our hotel, 7 Arches on Mount of Olives, which has the most breathtaking view of the city of Jerusalem, to have my morning devotional. As I was worshipping and looking at the Dome of the Rock, where it is believed lies the original Temple of Solomon, my focus shifted from the temple area to a single pink rose bud that was towering about two feet above the rose bush in front of me. Then, I remembered my earlier request to the Lord, "Will you send me flowers on my birthday?" And there it was, God’s birthday gift which to me represented my budding, outstretched love towards Jerusalem – the City of our God. My traveling companion, Nena Benigno, who was also having her quiet time, took a snap shot of this sweetest moment.
MELY HECHANOVA, civic-minded lady: Definitely my 70th birthday in December 2002. Since my birthday is the day after Christmas, I normally have just about 50 to 70 friends over because everyone else is out of town or has family commitments. My 70th was special not just because it was a rather large affair (held at the NBC Tent) reuniting friends from all social circles but also because my family really went all out in planning it for me – the invitations ordered from abroad, the table décor of apple trees, the shoot and edit video tribute of my close friends taken on the spot and shown that night, the live trees inside the NBC tent, three bands... and last but not the least the donations that came in for my chosen beneficiary.
ELIZABETH NAKPIL, vice president, Sampaguita Pictures Television and Archives: I was in Rome for my birthday in 2002 and my family treated me to a restaurant Cecilia Metella that served us the most delicious hammered roasted chicken with matching local red wine. The next day, which was my actual birthday, I flew to Los Angeles and spent my birthday again – that’s my birthday two times in two continents.
TINA MARISTELA-OCAMPO, woman of style: Memorable birthdays normally are the most attended, perhaps the most unique, for others, the most lavish. However, mine is the exact opposite of all these. It was my 30th birthday when my husband finally granted me my wish not to have a party but instead escape and be alone with him. We went to Bali and it was the most relaxing, romantic and reflective birthday I have ever had. It was a good end to a decade.
ANDRES VASQUEZ PRADA, buyer for Rustan’s Home Division: My last birthday would have to be the most memorable one because it was so different. My friend’s birthday and my birthday are one day apart, so we decided to celebrate together. We were going to have a fondue dinner at my house but on a whim we decided to have dinner at his house in Tali. His cousin, a chef visiting from Australia and a good friend of mine, came along and suggested a Sunday brunch. We had a midnight candlelight three-course fondue dinner and brunch the following morning and spared no detail! It felt good to relax and not have a party or spend the night out partying for a change. I was surrounded by the people that really mattered to me, although two of my friends couldn’t come.
AGA MUHLACH, actor: There are a lot of memorable birthdays I can think of. But there is one the stands out in my mind. It was in 1999 and I just had my house renovated in time for my 30th birthday. I invited all my friends from Venecia and showbiz and we got together for the first time in my house. They came all the way to Alabang, it felt really good to see them in my house as I turned to the big
3-0. We all had fun!
KAKAI MANOTOC-ARROYO, presidential daughter-in-law: My most memorable birthday by far is the one I had this year. This is because I got the most wonderful (albeit belated) birthday gift in the form of my daughter Eva Victoria, who was born 16 days later, on February 21.
MALOLI ESPINOSA MANALASTAS, vice president of government, corporate affairs and public relations of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.: Having gone through 44 birthdays already, I must admit that my 18th birthday is one occasion I remember clearly. I recall it distinctly because despite the super hectic work schedule my father, the late Congressman Moises Espinosa Sr., had during those days, he organized a grand party and personally attended to every detail of that party. As a true-blooded Masbate local, he decided to use an out-of-the-box type debut celebration, a festive barn party which was a luxurious celebration there. Hundreds of guests attended, a boogie cotillion dance was presented, the famous singing group the Rainmakers and their band were hired to provide the music, and the specially cooked lechon baka from Masbate and lechon manok from Lipa were served among others.
I just realized that my 18th birthday was also a celebration in honor of my mother, Ludivina "Ludy" Espinosa. It was her first time to party after she recovered from an ovarian carcinoma illness which makes it more memorable for me today.
KATA INOCENCIO, broadcast journalist/TV host, Diyos at Bayan: My first-ever birthday celebrated out of the country and away from the family was the most memorable. It was on Sept. 15, 2002 on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. I was there for ministry work. Early in the morning, I went out of our hotel, 7 Arches on Mount of Olives, which has the most breathtaking view of the city of Jerusalem, to have my morning devotional. As I was worshipping and looking at the Dome of the Rock, where it is believed lies the original Temple of Solomon, my focus shifted from the temple area to a single pink rose bud that was towering about two feet above the rose bush in front of me. Then, I remembered my earlier request to the Lord, "Will you send me flowers on my birthday?" And there it was, God’s birthday gift which to me represented my budding, outstretched love towards Jerusalem – the City of our God. My traveling companion, Nena Benigno, who was also having her quiet time, took a snap shot of this sweetest moment.
MELY HECHANOVA, civic-minded lady: Definitely my 70th birthday in December 2002. Since my birthday is the day after Christmas, I normally have just about 50 to 70 friends over because everyone else is out of town or has family commitments. My 70th was special not just because it was a rather large affair (held at the NBC Tent) reuniting friends from all social circles but also because my family really went all out in planning it for me – the invitations ordered from abroad, the table décor of apple trees, the shoot and edit video tribute of my close friends taken on the spot and shown that night, the live trees inside the NBC tent, three bands... and last but not the least the donations that came in for my chosen beneficiary.
ELIZABETH NAKPIL, vice president, Sampaguita Pictures Television and Archives: I was in Rome for my birthday in 2002 and my family treated me to a restaurant Cecilia Metella that served us the most delicious hammered roasted chicken with matching local red wine. The next day, which was my actual birthday, I flew to Los Angeles and spent my birthday again – that’s my birthday two times in two continents.
TINA MARISTELA-OCAMPO, woman of style: Memorable birthdays normally are the most attended, perhaps the most unique, for others, the most lavish. However, mine is the exact opposite of all these. It was my 30th birthday when my husband finally granted me my wish not to have a party but instead escape and be alone with him. We went to Bali and it was the most relaxing, romantic and reflective birthday I have ever had. It was a good end to a decade.
ANDRES VASQUEZ PRADA, buyer for Rustan’s Home Division: My last birthday would have to be the most memorable one because it was so different. My friend’s birthday and my birthday are one day apart, so we decided to celebrate together. We were going to have a fondue dinner at my house but on a whim we decided to have dinner at his house in Tali. His cousin, a chef visiting from Australia and a good friend of mine, came along and suggested a Sunday brunch. We had a midnight candlelight three-course fondue dinner and brunch the following morning and spared no detail! It felt good to relax and not have a party or spend the night out partying for a change. I was surrounded by the people that really mattered to me, although two of my friends couldn’t come.
AGA MUHLACH, actor: There are a lot of memorable birthdays I can think of. But there is one the stands out in my mind. It was in 1999 and I just had my house renovated in time for my 30th birthday. I invited all my friends from Venecia and showbiz and we got together for the first time in my house. They came all the way to Alabang, it felt really good to see them in my house as I turned to the big
3-0. We all had fun!
KAKAI MANOTOC-ARROYO, presidential daughter-in-law: My most memorable birthday by far is the one I had this year. This is because I got the most wonderful (albeit belated) birthday gift in the form of my daughter Eva Victoria, who was born 16 days later, on February 21.
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