Derek to the point

MANILA, Philippines – I was in Australia during my birthday, last Dec. 7. The next day, I flew to Isabela, Ilocos to devote two days to the “World Vision Noche Buena Caravan.” We were there to help the families who were devastatingly affected by Typhoon Juan, which hit Isabela last Oct. 18.

The experience was very fulfilling. I was especially touched to see the happy faces of the kids who until this day have no homes and have close to nothing. I am pleased that, instead of giving dole-outs, World Vision helps the community bring back their livelihood. I joined the different activities like planting rice and left very happy to have adopted two more kids and to be able to help them get through school.

I was excited to fly back to Manila for a small birthday dinner at Lusso in Greenbelt 5. I wasn’t really planning to dress up, because I’m a T-shirt and shorts kind of guy, but since I was in a good mood coming from Isabela, I decided to dress up more than usual. And I’m so glad I did!

Swatch up: Angelica Panganiban, Derek and Christian Bautista

When I got to Greenbelt 5 in the Lusso area I realized it was actually a big surprise party for me! The whole Lusso area and the Greenbelt 5 garden were decked out with cherry blossoms (which reminds me of good times in Tokyo!), oversized photos (from the Beijing Olympics to the World Cup in South Africa) and sunglasses (which I never go without), toys and games (because I am just so competitive).

I am not a big fan of surprises, but for the last two years Tita Virgie Ramos has managed to sneak one over on me. I didn’t see any of it coming again this year! The whole mood of the party was filled with everything I like and things that make me who I am. You have to know that I am really a kid at heart, so having games like the Alligator Bite game for kids three years and up, which was turned into a drinking game, was really so much fun! Aside from this, the food prepared by Margarita Fores reminded me of places that are special to me such as shepherd’s pie (because I’m half-Brit) to lobster (for my school years in Boston) and Bacolod Lechon (because I am never on a diet). 

It was everything I would have done if I were to plan my party. It was big, but it still felt relaxed, intimate and nice, because I was surrounded by people I really cared about my Frisbee teammates, friends in the entertainment industry, family and friends who I haven’t seen in a long time who just came because they’d heard about the party.

Everything was so perfect!

Three Swatch men and a lady: Swatch’s Tita Virgie with Matteo Guidicelli, Billy Crawford and Swatch Philippines creative director Rowell Santiago

I was also happy to hear the greetings I received from random passersby, who took their time to greet me Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas. I rarely have the opportunity to communicate with a lot of people since I don’t tweet and all the other stuff, so it was enjoyable to be able to take pictures with them. It was really nice of them to stop by.

These back-to-back surprise parties were great ways of celebrating my birthdays. The years 2009 and 2010 have been very good to me. Looking forward to next year too, with, hopefully, three times the charm!