I HAVE been desiring a cozy birthday celebration – not big; not fussy; just cozy in a class bar with an intimate crowd, but more importantly with piano music, if I could find one naturally!
What would you know, the newest hotel to renovate in General Santos City, Sydney Hotel, offers this special feature! They have a pianist playing nightly. Actually, two pianists regularly playing on schedule for the entire week. Just my luck! I can have a pianist on my birthday. The heavens smile at me.
Thus I didn’t waste time to book the pianist of my choice, made personal arrangements with him, and voila! I had a pianist on my birthday. Isn’t that cool?
It is! It is amazing actually! I had so much fun. Best part, only a few diners came that night and they left early, so we practically had the elegant bar all to ourselves for the night! Superb really!
Of course since it’s a birthday dinner, I had special guests – millennial guests! I have met them through the years – Jessica “Jessi” Llego, from my Executive Director days at the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Patrick Villas, Remelyn Selim, Irish Jane Ampuyas, and Sheliene Joy Canda, from my TV Host days at Brigada News TV; and Joanna Rose Babol, guest of my daughter Shiloh Ruthie from Bread of Life Ministry. Lt. Abby Lorenzo, formerly of Brigada News TV but now serving the Philippine Army, was not able to come since she’s assigned somewhere far, as well as Ira Rose Estrella, another friend of my daughter.
Some have something to say about the special night and since this is my birthday column, I will listen to what they have to say. Why not? It’s my treat!
Here’s Irish Jane A. Ampuyas who now serves TESDA: This June happens to be my friend Belle’s birth month and she desired a color motif for her birthday celebration. She is the type of person who is stylish and organized (I like that!). Ahead of time, we were informed to dress up either in black or white. She added – to convince us, although we didn’t need any convincing, that the color theme will look good on photo!
She planned a simple Birthday Dinner with a choice venue (not her home because she doesn’t want to cook – how true!), with elegant background music provided by a piano no less!, good food, with her daughter Shiloh Ruthie, and us, her millennial friends.
When we arrived, food was already served on the long table ready to be devoured haha; classic piano music playing on the background. We did a few minutes of greet and meet, then everybody settled down. A prayer of Thanksgiving was led by Joanna Rosa Babol. Following that and on cue, the pianist played the birthday song. We all sung.
The food selection, personally ordered by the host, was a “thumbs up”. I loved her choices that came in plenty for all of us. There was a variety of dishes -from chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetable, too. Chilled tropical fruits consisting of mango, pineapple, watermelon, and papaya were available for dessert.
While dining, we chatted about various topics including work, personal stuff, and the raging issues confronting General Santos City at the moment. (Note: These raging issues are overtaken by the most recent directive of President Duterte.)
Post-dinner was devoted to singing accompanied by Gabby, the pianist, and photographing – as if millennial adults don’t crave it while cracking jokes!
We decided to leave the venue and parted ways at 10:00 pm. We were not rushing to go home though. In fact, we sat by the hotel lobby and “owned” the whole place, haha, and had a good time chatting with new friends and re-acquainting with former colleagues. I must say I had so much fun in the party. It was a blast!
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I don’t easily call someone a “friend” because I believe that a friend is a sister from another mother and I consider you Ma’am Belle, one of the few friends/Ate I have. Cheers to more years of friendship! I love you! – Lt. Abby Lorenzo
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
