Before I go on to the details on how we were able to come up with the party, let me give you a brief background about my Dad.He is the second to the eldest among the children of Wenceslao and Angelina. His siblings are Josefina and Helen. A true blooded Kapampangan, Daddy found his passion in the arts. He took up Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Advertising at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in España, Manila. Shortly after graduation he landed in an advertising agency. Branded as a silent water that runs deep, Daddy is a man of few words. But he is so articulate in expressing himself. He worked in various well-known and prestigious advertising agencies in the Philippines and one of those was DYR-Alcantara.
Because of his art works, he was able to capture the heart of our mother, Minda. In short they raised six lovely angels namely: Joyce, Jheng, Joan, Jaramine, Janelle and Jennica. Our family grew in number when the three of us got married and have children we call our own. Now, Daddy is already Lolo Dad to his 9 grandchildren.
Life caters not only happiness but also slices of sadness. Our Mommy died last April 2, 2015. We didn't expect it to happen but we hold on to the thought that God has a reason. Whatever it is, we believe it is for good.
ORGANIZING THE PARTY
When my Mommy was still alive, we were planning to have a party for Daddy because he will turn 70 then. But there were no concrete plans yet. Until this year when February is fast approaching, me and my sisters Jara, Nica and Janelle had a meeting on the surprised party.
I also called and informed my two sisters, Joyce and Joan (who are living in abroad) about the plan. Without any hesitation, I got their Yes! We were very excited as the days passed by.
The preparation includes the finalization of the date of the party, the venue, the time, the caterer and the guests list.
When we finalized the whereabouts of the party and who were the invited people, my sister Joan made the invitation. I sent her the details of the party and she made a lay out of the invitation, the backdrop and the poster.
We also thought of coming up with a button pin as our souvenir give away.
We sent the invitation through Facebook, while we texted the other guests to come.
THE INVITATION
This is the invitation we sent to the guests through Facebook and Email.
THE BACKDROP
We placed this one at the wall to be part of the decoration of the stage.
THE POSTER
We used this as decoration for "Daddy's Corner" instead of a photo booth.
THE SOUVENIR
We thought of a button pin that serves as our souvenir for the guests who came so that they will have something to look upon as they remember this event in my Daddy's life.
THE STAGE
The stage was decorated by Bong, one of our maintenance staff in the office. The stage was surrounded with green plants symbolizing greater hope for more years of happy life.
DADDY'S CORNER
Instead of renting a photo booth, we thought of creating a corner where they can take photos of themselves and with the birthday boy.
THE CAKE
The cake was very simple yet attractive and meaningful as it seem. It was the gift of my sister Janelle and his boyfie, Harold.
THE SURPRISE
Before we started the surprise party, the venue was already set. The decorations, catering, the props, sound system were already set. The guests were all gathered inside the venue. While waiting for Daddy to arrive, we have old photos of him with his family, relatives, friends and colleagues. It was accompanied by playing some of the oldies but goodies songs from his generation.
We started the program with a surprise. Here's how we did it.
"One of the best things in life happens in
a surprise! It's Daddy's 70th Birthday! Without his knowledge, a big surprise
birthday party awaits him. Making it possible to gather all the people
that matters in his life excitedly waiting for him to arrive at the venue.
How we
were able to bring him at the party?
Days before I told him that there is a media event in the office and we were looking for volunteers. There were many raffle prizes to be given away. Talking out loud to my sisters (so that Daddy can hear) whom I asked if they want to volunteer.
On Saturday, February 27, at 2pm, I was already in the venue and I called Daddy saying, "Dad, aalis ka ba? Pwede mo ba ako sunduin sa office mamaya. Di ba kasi may event kami. nanalo kasi ko ng washing machine. Tulungan niyo ko ni Nica iuwi para maisakay sa FX." Then, he said, "sige."
At around 5p.m., Jennica, my sister called
saying, "ate Jheng, malapit na kami." As they arrived, I said,
"Dad, dun tayo sa 4th floor nandun kasi yung napanalunan ko." At the
door, before we entered, I called Janelle, my other sister to signal tht we
were already about to enter. I knocked and I said, "kuya pakibukas naman
po yung pinto, ibababa lang po namin yung washing machine."
As the door opened everybody was there to surprise him. His family, relatives, friends and colleagues were all there for his big day.
It was a connivance between us, his family and
the rest.
Special
thanks to Ms. Ggie Bernabe for capturing these significant moments.
THE PROGRAM
We started the program with an Opening Prayer led by Jennard, the eldest among the grandsons.
Dear Lord,
These we ask in the name of Jesus Christ and with the help of our
Blessed Mother, Amen.
After the prayer, an Opening Dance Number was presented to set the party into a more festive mood. Chelsea, Caitlin and Jeraine danced to the tune of All About the Bass and they called themselves "Lolo Dad's Angels."
Today, we are gathered here to celebrate the 70th birthday of our daddy, Nestor. 70 wonderful years of existence is indeed a blessing to be thankful for to the Lord and as they say, cheers for
the years to come!
This celebration is not just to show or let daddy feel how much we love and care for him but a wonderful opportunity to know him better and deeper.
This celebration also opens the door for us, his family to start a new chapter in our lives. Her wife, our mother, Minda passed away on April 2, 2015. We are grieving for almost a year. After she left us, we tried to live our lives without her. Damn hard! But we have to. We have to move a step forward, of course with her memories always in our hearts. Life goes on as they always say. This celebration could be a lot happier if Mommy is here. She was waiting for this celebration to happen as well as their golden anniversary. But I believe, wherever Mommy is, she is happy to see us all together here. She is happy to see daddy smiling.
After giving a brief introduction of what the event was all about, a short video presentation was prepared by Jennica to mark the milestones in Daddy's life as well as to look back at the old memories and to look forward in creating new memories.
The grandchildren we're called in front of the stage to join their Lolo Dad as they present the birthday cake for him to make a wish and blow the candles.
When the cake was presented, Richard, my husband, who is in another country gave his message and birthday wishes to Daddy.
Some of us have traditions during birthdays. One of those is the symbolical gifts. In Daddy's 70th birthday celebration we have chosen 7 important people in his life that will give him a symbolical gift and at the same time to give their message and birthday wishes. They were: Helen (sister), Gay (cousin), Luz (cousin), Gigie (colleague; she also represented Ms. Grace Chong-boss of Daddy), Amy (kumare; in behalf of Sixto) and Long-Long (kumpare).
An acoustic rendition of the songs Living Legacy, Let it Be and You Were There were performed by Mark and Nimrod taking the party into a lighter mood. Those songs were (we think) among Daddy's favorites.
Dinner was served after Mark and Nimrod rendered their soulful version of the oldies but goodies songs from Daddy's generation.
Shortly after we ate our dinner, we showed the video message of my sister Joan and her partner, Con. They are in Australia and they also wanted to give Dad their birthday greetings and wishes.
After the video was shown, we then proceeded with the 7 Dance. You might be wondering why there is a seven dance?
We usually see a father and daughter dance during a debut. But this time, in this very special occasion, we took the opportunity to have a dance with Daddy. All of us his daughters and grand daughters had a dance with him. This was a reminder that once in daddy and mommy's life, they held us their children in their embrace. Their daughters who were once babies, turned into ladies, turned into women.
The seven dance were: Jeraine, Caitlin, Chelsea, Jennica, Janelle, Jaramine and Jheng.
THE PROGRAM
We started the program with an Opening Prayer led by Jennard, the eldest among the grandsons.
We are gathered here as we celebrate the 70th birthday of NESTOR
MANALANG.
Today, we are given the opportunity to once again celebrate the gift of
life you give to Nestor. We are given the chance of thanking you for those times
of celebrations as we remember the amazing days of his life.
Together, we bow our heads with so much thanksgiving on our lips and
with joy in our spirit for giving Nestor the gift of long and wonderful life.
We ask you to always bless him and his family. Continue to shower them
your undying love and care.
Protect him with your loving arms. Stand by him either in his victory
or defeat. Make him count on you in everything he does.
Make him see the glory of your name as he goes through the different
stages and seasons of his life.
We pray that you continue to bless him your wisdom and fill his life
with your mercy and grace.
We ask you to always pour him your unending grace as he continue to be
the strength of his family.
Lord, be with him as he continue to journey his life. Make him see the
gifts you bestowed upon him and his family as he reflects and looks back over
the years of his life.
As he begin to start another chapter of his life, make it more
meaningful and fruitful. Shower it with blessings ahead of him.
Grant him also good health and many more years so he can continue to
serve, care and love his family.
After the prayer, an Opening Dance Number was presented to set the party into a more festive mood. Chelsea, Caitlin and Jeraine danced to the tune of All About the Bass and they called themselves "Lolo Dad's Angels."
After these cute little kids graced the celebration, my sisters Janelle and Jennica read the reason of the celebration.
the years to come!
This celebration is not just to show or let daddy feel how much we love and care for him but a wonderful opportunity to know him better and deeper.
This celebration also opens the door for us, his family to start a new chapter in our lives. Her wife, our mother, Minda passed away on April 2, 2015. We are grieving for almost a year. After she left us, we tried to live our lives without her. Damn hard! But we have to. We have to move a step forward, of course with her memories always in our hearts. Life goes on as they always say. This celebration could be a lot happier if Mommy is here. She was waiting for this celebration to happen as well as their golden anniversary. But I believe, wherever Mommy is, she is happy to see us all together here. She is happy to see daddy smiling.
After giving a brief introduction of what the event was all about, a short video presentation was prepared by Jennica to mark the milestones in Daddy's life as well as to look back at the old memories and to look forward in creating new memories.
The grandchildren we're called in front of the stage to join their Lolo Dad as they present the birthday cake for him to make a wish and blow the candles.
When the cake was presented, Richard, my husband, who is in another country gave his message and birthday wishes to Daddy.
An acoustic rendition of the songs Living Legacy, Let it Be and You Were There were performed by Mark and Nimrod taking the party into a lighter mood. Those songs were (we think) among Daddy's favorites.
Dinner was served after Mark and Nimrod rendered their soulful version of the oldies but goodies songs from Daddy's generation.
Shortly after we ate our dinner, we showed the video message of my sister Joan and her partner, Con. They are in Australia and they also wanted to give Dad their birthday greetings and wishes.
After the video was shown, we then proceeded with the 7 Dance. You might be wondering why there is a seven dance?
We usually see a father and daughter dance during a debut. But this time, in this very special occasion, we took the opportunity to have a dance with Daddy. All of us his daughters and grand daughters had a dance with him. This was a reminder that once in daddy and mommy's life, they held us their children in their embrace. Their daughters who were once babies, turned into ladies, turned into women.
The seven dance were: Jeraine, Caitlin, Chelsea, Jennica, Janelle, Jaramine and Jheng.
After the 7 dance, a video message of my sister Joy with her family was shown. They wanted to greet Dad a happy birthday and to extend their wishes for a happy life. It was followed by a dance number from Dan, her husband and son, Elian.
The Lolo Dad's Angels had their opening number by dancing All About the Bass. These good looking grandsons of Daddy would let this celebration passed without performing something for their Lolo. They sang "Ang Huling El Bimbo" by the Eraserheads.
Singing doesn't run in our blood. But for their willingness to please their Lolo, they did.
The boys were: Christian, Jennard, Christoff and Carl.
After the performance of the boys, we came to one of the highlights of the celebration. The 7 Toasts or the Birthday Toast.
A birthday toast can be viewed in
different ways. You can help the guests remember the celebrant in good light. A
toast can also communicate how much the speaker values his/her experiences with
the celebrant. A toast can also state thankfulness or a toast can speak of the
ways the celebrant can continue his legacy. And what is important about having
a toast is to remind us that daddy still has time left to live. More years to
live for him to make more memories with us.
The 7 toasts were: Isting, Rudy, Jun, Ross, Chris, JQ and Allan.
These we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, with the help of Mama Mary.
Amen.
The 7 toasts were: Isting, Rudy, Jun, Ross, Chris, JQ and Allan.
And the toast to the years that passed and for the years ahead...Happy Birthday, Nestor!!!
We heard so much about Daddy. This time it is the time to hear from him as he delivered his message and gratitude to those who remembered and came over the party.
We ended the celebration with a closing prayer led by Christian Ribay.
Dear Lord,
We are so much thankful and grateful for
an occasion like this. Thank you for gathering us all here to celebrate Daddy’s
7Oth birthday. It was indeed an unforgettable and wonderful moments that we
will all surely add in our library of happy memories.
May we all keep in touch with Daddy as he
continue to write new pages in his life.
We will not close this celebration, for
everyday is a celebration of life for daddy and for all of us.
Grant him good health and many more years
to live. Bless all the people he love and the people that love him.
Guide our footsteps as we go home.
Here are some of the photos during the Surprise Birthday Party...
In behalf of my family we would like to say thank you to all of you who remembered and came over our surprised party for our Daddy. We thank you and we are looking forward to seeing you making memories with us.
The party was hosted by Jara and Jheng (we're his daughters).
We thank the following:
Santos family, Prado family, Ribay family
Jennica for the Video Presentation
Janelle and Harold for the Cake
Joan for lay out of Invitation, Backdrop, Poster and Souvenir
Jara for the Balloons
Jheng for the Script and Program/Coordinator
Tita Helen
Ggie Bernabe for contacting the DYR colleagues
RCAM for the venue
Vikoy's Catering
Bong for the stage and Daddy's Corner decorations
Ajie for the technical support
Pastoral Secretariat for the LCD Projector
RCAM guards
If I forgot someone/something,,,,please bear with me...Thank you and God bless us all!!!
