Saturday, July 31, 2010

Dancestastic

There was a slight drizzle as we stepped out of the car. As we entered the Blue Ridge 2 Barangay Hall, Cynthia and I were surprised at how that place was spruced up for the event that we were attending. Chairs and tables were decked in white linen adorned with lovely pink ribbons. A tall vase with an exquisite long stemmed bloom punctuated each table top. An enticing buffet table sprawled at the right side of the hall. We could hear soft music from the combo that was warming up by the left side of the stage.

At exactly six pm, the birthday celebrant walked in. We stood up and were the first to greet my co-alumni of Arellano High School, class '62 and dear friend, Lilian Castro nee Lopez. Soon other guests started pouring in. The combo started singing standards that were popular during our salad days. Twenty minutes after her arrival, Lilian welcomed and thanked her well wishers and promised an evening of fun and dancing. Her friend and Cynthia's former boss (whom she hasn't seen in a long while - small world indeed), Sally Fernando, blessed the gathering with a prayer. Lilian then requested that each table send a representative to say something about the celebrant. Our co-alumni, Ester Dijamco, spoke in our behalf as she reminisced her high school and college times with her dear friend.

Then the buffet. It was lavish - both a feast for the eyes and a gastronomic delight. White rice and carbonara pasta went along with Chicken Cordon Bleu, Lengua, Breaded Fish Fillets, Pork Barbecues on a stick and Waldorf Salad. Dessert was Fruit Salad and lusciously sweet Leche Flan. Iced tea complemented the culinary fare.

After dinner came the dancing. The tables in the middle of the hall were removed to provide space for the evening's terpsichores. To get things started there was an Argentine Tango exhibition followed by a fiery Flamenco solo. Lilian then declared, "Everybody dance!". Slowly, the floor began to fill with swinging dancers. Being the only male around who was not a DI (Dance Instructor) I felt a bit underqualified to join the others in swaying to rock-and-roll music. Cynthia, on the other hand, couldn't resist the beat and hailed one of the DI's. Soon they were off and dancing.

Also sharing our table, aside from Ester, were three lady friends of Lilian who were all Eastwood residents. One of the them, Tita Siony, also an ex-pat retiree like ourselves, took a liking on us (perhaps as kindred spirits) and shared with us her life stories. She was also among the first to hit the dance floor. After doing the boogie for a good ten minutes, Cynthia returned to our table, a bit out of breath. Tita Siony, meanwhile, kept on dancing through the various genres that the combo played. Did I mention that she's 84 years old?

At one point, Lilian asked, no, forced, me to dance the Samba with her, a dance I absolutely do not know how to execute. She encouraged me to just follow the rhythm. As I embarrasingly started to swing my hips to the feverish beat of the samba, Lilian was called by her in-laws for some important business. Gratefully and much relieved, I returned to our table.

No Filipino dance party is complete without an Electric Slide Line Dancing. I thought my knee can handle this so together with Ester and another co-alumni (Cora del Prado-Lim, who was delayed in coming to the party by the now heavily-pouring rain), we joined the fray. Cynthia decided to sit this one out.

As the evening mellowed into night, so did the music. When the combo started playing the Rumba, Cynthia and I were ready. Despite being the only "amateur" male dancer on the floor, I cherished having to finally being able to dance with my wife. Nevermind the simplicity of our steps and even some miscues, I was dancing with my life partner - and that's all that mattered to me.


The time came when Lilian had to blow the candles on her cake. When asked what she wished for on her birthday, she replied, "I just wish that my dear, departed husband, Jun, would lay beside me tonight." Not a few tears fell as we all felt Lilian's deep love that remained long after the object of her affection had gone on to be with God.

The party slowly came to a close. As Cynthia and I floated back to our car, we couldn't help but admire Tita Siony - the 84-year old lady who outdanced everyone on the floor. And thanks to our friend, Lilian, the birthday celebrant, and generous host, for making us starry-eyed on a rainy night.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Healthy Oh

Yesterday was a dry run. Gingerly I eased myself into the driver's seat of our vehicle. No pain on the left knee. So far so good.  I started the engine and slowly moved the vehicle forward. Once around the block and everything felt fine. "OK, let's go, " my wife said encouragingly. Off we went to Ortigas Center primarily to attend the 8:30 service at Victory Christian Fellowship and then to hang around the mall for a while. (Cynthia promised me lunch at Iceberg - one of my favorite dining places at Galleria). When we got home later that day, my wife wanted to know how my left knee reacted to a whole morning of driving/walking/sitting. "It feels okay!", I told her truthfully.


Monday morning was the real test. I will be driving along with the morning traffic and then I will have to endure standing for long periods of time. That is because we will be going to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Pasig to renew the registration of our vehicle. I was dithering the night before, afraid that transacting with a government office would wreak havoc not only on my weak knee but on my nerves as well. But this is something that had to be done. 


After paying the P20 parking fee, we were immediately ushered to the inspection area, where a stencil of the VIN was taken. Mang Eddie, the Inspector's Aide assigned to us, was very helpful and helped us through each step in the renewal process. He even suggested some remedy for my knee when he learned about its condition. 


We were informed that we need to get a Third Party Liability (TPL) Insurance despite us telling them that we do have a comprehensive coverage - which, of course, already includes TPL. That cost us P980 which we thought was reasonable. While Cynthia was waiting for the policy to be finished (it was being typed on the spot using a manual typewriter) I, on the other hand, was waiting for the emission test (costing P430). After about an hour, just as the policy was about to be finished, they called me and the emission test was done on our XTrail (which passed with flying colors). Next was submitting all the paperwork to the Evaluator. "Just wait for your name to be called", we were advised. Again, close to an hour had passed when Cynthia's name was finally called. That means it was now time to pay the registration fees (around P2500) and obtain the 2010 stickers afterwards.


As I mentioned before, I had a certain degree of skepticism when dealing with government offices, but our experience here at the LTO somehow changed that. The time spent in waiting (at the emission test center and at the Evaluator) was due to sheer volume and not of bureaucracy. I remember in the 60's and 70's that nothing will get accomplished unless you hired a "fixer" - someone who will expedite the paperwork because of their "connections" at that office. This morning, I was amazed that they no longer allow such individuals at their premises. I also understood that offices are still "low-tech" albeit for a good purpose. Government offices (not just the LTO - we've seen this at the Bureau of Immigration as well) would rather use manpower (and therefore providing jobs to more people) than computerize the whole process (and deprive a number of Filipinos of work). My wife and I also observed that the employees now are more helpful and have better work ethics than those of several decades in the past.


As we drove home, my wife can't help but notice the smile on my face. "My knee feels great!", I explained. "Not only that", I continued, "I am happy that now our government workers have a healthier attitude towards their jobs." 


And we are all for the better because of that.