10. Ten. Sampu

Not nine and a half or three fourths but 10 exactly on the 28th of April. That's my niece Bianca Ysabel Lolarga Susi. She requested us to come in black and white outfits which had some of us scratching our heads and thinking aloud, "Isn't that a more suitable theme color for a teen or a debutante's party?" She had always declared pink as her favorite color, I suppose because her nanay, my fourth sister, is named Pinky, and pink is the color scheme of the girls' room at their place.

She's supposed to be a happy B, but maybe the humidity made it hard for her to keep her smile.

Three's a charm (from left): Tita Ida Fernandez holding Max, Bianca flashing her sweet smile

 We obliged although this aging aunt was about to dress up (more accurately, dress down)  in her comfiest cotton "daster," the national dress of Filipino women at this sweltering time of the year and say something to the effect that my skin is dark but my soul is white (hmmm, it must be the other way around).

Black and white and colors all over: Mamita Gigi Lolarga, Max Susi, Bianca, Grandma Suzy Lolarga and Tita Ida

And so the family members from Pasig drove off to the foothills of Antipolo towards sundown when the air had cooled to help turn Bianca a happy 10. Pinky prepared a mix and match of food Italian (baked mac of a sort that proved un-photogenic because it reminded me of vermiculture), American (ice cream on cones, lobster thermidor) and Filipino (tilapia fried to a crisp, eggplant and mango salad, Bianca's favorite puto).

Pinky's eggplant salad with cubed sour mangoes, onions, tomatoes and a dash of pepper

The fish points north to show it is best paired with the salad. We like tilapia prepared the heart-choking way: deep fried!

The lobster thermidor went very fast, tucked safely where they should be. No further explanation needed there, considering the love that went into its preparation. Thanks again, Pinky.

The do-it-yourself princess in the family, Marga, with the assistance of Jaja Jorge (our future niece-in-law), did the birthday greeting and other paper cut-outs for the wall while the aunts cooled themselves in Paolo's room which is equipped with an AC.

She put her right foot up, I put my right foot up, we didn't do the hokey pokey, but we compared bunions.

When you're in an AC-cooled room, you think up of all sort of things to fill up your waiting time while waiting for Pinky's announcement of chow time. Bianca and I compared our right foot; I wanted to check if she had inherited from my Mommy's side that trademark bunion. She may be slowly growing one because she's not too comfortable in closed shoes.

Her niece Machiko, a girl who carries the nickname Max (we, at least this grand-aunt, want her to grow into a strong fighter, a woman warrior, not a simpering whiner or wailer) played with the grannies who answered to assorted honorifics like Mamita, Grandma and Booboo. Talk of confusing a child.

Our dear dear niece who likes Elise.

 There were four generations in that house this last Saturday night, including the matriarchs Mama Mermaid (Nene Lolarga, our mom) and Lola Ines (mom of Bianca's tatay Rod).

One candle, usually reserved for brownouts, was enough to mark a milestone. Instead of a cake, half a gallon of strawberry ice cream did the trick. Carla Arriola (second from right) can be counted on to be audacious choral mistress.

 The Susi cousins sang the loudest off-key birthday song in recent memory.

The elders were most appreciative when Bianca played her piano pieces, "Fur Elise" and a melody, "Someone Like You,"  popularized by the singer Adele.

Lola Ines Susi takes five.

I roved around the house with a digicam and renewed acquaintance with old works that I had given Pinky's family. They now hang in their living room and kitchen like this mixed media of hand-stitched flowers set against a a field of orange (acrylic on canvas) done when I was a freshman fine arts student. The piece was part of a group show at Renaissance Gallery in '05.

Embroidering on canvas, that's what a former fine arts student does when her draftsmanship sucks. Detail of four feet by four feet work below.

If you must ask what brought about the embroidery, my answer: a batik house dress I used to flounce around in.This work still exists, but the house dress has either been  given away or cut up and turned into rags.

And the Pasig peeps went home tired but....

Photos by Babeth Lolarga