Her first party

Someone had a good time over the weekend. It was her first children's party, and the invitation came Sunday morning as the adults wondered aloud where they would venture out that sunny day.

The texted invite said it was going to be a costume party for the celebrator, a year-old girl Lira, at the Powerhouse, a new function room at the Baguio Country Club. The adults said only the baby in the family would turn up in costume. But what will she come as--ballerina or cowgirl?

When the aunt in Manila learned that she went as a plain cowgirl and was outshone by the girls in Snow White or fairy costumes, same aunt asked with a note of sarcasm, "So what prize did Kai bring home? The worst in costume?"

Well, even if Kai just had a ream of toilet paper wrapped around her, she would still have charmed everyone with her good behavior (never cried or whined once) and inborn charm.

But then first-time grandmothers are truly biased.

Kai meets and greets year-old birthday celebrator Lira who is all dolled up in a flouncy pink gown complete with petticoat. Lira wheeled around in her matching walker which was camouflaged by her long dress.

The wee ones pose by the towering birthday cake with a set of grandmas, Auring Bautista and Booboo Babeth. Lira is in another costume--she wore a total of four gowns in one afternoon.

Her grandparents get into the spirit of the afternoon, but Kai in her cow suit isn't comfy with the masks.

She's amenable to rubbing noses with this "stranger" though.

Photos by KIMI L. FERNANDEZ