Ophine and Nanang Celebrate their Birthdays

Ophine turned 40 last July 6 and to celebrate, we went to our favorite restaurant in Davie, 'The Ark' for their Sunday brunch. Just the four of us including David and Missy. We didn't know, our very good friend Edna's Mom Nanang Juanita was turning 74 on July 12 and she wanted to throw a party for her. Being so gracious as she always is, Edna offered to have both of them celebrate their birthday in their home last Saturday to make it a double celebration.

Knowing Edna, she enjoys having parties big and small in their home that it has become a very regular affair done multiple times a year, from a small dinner for a few close friends to their hospital floor's staff party. Okay, with just enough grin on my face, we gladly accepted. It's not easy throwing a party but it's very manageable when we only need to prepare a few dishes san the other stuff that normally you have to do also so I just made some baked ham with dijon mustard, brown sugar and orange marmalade glaze plus some whole cloves for the unique aroma, pancit palabok and a black bean salad. Edna served a lot of varied dishes from pinakbet to lumpiang shanghai plus a lot of people also brought some hot food and several kinds of dessert.

It is very usual for Filipino parties to last for more than a few hours here with people trickling in from the start to late at night. Some parties I've been to last from one meal to almost the next one and this party had food coming in as new guests arrived late. Imagine a Chinese lauriat that when you thought you're done eating, you still want to get a taste of the "new arrivals". Okay, just one day of gluttony! At least I still tried to maintain my high protein, low carb diet even though I was not counting calories and still we were able to bring home some leftovers. One thing that is also usual with Filipino parties, not all of them but you kind of know which ones you surely can do it without the hosts raising an eyebrow or two. LOL! Of course, we do it with some close friends only and even to us when we hold one, we gladly want our guests to bring home food esp. when you kind of prepared a little more than extra! Remember, one more negative Filipino trait so prevalent here, a lot don't R.S.V.P. unless you really follow-up or sometimes, they'd just say "titingnan ko" and then bring their whole clan. That can be a subject for another blog post but I surely will lose some friends, hehehe!



Birthday girls! Ophine with Nanang Juanita.

























Pat helping out in the kitchen.


















Darell, Paulo with Gabriel and Pauline.


















Darell with sons Ryan and Darryl.

















Blessings!















































We're hungry!



















David, Missy and CJ.


















Pastor Joseph Jimenez and friends.



















Pauline Cruz and Jarrod.


























Pauline Jimenez and Gabriel




















Nanang opening her gift from Mike. Must be Victoria Secret!



















Ophine and Missy giving our gift to Nanang.

























Three generations of girls! Nanang, Edna, Czarina and Joanne.


























Bebot and Debbie Bael, us, Cris and Cathie Coralejo, Lot and Jun Dominguez, Edna and Ed Trepanier.

















Magic Sing time, Richard and Jo.



















Ophine and Missy singing some tunes.

Some more random shots!

Missy chasing Happy under the table.






























Ed Trepanier's trophy! Ed had become our free source of wild meat, from venison to pork from a wild pig. Loved 'em all!






















We went home after 12 mn. Thankfully, the kids were able to last for a long time. Thanks to the Trepaniers, as always, our very selfless friends. Lastly, if you need to see the photos larger, just click on the photo itself. I enabled it this time.