It Was Time for Kids to Take Over

Last November 12, Nanay Lasing, my mother-in-law, turned 95 years old. Since it was a weekday, her kids decided to throw her a party on Saturday, Nov. 15. The venue was in Hotel Del Rio, Iloilo City.

Nanay had no idea about the party. Or at least that was the plan. We were not sure though if she got an inkling when her children and grandchildren arrived Iloilo one day after the other.

Our ready excuse was that we would be attending Nay Monsing's (her younger sister) 1st-year death anniversary the following day, Sunday.

The party was organized by her kids and grandkids about a couple of months before the set day. On the day itself, as we were all in the house, getting ready, Nanay thought we would all just hear mass and have lunch somewhere. Tet, one of her granddaughters who accompanied to the hotel told us much later that Nanay reacted when their car passed by the nearby Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage church in La Paz. Tet could only mumble, "sunod ka lang La, ah." or something to that effect.

Tet was to bring Nay Lasing to the hotel ahead of everyone else, have her stay in one of the rooms, and wait for the mass, and lunch.

About 10:00AM that day, the guests started arriving. Her good friends also of the same age as hers came even in wheelchairs. Relatives too came in droves. The friend-priest also came.

It was time. Nay Lasing was told to come down from her hotel room for the mass. It was like a wedding reception. Nay Lasing went down the stairs slowly, pausing every now and then at the direction of the video/photographer. She was beaming all the time.

For who wouldn't beam seeing her children and grandchildren, and friends join her in this memorable occasion. And probably for the first time after a long time when she didn't lift a finger or budge an inch to pull off something like that. It has her time to just sit back and relax, and enjoy the fruits of her labor. It was time for the kids to take over.

With delicious food overflowing, guests and family overjoyed, and Nay Lasing grateful and happy, the event was definitely a success!


More photos.