Our Niche: "Houston we have a...BIRTHDAY!"

Swigert: 'Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here.'
Duke: 'This is Houston. Say again please.'
Lovell: 'Houston, we've had a problem. We've had a main B bus undervolt.'
-Apollo 13


Swigert: 'Okay, Houston, we have a birthday here"
Duke: 'This is Houston, Say again please.'
Lovell: 'Houston, WE HAVE A BIRTHDAY!"
Duke: 'OKAY, A BIRTHDAY, WE'LL ALL HAVE A "BLAST"!'
-December 13 

Yes, there was a "blast" in Houston last December 13. A blast of a party that is!

Being away from home, Rey and I have always talked about celebrating our "BIG 30" with a memorable trip, rather than throw a party since we'll be missing our absent family anyway.

We were on the process of choosing the perfect destination, when it dawned on me (yes, it was my idee!), why not celebrate it in the US instead together with his family?

I searched for cheap flights, close to impossible, since airlines impose exorbitant(double the normal!) fare prices during the holiday season. Found a "reasonable" ticket price, still expensive than usual, but way cheaper than flights bound for Manila.

Arrived in Houston, a day before his birthday (just in time)...We were planning to have a quiet dinner with the family to celebrate his birthday, BUT THEN, his ever-loving siblings and the rest of the family have planned a party for the baby of the family :) Birthday daan ni Toto Rey! Ahay kanami :)

Images of the happy event below...But before that, click on the PLAY button on the video for the "birthday slideshow" from Tess and Leo...Grabe halin Pinas hasta New Zealand, may well-wishers ba!

DEC. 13 IMAGES
(Click on pictures for larger view)

preparaciones fuertes
(pate ang bday boy gapang vacuum)

The Lechon and other Delectable Dishes
(Mga chefs daan ang mga kapatid)

United Colors of Benetton

Proost!

Cheers!

Magic Time

The birthday boy had some tricks up his sleeves, and entertained the little ones with some "magic"... The tricks, no, magic I mean, were so incredible the children (and adults) were blown away...Based from the crowd it drew, I am seeing a good business opportunity here :)

The Great Magician and his audience

For Posterity's-Sake Photo Session

Natuurlijk, since mga camera-shy ini sila, I had to persuade,coax them to have their pictures taken for that requisite "family" picture... Grabe, it was so hard to get them to pose for photographs...Tsk3x, gin-ayawan gid ko.

The Fantastic Five
(The Garriel Siblings sans Doc Tess)

Sweet2x ba!

"Mas sweet kami eh!"

"Sinong bespren mo doon?"

"Sinong JUNIOR mo doon?"

PACMAN na naman

And on to the "main event" of the night :)

Even if this was just a replay of the much-awaited fight, everyone was still riveted to the big screen watching the amazing speed at which Pacquaio threw the punches at the "Golden Boy"...