ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Grateful at 50

Grateful at 50

Published Feb 14, 2026 12:05 am  |  Updated Feb 13, 2026 05:57 pm
HOTSPOT
Last weekend, on Feb. 8 to be exact, I had an absolutely great and memorable time celebrating my 50th birthday at Commune Cafe+Bar+Roastery in Poblacion, Makati with family and friends.
Commune’s second floor was packed on that Sunday afternoon. Surrounded by my siblings and family, and in front of a tarpaulin adorned with multi-colored balloons, I told my guests that all I wanted was to be with them on my special day.
After I blew the candle on my mocha-flavored birthday cake, we had 80’s birthday party fare of fried chicken, spaghetti, hotdogs-and-marshmallows on stick, as well as kakanin and buko pie. Sunny Orange is no more, so we instead had a huge container of sago’t gulaman to share. A good friend also brought gallons of delicious ice cream from Bataan which became a crowd favorite. To cap the merienda, guests had cups of Commune’s coffees.
My crowd was truly prim and proper and polite. I actually forgot to slice my birthday cake, and I think the folks probably thought it was not for the taking. They left it untouched. Sorry about that.
Like many of you, I also have different nicknames for different sets of friends. But none has been more lasting than my byline here. A high school classmate christened me with that name, perhaps inspired by the intro scene to a music video-cum-TV ad by Gary Valenciano that came out at around that time.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank many of my friends who came out and went to Commune last Sunday for their presence and for the gifts I didn’t expect to receive. I cannot thank them enough:
Classmates from Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School: Wreckz Garcia (and friends), and Richard Francia (and wife Sheryll);
Batchmates from Manila Science High School: Darwin Portugal, Elvin Abalahin, Menard Osena, Maui Ribay Osena, Beverly Manalo Ladan, Andre Ladan, JK Granada (and Mish Granada), Francis Molina, Trace Fortu (and Dr. Ivan Fortu), Mae Timonera Cornejo, Gami Tumambing (and Mariz Tumambing), Jang Monte, and Michael Angelo Asis (now a sports columnist);
Arnold Lavilla and Gerry Akim came for themselves and on behalf of my classmates Edgar Allan Lavilla and Eddie Akim who have gone ahead to the Great Beyond;
Classmates from UPLB and fellow Sociosoc alum: Ferdinand Jorge, AC Cometa, and Jasmine Gonzales;
College Editors Guild of the Philippines alumni: former Guild presidents Prestoline Suyat, Ruth Cervantes, and Teddy Casino, as well as Fr. Ritche Salgado OCarm and Vincent Michael Borneo;
Veteran bloggers Noemi Lardizabal Dado, Fitz Villafuerte, Don Padillo Trivino, Reg Ramos (and daughter), and Janette Toral;
Grace Saguinsin Trinidad, Anna Pangilinan, Primo Morillo, Gerry Lirio, Joyce Sierra, Joy and Jeff Tagle, lawyer Toby Purisima, Ramon Nocon, Gang Badoy Capati, Ina Silverio (and Francis), Bambam Luneta, Mayang Guerrero Azurin, Marjohara Tucay, Tex Molina (my former editor), Dr. Kitchie Guanzon Ridon, Inday Espina Varona, Mae Paner (a.k.a. Juana Change), Rick Bahague, Trixie Concepcion, and favorite public interest lawyers Neri Colmenares and Edre Olalia;
Friends from Clubhouse: Roland Jim Jareno, Dr. Edrie Alcanzare, Marj Restrivera, Paolo Quimbo, Mark Joseph Arrogante, Ace Gapuz (Blogapalooza CEO), MJ Pineda, Ix Cepeda, Inna Anchinges and journalist Zandro Ochona.
Tuesday Club regulars: National Press Club president Boying Abasola, Toto Fetalino, and Carol Claudio.
Apologies to those whose names I may have failed to remember.
These friends represent the many things that were/are important to me: school, jobs, hobbies, causes, and affiliations through the years. All good friends. I would have invited more, but the venue could only accommodate a finite number. Some were unavailable on that date, many are now living abroad.
Special mention for my sister Anne, brother Ryan (and Nell), Lianne (and Bern), Catherine, Mara (and Aaron) and the youngest ones Calix and Avery. Mama, who we terribly miss, would have loved to be there. She would have been the star and special guest.
Special thanks go to great friends and hosts Ros Juan and Raffy Celestial, and Commune’s events team and staff for being the creative and attentive force behind the scenes.
Thanks too to the many who sent greetings and best wishes my way.
I have no birthday message in mind, only a wish and prayer for family and friends who have supported, sustained, inspired, debated, and challenged me. May God bless you for your kindness and generosity to me and to others.
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.