Birthday girls

The third week of May is significant to Startalk because its two female hosts celebrate their respective birthdays on this period: Lolit Solis on May 20 and Rosanna Roces on May 24.

Having two of your dearest friends and co-workers celebrate their birthdays within one week, of course, is doubly fun. But then, it’s also murder on the budget because you have to buy two gifts at the same time.

I got for Lolit her several scented candles because she likes lighting them at home. (Maybe lighting candles enlightens her about the people she should greet in her Alok-Bati portion.) One candle I got for her was strawberry-scented and was shaped like halo-halo in an ice cream dish.

Then, there was this other candle that smelled like an orange and looked like an orange, except that it had a wick on it.

I got for Osang two books on food: One was a cook book on how to cook real spicy dishes (she’s a wiz in the kitchen and eats hot) and the other one, which I think she liked better, was about fancy food on Tiffany service.

I think (and I hope) that she liked the presents because even our good friend Celeste Tuviera (the very talented owner of Symmetria Salon in Greenhills) even remarked to me: "You know what she likes, huh!"

Actually, in spite of her stature in the business, Rosanna Roces is one of the easiest people to please. Based on my experience, she appreciates whatever you give her – no matter how small or inexpensive it is.

It was therefore a pleasure for me to have gone out of my way to get her and Lolit their respective birthday presents. And surely, budget is no problem for me as far as these two women are concerned.

In fact, more than the budget, it’s the diet that I worry more about. The other week, I already wrote about the early birthday bash that the Vera Perezes threw for Lolit last May 10. Then, on her birthday the other Tuesday, she had another party (given by Jinggoy Estrada this time) at Acacia along Wilson St. in Greenhills. (Some of Lolit’s guests dropped by the get-together of the Vilmanians first at nearby Bakahan at Manukan before proceeding to Acacia.)

This party was fun. It had a lot of singing (by Phillip Salvador and Nonoy Zuñiga), gossiping, drinking and, of course, plenty of eating. (That was the first time I ever had pritchon, - deep fried lechon - which although sinful, I could not resist because it was handed to me by Lorna Tolentino and Telly Garcia and I can never say no to them.) But before Jinggoy could even lead the Happy Birthday song for Lolit, the celebrator had already slipped away unnoticed by everyone. Yes, it’s very much like Lolit to take a French leave - even in the middle of her own birthday. (The fact that she stayed until midnight was already a good enough indication that she enjoyed her party - the early-to-bed person that she is.)

The following day, Lolit sent more food to the house: angel hair pasta, garlicky longganisa, laing (given to her by Febe Borra - the Pepita Smith of Startalk) and what tastes like osso bucco, which was prepared specially for Lolit by Amy Austria.

More eating came on the night of Osang’s birthday. For this, the Startalk staff and Osang’s personal guests had to drive all the way to Manila (in the rain for the latecomers) to get to Blue Bay Grill, which was hosting the party. The trip was worth it though because the food was fabulous - and I’m not exaggerating. Everything was fresh - from seafood to those freshly-baked pastries for dessert.

At one point during the dinner, Ynna Matias, the F & B manager, even offered us special laing from Bicol, which although not offered by the restaurant, was served to us just the same. (I don’t know how we were able to stuff that in inside our already bloated stomachs.)

The night was also made special with the presence of Osang’s sister, Arlene, who flew in from Japan just for Rosanna’s birthday.

I’m sure Arlene had a ball, no, not just from the reunion but also from the feast - that very sinful feast.

Oh, I’m so full, I feel terrible. But can I have some more of that pritchon?