PILI, Camarines Sur — A local band played welcome music as soon as Aga Muhlach stepped out of the early-morning Air Philippines flight from Manila on Aug. 11, the day before he turned 40.
“I was surprised,” admitted Aga.
It was a surprise from his wife Charlene Gonzales who organized a four-day celebration at the sprawling CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC), hosted by Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte. Well-wishers who flew in from Manila were billeted at well-appointed cabins at The Villas of CWC.
Guests were provided with an “itinerary” carefully prepared by Charlene (a perfect events organizer, I should say), complete to the last detail, from breakfast between 7 and 8:30 a.m. to dinner at 7 p.m. and a lot of other activities in-between.
“You’re free to do anything you want,” was Charlene’s reminder at the end of the “itinerary.” “Happy happy lang.”
So that’s what everybody did — happy happy lang — especially on Aga’s special day, Aug. 12.
Guests who were having late breakfast under tents broke into a collective “Happy birthday!” when Aga and Charlene (who slept late the night before, entertaining friends) came, together with their twins Andres and Atasha. Then, it was “happy happy lang” until and after lunch, into the late afternoon. Some went wake-boarding while others watched from the clubhouse where meals were served, some strolled around the complex, some took power naps and the rest simply opted to shoot the breeze over glasses of wine and juice(s).
Before dinner, Fr. Tito Caluag said a special Mass for the birthday boy who was later “roasted” in video clips enumerating “the 40 things” to love about Aga, including a revelation that as a kid, he wore girl’s clothes and played with Barbie Dolls.
There was intermittent drizzle the day before, during the day and, I’m sure, the day after, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the CamSur revelers. Highlight of the big night was a brief show with dance music provided by the Higher Grounds band hired by Aga through the Internet.
Still in fighting form at 40, Aga is determined to shed unwanted 40 lbs. before he starts shooting his next movie (with Regine Velasquez, directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal who did a “special dance” during the show) in three weeks.
The “happy happy lang” went on until the wee hours of the next morning.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)