No one can celebrate more or play harder than us Filipinos! And so, in spite of the double tragedies in New York City and Washington, DC, the ongoing anthrax threats and our unspoken fear of traveling, the party and the music play on in many Filipino homes.
Dr. Helen Muriera’s house at 17th Avenue in The City, however, was too small to accommodate close to 270 friends and relatives who greeted Ate Helen on her 75th birthday late last month. With the help of close friends and her children, the glamorous and lively doctora hosted a fabulous dinner-dance at the plush Hyatt Hotel in Burlingame.
A well-known physician and community leader, Dr. Muriera is one of the most loved and respected Filipino-Americans in San Francisco. No wonder her guest list was so long! Ate Helen is actively involved in so many projects but principally with the Golden Gate Lions, the Philippine Medical Society, her wide general practice, her big family and bigger circle of friends.
Dressed in an ecru jusi gown flown from Manila, Dr. Muriera flitted graciously from one group of finely gowned individuals to another, more tireless than her group of volunteers like Virgie Buban, Marisa Robles, Annie Donato-Lopez and Fely Mele, who assisted in the reception, seating and program that preceded the meal.
Her guests could have filled up a Fil-Am who’s who list: Ambassador to Brussels Romy Arguelles and his lovely wife Azucena (Romy is a former San Francisco Consul-General) and SF Con-Gen Delia Rosal. Ate Helen’s barkada of more than 30 years who call themselves The Magnificent Seven, composed of Dr. Norma Catajan, Dr. Charito Hilario, Mila Limjuco, Pilar Roybal, Aurora "Abay" Trono, were also there. Her associates at Golden Lions Club, including the singing dentist-tenor Dr. Tito Yusi, Al and Annie Lopez, Rudy and Elma Loredo; her friends in the medical profession like Dr. Tony and Virgie Gualberto, the husband-and-wife team of Dr. and Dr. Rudy Espiritu, heart specialist Dr. Alex Yap, ob-gyne Dr. Lene Martinez, Dr. Agnes Alikpala and pediatrician Dr. Vivien Hernandez. And other dear friends like Monsignor Fred Bitanga of St. Patrick’s Parish in San Francisco, Amado Villanueva, and Philippine News publisher/editor Cherie Querol-Moreno.
A five-minute audiovisual presentation extolled Dr. Helen Muriera’s remarkable professional and personal triumphs, followed by a modern dance number by her grandchildren. And then, the dance floor was opened to the public and guess who was first on the floor? The tireless and most graceful Dr. Helen Muriera, who could have out-danced them all!
The Ave Cruzes along with Arnel Camesa and his sister Malou Camesa Mariano were guests of the Danny Navarretes for early New Year’s Eve dinner. The menu offered crabs a la Thanh Long and paella prepared by Goya and served by standup comedian Rex Navarrete and his sister Joy. After a 20-minute break, the party drove up the winding streets of Hillsborough to visit with Atty. Ted and Josie Laguatan in their fabulous four-story mansion that was literally attached to a hillside.
A work of art in progress, the new Laguatan residence is being re-decorated by Guia Lina Mercado (Joey Lina’s cousin), but it was nonetheless an open house on New Year’s Eve. Josie had her side of the family visiting for the holidays–90-year-old Mama, widow of the late Philippine Ambassador Bernal and her two brothers from Southern California and Chicago. Josie graciously led a tour of their new home, a six-bedroom mansion with a triangular swimming pool on the third floor, and a small elevator for the weak-of-knees to move from the first to fourth floors.
Food and drinks overflowed, but everyone opted for the family room where Ave Cruz performed a brief mini piano concert of classical pieces, and guests like Ted (who likes Elvis) and Danny Navarrete (who sings the Bee Gees) and John Paul Laguatan (who can sing most anything, after the ‘80s music) took over the karaoke.
By 11:30 p.m., the Cruzes were ready to go home to receive the long-distance greetings from Manila. The rest proceeded to the San Mateo home of Therese and Billy Ick to greet the New Year and meet the latest addition to the Ick family. Earlier in the evening, Therese’s mom had surprised Nani with a birthday dinner party at Mr. Fong’s in Foster City. Former Bay Area residents themselves, the Aquinos got together with old friends Amy and Danny Nicolas, Glenda Rodriguez, Angie Zulueta, Lillie and Ed Mauricio and the Hermie Hernandezes.
After dinner, most of the guests followed them to Therese’s home for noche buena, preceded of course by ballroom dancing under the tutorship of a specially hired DI. And there’s where the two groups get together as one to savor Batangas chocolate and pan de sal, hamon and puto–and to greet the Year 2002 with hope, with friends and with much laughter.