October Oveload

CEBU, Philippines - Let me start this right: Continued support and unrelenting prayers we give and offer to our brothers and sisters greatly affected by the natural disasters that struck our islands recently. Let our Filipino resilience and faith give us the strength to raise our spirits up and move forward and face head-on with more will and power whatever it is that may come. God bless everyone!

On the lighter side of things, the tenth month turned out to be more than I could handle. It was a double-dose times two of birthday celebrations, milestones and an annual fiesta of a northern town that opened my quarter which to me is a hopeful promise that we will have better and miraculous holidays and year-ender ahead.

First up were my nephews Raphael Pilapil Trinidad and Viggo Pilapil Montealto who added one more candle on their cakes followed by my godsons Errol Dylan A.Cabatingan and Diego Pilapil Brigoli. Next, my cousin Nikko Pilapil Abella treated the entire brood with a hefty buffet at the family-ran fishing and playground destination-D'Pond, in Yati, Liloan. Finally, Marlon Garcia Wafer's birthday was coupled with the fourteenth anniversary of Wafer Models Inc., marking his more-than-a-decade stint in the fashion and modelling industry. Kudos!

The month wound up with Consolacion's fiesta and with no other point of direction but Bernardor Flores' humble abode. For that evening, the designer prepared for guests a feast of delectable eats, bottomless gulps and all-night-long karaoke. Pass the mic, please! (FREEMAN)