Coming home for
the celebration

New York, New York! The big apple…the city that never sleeps. If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere!

New York, USA, has been home to the Macaldo family for almost 25 years, yet their family ties with relatives and friends here in Bacolod remain strong as ever. Last April, they decided to come home and give a big surprise party for brother Edwin, their youngest and only living brother left in the Philippines, who was celebrating his birthday together with wife Celia.

Big sis Ingrid organized the party from New York. The biggest problem was, how to keep it a secret from Edwin and Celia.

On the day itself, Edwin and Celia were told to attend a debut party for visiting niece, Yasmin Macaldo Castro - who just turned 18. Yasmin was born in New York and during her first visit to Bacolod three years ago, she fell in love with her parents' (Yvonne and Buddy Castro) hometown, and decided that it would be nice to celebrate her coming out party in the "City of Smiles".

The co-conspirators of the surprise party for Edwin were his kids - Abba, Binggirl and Edcel. They organized everything from this end. The top floor of Apollo Restaurant was fully decorated for the affair. When the couple arrived, the lights were off and as they entered the huge room, the lights went on and everybody sang Happy Birthday! Edwin and Celia were both in tears over the thoughtfulness and kindness of his sisters - Rose, Ingrid, Madeliene, Agnes and Yvonne. Aside from the celebrators Edwin and Yasmin, the party was also for April-born Buddy Castor (Yvonne's husband) and Agnes Macaldo-Ong, the family's joker and "life of the party".

After the sumptuous Oriental dinner, the debutant received the 18 candles and wishes by cousins, aunts and friends. The program was both sentimental and memorable. When the game portion began, everyone had a great time especially during the raffle draw where the guests got choice goodies like chocolates, loot bags and so many more surprises brought by the New Yorkers.

What a fun party it was!

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There are government officials who tend to shoot from the mouth without thinking of the repercussions of what they say. Sad to say, they lack tact and good sense. Famous celebrity, Art Linkletter, had a very good description about diplomacy. "Diplomacy - the art of jumping into troubled water without making a splash"*