A diamond celebration

Youthful looking Msgr. Guillermo Ma (GG) Gaston celebrated his 75th birthday on March 7, at the Carmelite Monastery. It started with a thanksgiving mass offered by the celebrator, then off to the Agape House at the monastery compound where a sumptuous dinner was served.

Msgr. GG, after a quick change to a chic Barong Tagalog, proceeded to a photo op. Every birthday celebration of the Monsignor is not complete without a short program to entertain the guests. The ever-faithful Cathedral Choir presented a number: a rendition of a beautiful medley. We observed this time that the celebrator only changed four times, unlike before when he gave a special dance number, a Filipiniana, and a Spanish dance.

Msgr. G.G. saw some guests leaving and addressed the crowd, telling them not to mind them, since he understood that it was 9:30 p.m. and past their bedtime. Special guests that evening were cousins, relatives and friends from Manila who traveled just to attend this "bonggacious" celebration.

The favorite prayer of Msgr. GG is by Robert Browning's "Grow old along with me".

"Grow old along with me;

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made;

Our times are in His hand

Who saith, "A whole I planned",

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all,

Nor be afraid! "

Join in prayer and journey with Msgr. G.G. as he travels in spirit towards the day, when, God willing, he will celebrate his sacerdotal golden jubilee in 2009.

REMEMBER:

"Higher goals are renewal of previous achievement."*