The word "wicked" has always connoted malice and malevolence...something bad, ill, or naughty. Last Saturday, however, that word forever lost its original meaning and was eternally transformed in my personal glossary. From that day onwards, it will forever come to mean all things precious, heartfelt, sisterly, and generous. My "sisters", both of blood and of friendship, threw me a wickedly stupendous surprise birthday-slash-bridal shower party at my sister Miren's home in Parañaque...and yes, wide-eyed, gullible little me was very much taken by surpise. Haha! It was a kind of hybrid surprise, with a little bit of shock, bewilderment, delight and overwhelming joy all mixed in together. The theme, of course, was musical theater--with the musical "Wicked" taking centerstage, as seen in their invites (yes, there were actual invites!), poster, souvenirs, gifts, and even a Playbill-designed cake!!! And when I say surprise party, it was, indeed, a surprise party--complete with contrived phone calls and sudden detours and even people jumping out from behind a door shouting "Surprise!"
Hats off to dearest Peachy for masterminding the whole, complicated project...and for orchestrating the logistical nightmare that it must have been! In cahoots were my sisters Patty and Miren, with their daughters (my beautiful nieces!) Niña, Bianca and Meg, my college buddies Me-an and Halex, and good friends Ria and Gigi. Also present were my mom and sister-in-law Leah. My deepest gratitude to you all! You pulled off a major feat here. I can only hope you had as much fun planning and scheming behind my back as I had basking in the effects of your handiwork. Oh! And the fact that you got Rein involved in this whole Steel Magnolias-inspired fête was the most mind-boggling accomplishment of all! Well...now I know he can act. I wonder if this might potentially be a problem later on. Haha. And our poor, hypothetical "ninang", whom dear hubby made me believe we were supposed to meet that afternoon, is probably still wondering where we had wandered off to en route to her hypothetical house. Have yet to call her on her hypothetical phone and explain how I was waylaid on the way there and kidnapped by a coven of witches from Oz.
Check out the poster/invite!
Birthday girl takes a shower...or shower girl blows a birthday...candle....uh...anyway, take note of the cake!
Pretty girls all in a row...under a pretty umbrella...
The Wizard and I...
My posse!
Love you guys! See you at the main event...