This Christmas season, I have been attending several parties, one of which is the joint celebration of the three Masonic lodges of Cotabato City. At the gathering, I meet a lot of old friends, brethrens of my husbands and their ladies. My husband Lucas and I get to sit with James Yap, his wife Siolan, son Hemington and cutie granddaughter Aimee. Sitting with us on the same table are Moya Yu Ekey, his lady caregiver, his son Narciso, his daughter-in-law Gwen, and our neighbor and friend Romy Ma. On another table near us are Nelly Ma, Rodolfo Lim, his wife Nga Bin and his sister Lolita Uy, and also seated with them are other people I hardly know. Coming to sit on that table later are Robert Chua and his daughter Parisiana. Happily this is one occasion we get to see one another and warmly greet each other.
On a longer table near the wall are seated a group of younger wives and their pretty collegiate and grown up girls. The younger masons are hurdled at the back and at the farther end are seated the Demolay boys and the Jobs daughters. Some other tables' occupancy, I hardly know them at all. Everybody though seems happy. We have all come to celebrate, to enjoy the food, the games and the fellowship.
There are however some familiar faces that I miss like the Cellises, Embargas, Matingcals, etc., people who have moved to other cities., and those who stopped attending Christmas parties for one reason or another. Sorely missed though is Adelina de Leon whose husband Ruben passed away this year.
Looking around, I come to realize that my husband and I, together with James and Siolan Yap, Robert Chua, Romy and Nelly Ma - have become the ancient order. Sad but true. Yet thank God though for keeping us still, and pray, do keep us for more years and more celebrations to come.
