Reliving Rizal

In the spirit of Jose Rizal’s birthday, here’s a bit of a flashback to December, when our book club Flips Flipping Pages celebrated its annual Christmas/ year-end party with a Noli Me Tangere theme.

We Flippers just got back from our annual “summer” outing this weekend, and I’m feeling nostalgic as a lot of our favorite FFP memories resurfaced at various points of the trip. The book club hits the six-year mark in a few months, and having been a member for just as long, it’s nothing short of an amazing experience.

Based on my past reportage of Flipper parties, you’ve probably guessed how much we love parties (and bookish themes! and food! and costumes!). But there are quite a few Rizal enthusiasts in the group, so the Noli theme was embraced with much fanfare.

Here’s a recap of the festivities, in lovely photos by Flipper photographer extraordinaire Rhett de Jesus.

The party was held in old Pasig, at the Sta. Ana residence (of Flipper Sana), with sojourns around the neighborhood.

Costumes, you say? We take costumes very seriously.

The Flippers started arriving late afternoon, and when you tell Flippers to come in costume, we really come in costume, even if we have to rummage, beg, borrow, or steal make them (case in point, SteamPoe).

We headed over to the historic Bahay na Tisa — yep, you said it — in all our turn of the century regalia.

Walk, walk, walk. The neighbors must’ve thought there was a procession.

Bahay na Tisa (c. 1850s) is said to be the oldest house still standing in Pasig, owned by the Tech family.

We just had to take our portrait outside, though not without some comical interruptions.

La Familia FFP

We then visited the house’s caretaker, Agapita “Lola Pitang” Tech, wife of a fifth-generation descendant, local historian Dean Carlos Tech.

Flippers with Agapita Tech at the caida

Lola Pitang told us about the house’s colorful history: the generations that lived in it, historic meetings (Rizal was said to have sat at the formal dining table, which later on also allegedly served as a conference table for the Katipuneros), films shot in the house, and even ghostly occurrences. She also took us around the different parts of the house and pointed out features of interest — the solid pillars, the shiny wooden floors, the antiquated furniture, and family photos.

This was also the height of Downton Abbey mania, so we took the upstairs – downstairs drama to heart.

FFP: Upstairs and Downstairs

We then headed to the Plaza Rizal, where there was some Christmas concert ongoing and the crowd mistook us for a performing chorale group (LOL).

Back at the Sta. Ana residence, our program started. Mike and Joko served as the hosts, and everyone took turns introducing the character they came as. Orly blew everyone out of the water with a prepared monologue and character history!

Orly (top left) takes the cake. Note the script!

Next came the games, where, of course, we got even more competitive. Highlights were the Noli-Fili Pinoy Henyo (that is me, guessing AZOTEA for the group, LOL), and a no-holds barred pabitin.

The things we do for free books!

Of course, there was the annual Flipper awards. Fredda won Reader of the Year, Gege and Peter won Female and Male Flippers of the Year, and Orly won a special prize for his monologue.

Of course, there’s arguably the Flippers’ favorite part: the eating. The Noche Buena was a real feast!

Really, Book Clubs: More fun in the Philippines.

I can’t believe all this happened just six months ago, because we Flippers have certainly been busy! Especially with this year’s discussions, which all seemed to be elaborate productions. Not to mention all our side projects in the works, wink wink. While it’s physically impossible for me to be involved in all of the activities going on, I’m making good on my resolution to attend as many of the monthly book discussions this year. So far, five straight down (including one I co-moderated!), and hopefully a good number more for the rest of the year. Squee!

I have a backlog on the book discussion reportage, I know, but I’ll catch up on those soon. And did you notice this is already my fourth post this month? Thank you, o muses of blogging!

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Special thanks to Rhett de Jesus for the spectacular photography.