Ah, where do I even start? Ralph and I were invited to celebrate Rose Flores’ (lovingly called Tisay) birthday—Janice Lopez’s younger sister and the youngest of the Yulo clan. Tisay, now happily settled in the U.S. with her husband Alvir Flores, came home for the much-awaited beach house blessing. Of course, life being life, we missed that event because of a prior commitment to Full Meditation. (Ahem, Master G canceled Saturday yoga for their Reiki retreat in Guimaras—more on that in a bit.)

The Not-So-Exclusive Reiki Circle

Speaking of Master G and their Reiki crew, I was mildly amused—and a tiny bit surprised—that we didn’t get the usual invite for their retreat. Normally, Jen, Master G’s receptionist, will hound us until we cave, but I guess we’ve turned down one too many events lately. Honestly, no hard feelings. It was just… unexpected. Maybe we’re being written off as the “too-busy-for-Prana” duo? Anyway, I digress—back to the party drama.

Prepping for the Great Arrival

This was our first trip to the famed beach house, so I pulled my usual over-prepared self into action. Ralph and Jenjen went on a reconnaissance mission with Jenjen as his GPS (she’s from the area, after all). I even had Jenjen record a video of the route because, let’s be real, our navigation skills post-6 PM are sketchy at best. Spoiler alert: despite all the prep, we still got lost.

Why? Oh, just because the turn to the beach house was the width of a toothpick. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it was narrow enough for Ralph to completely miss it in the dark. After driving in circles like we were auditioning for a new Fast and Furious spin-off, we finally made it. By then, everyone else had already eaten dinner. Classic.

The (Fashionably?) Late Entrance

Our late arrival was a plot twist no one saw coming—least of all Janice. For context, we once showed up to one of her parties two hours early. Yes, you read that right—two hours. Let’s just say, the tables have turned. But honestly, I didn’t mind missing the larger crowd from their blessing celebration photos. This smaller, more intimate gathering was just my speed. Turns out, my extroverted, party-animal façade is a lie—I’m a hardcore introvert at heart.

Food, Drinks, and High School Gossip

The night had all the makings of a chill, enjoyable evening. The food was catered by Bale Tea, and let me just say—their cordon bleu was chef’s kiss. Ralph, being the ever-dedicated vegan, opted for the only fish dish on the menu. Meanwhile, I spent most of the night catching up with my high school classmate Lelord Vega. We dove headfirst into some juicy classmate gossip, particularly about their love lives. Pure entertainment!

But the star of the show? Jasper, the budding mixologist who, according to Janice, learned his craft through YouTube cocktail tutorials. While his drinks were undeniably tasty, they didn’t have that “kick” we’ve come to expect. Either he went light on the booze, or La Jefa’s drinks have permanently raised our alcohol tolerance. (I’m leaning towards the latter—shoutout to La Jefa’s liquid courage.)

A Tour to Envy

After dinner, Janice gave us a tour of her beach house, and let me tell you—I was right in my previous blog to be envious of it! The beach house is to die for! The design? Spectacular. It’s the kind of place you see in glossy magazines and immediately pin to your dream home board on Pinterest.

Here’s the kicker: it was designed by none other than Janice’s own brother, Mike Yulo. Yes, the same Mike Yulo who also happens to be a talented cook. A jack of all trades, this guy! Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s also a secret karaoke champion or a master gardener. Is there anything this family can’t do?

Music That Hits Different

Janice hired the same band that played at her birthday, and let me tell you—the pretty lead singer knew her audience. She belted out hits from our generation, and I was here for it. Ralph? Not so much. As expected, he reserved his dance moves for La Jefa only. One band, one singer, and even Jasper’s cocktails couldn’t sway him. Exclusive dancer, indeed.

Tisay’s birthday was everything a party should be—good food, great company, and just the right amount of buzz (albeit, more emotional than alcoholic). Even though the night started with a minor detour, it ended on a high note. Cheers to Tisay, the Yulo clan, and Jasper’s YouTube degree. Now, if only someone could teach Ralph how to dance outside La Jefa…