Paddle Hard, Party Harder

Again, the men’s team failed to make the cut during the semi-finals in yesterday’s quarterly regatta. Two teams came from typhoon-devastated Bicol and clobbered all Manila-based teams. The military fielded two (Philippine National Police and Navy). That meant club teams were relegated to the sidelines, playing second fiddle to these power horses. So what else is new?

The women’s team continued their winning streak, however, placing third.

Last night, we partied at the Valle Verde residence of our teammates, the Cruz sisters, in formal wear. It was a blast from the start.

The men had to wear barong, a very safe choice. Unfortunately, for the women their wardrobe choices could easily spell disaster. The problem with formal events for people not used to wearing formal attire is that the clothes and accessories easily become the object of conversation, turning everyone into instant fashion critics.

Johanna a.k.a Brutus, who claims to be a lesbian, who regales us with stories about her crushes (all women!) but paints her toe nails, shrieks when she sees a gorgeous guy and wraps his arms around male colleagues, made her entrance in a what appeared to be a “duster”, or house-dress. Worse, the dress seemed a size too big for her, in sky blue and as Frodo has commented, made her look like the Virgin Mary.

Patrona (she’s my counterpart: kill-joy, anti-social/anti-cute, but with one difference, she’s mataray, I’m extremely friendly) came in an almost all-black ensemble with a small violet blazer. We all thought she came in a broom stick.

Aretha, who’s heavily endowed (it’s easy to see she has difficulty finding bra sizes…as in is there a size E?) came in a dress that has lots of brown frilly laces (where did she rent this, I wonder) which made her look like a lavandera preparing to wash a pile of clothes in the river.

Lest you accuse me of being a fashion snub, people, I only took note of Yojin’s, Pam’s and especially Frodo’s comments. We were all seated at a dinner table directly facing the doorway.

As for me, I was enjoying myself sipping my glass of rosé, slightly sweet but very fruity, and dipping fruit pieces and marshmallow into the chocolate fondue, while observing the goings-on in the group.