All in the family

No family is perhaps as closely-knit as the Eigenmanns. They observe the "laissez faire" policy – you know, live and let live. Or, love and let love.

This family togetherness was evident last March 19 when Geoff Eigenmann, son of estranged couple Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar, celebrated his 20th birthday four days in advance (his birthday is March 23) at the newly opened dome-covered Plaza Ibarra on Timog Avenue, Quezon City. The event was sponsored by Globe of which Geoff is an endorser.

It was a big family affair, with the clan members on hand to help the birthday celebrator entertain his guests and well-wishers. Besides Gina and Michael (who came with girlfriend Jolie), present were Geoff’s Uncle Mark Gil and his wife Maricar Jacinto (with daughter Stevie), Mark’s ex-wife Bing Pimentel (minus son Sid Lucero), Mark’s ex-girlfriend Jaclyn Jose (with daughter Andy), Mark’s children Gabby and Ira Eigenmann (minus their mom, Irene Celebre); and Geoff’s Aunt Cherie Gil and husband Roni Rogoff (with kids Bianca and Raphael, together with Roni’s daughter Renee with ex-wife Ping Valencia and Cherie’s son Jayme).

Conspicuously absent were the Eigenmann patriarch and matriach Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil.

As I’ve said, no other family could be more welcoming and nurturing. Jaclyn gamely posed for celebrity photographer Richard Chen with Bing, while Geoff and his cousins bantered with one another as other people would during a family reunion. Maybe for delicadeza, Gina and Michael’s girlfriend conveniently stayed away from each other.

"Mike and I are friends," smiled Gina. They’ve been separated for many years now, happily leading independent lives, with all the three Eigenmann boys (including Ryan and EJ) in Gina’s care.

Even those invited were close friends of the Eigenmanns, almost like, you know, "family" – among them: Armida Siguion-Reyna with son Carlitos and his daughter Aya (but minus wife Bibeth Orteza who’s going through chemo sessions for her breast cancer), Tirso Cruz III and wife Lyn Ynchausti (with daughter Djanin), Rez Cortez and wife Candy (with a daughter), Amy Austria, Chanda Romero, Anna Marin, Fanny Serrano, Ara Mina, Dingdong Dantes with girlfriend Karylle, Dina Bonnevie (Geoff’s mom in the ABS-CBN teleserye Hiram), Denise Laurel (EJ Eigenmann’s girlfriend), Bryan Revilla, Raymond Gutierrez (who came straight from the Araneta Coliseum where he co-hosted the 2005 Bb. Pilipinas pageant with Richard Gomez and Paolo Bediones) and Rudy Fernandez (minus Lorna Tolentino).

During the parlor games (where Globe cellphones and loads were given away as prizes), hosted by Mark and son Gabby (assisted by Dingdong), one of the fun games called for the celebrator to draw a piece of paper from a bowl, indicating which part of the star guest’s body he should lick. Guest Ara Mina willingly lifted her arm and let Geoff lick her underarm, fleetingly.

That, among others, proved to the the Birthday Boy’s most memorable gift on his natal day.

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