A dear friend turns 50

It’s only once in a lifetime that a man gets to be a half-century old.

Thus when Eduardo “Dodo/Doods” Catacutan, Spin.ph sports editor, turned Golden Boy this month, his loving wife Jenny thought he deserved a grand celebration.

In connivance with Dodo’s assistant editor Gerry Ramos, the two decided it would be a surprise dinner party at Dad’s Restaurant Glorietta branch, with only close media colleagues and relatives invited.

“Fifty Guests at 50, that’s the hashtag,” Gerry said when he called a few days before the Sept. 18 event to invite me. “And please keep it a secret. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

* * *

I gave him my word.

However, my main worry was if I could still find the courage to brave the horrendous traffic that has plagued certain parts of Metro Manila lately and which I had miraculously escaped only two days ago motoring from West Triangle in Quezon City to Century Park Sheraton where the PBA Press Corps Awards Night was held.

A little voice softly whispered in my ear. “Have you forgotten that it was Dodo (and Gabby Alvarado for that matter) who received your phone-ins at People’s Journal where you used to write a column under the pseudonym Jo Arcangel over two decades ago when the fax machine and the internet was not yet in style?”

The little voice said my phone-ins probably caused both scribes to suffer a little deafness in one ear.

“And this is the reason why both were rewarded by God years later with high-paying overseas jobs in The Hong Kong Standard. But of course their being hired had much to do with their being two of the best writers in Philippine sports and having excellent work ethic.

* * *

“Remember I was the one who witnessed your transition from the fax machine to the Internet, a big event in your career,” said Dodo, referring to when he was Manila Bulletin’s sports assistant editor.

From there, he moved on to Hong Kong Standard where he worked for almost a decade.

A few years ago, Dodo decided he no longer wanted to be separated from his family.

He returned to the Philippines where Jenny and their three sons—TJ, 17, Tony, 8 and Toby, 6—were waiting.

Soon he accepted an offer to head Spin.ph, who had a big staff to cover the major sports in the Philippines.

Dodo’s birthday was a big success. Jenny and Gerry managed to keep it a surprise until the birthday boy got to the venue Friday night.

“I don’t like surprises because I always associate it with bad news. Negative. But this is one time I associated the surprise with the positive,” Doods said.

Did he speak too soon that night?