An Afternoon with Carlos Primero

The faces have been blurred and the names changed in order to conceal their identities.

In my 5 years as a resident fellow of my fraternity, with all the parties and drinking binges that go with it, I had never gotten drunk.  The brods understood my situation (I had a long drive ahead of me and more importantly, I had work the next day) so they let me off with 2 or 3 bottles of San Mig Light.

Not turning into a drunk bastard after law school, I thought I would never drink more than 3 bottles of beer ever again.  I thought I would never get lasing in my life.  After all, if there's a time to be a drinker, that'd be college and law school, right?

I spoke too soon...  Story of my life.

The other day was my dad's birthday.  As usual, there were many politicos, including my fellow board members, mayors, vice-mayors and councilors (no congressmen or senator this year since Dad's birthday fell on a session day).

We had the usual birthday rituals: short program, messages from prominent personalities, the birthday song and lunch.  After having dessert, I looked at my fiance and nieces to signal them that it was time to go home.  And then someone called for me.  Oh, no. It was LCE, my boss.  He signaled for me to come over their table.  I left sina Ria and headed over there.

"Kris, come join us.  Stay here and drink with us."  LCE was with my sister Annette, 4 mayors, 2 Board Members, 1 Vice-Mayor and 3 Councilors.  I looked around the table for a can of San Mig Light.  There was none.

They were having Fundador Exclusivo.  Oh, sh*t, hard drinks.  Now unlike in the fraternity, I couldn't wiggle myself out of this one.  Not with my boss insisting that I drink with them. 

Oh, boy.

I had no choice but to drink the hard stuff.  And when we finished the bottle, one mayor brought out Carlos I, another brand of brandy.  The mayor explained to me the different levels of brandy.  At the low end is Fundador.  Next is Carlos I.  And on top is Exclusivo.  Cognac naman is a sweeter and more expensive brother of brandy.  And its not Cognac unless it was made in Cognac, France.  Most of them were not fond of whisky naman.  My colleagues just drank and drank and talked and talked.  After we finished a bottle, a new one would be opened.  My boss checked on my glass from time to time, making sure it was full.  That stuff is strong.  I had to dilute it with ice.  Anyway, this went on for 7 1/2 hours!  I think we were able to finish 5 or 6 bottles.  I couldn't drive home after that.  Ria had to fetch me.  And when I got home, I didn't eat.  I didn't take a shower.  I just went straight to bed and dozed off.  When I woke up the next day, my head was still throbbing.

That was my first official drinking session as a politician, and I'm sure as hell not looking forward to the next one.