When you’re asked to write and say a prayer, the instinct is usually to get serious. Solemn, even. But when the request comes from the Marketing Manager of a beloved institution like Cafe Adriatico, on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, you quickly realize: this won’t be your average invocation.

This is a place where Manila’s luminaries and social butterflies of the 80’s once sipped their espressos, exchanged flirtatious glances, nursed heartaches, and sometimes even brokered business empires over lengua estofado. Cafe Adriatico isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an archive of whispered stories, a keeper of secrets, a backdrop to first dates, blind dates, breakups, reconciliations, and deals sealed with a handshake (or a bottle of wine).

So when I was designated to deliver the Thanksgiving Prayer during the celebration held at the original Malate branch, I knew it had to go beyond the usual “bless this food and those who prepared it.” This had to honor not just the food, but the flavors of memory that have simmered here for nearly half a century.

Below is the prayer I shared that evening. I loved how it turned out that I have to post it here on my Nengkoy blog. A humble offering of gratitude, wit, and truth, for a place that is meant so much to so many.

“Heavenly Father,

Tonight, we gather with hearts brimming with gratitude to celebrate the 45 remarkable years of Cafe Adriatico, a place where memories are made, stories are shared, and lives are intertwined.

We give thanks to the visionaries who planted the seeds of this iconic establishment, for the hands of the staff who have labored with care and excellence, and for the spirit of resilience that has sustained Cafe Adriatico through the years.

We especially thank You for the cherished guests who have woven Cafe Adriatico into the fabric of their lives. For the couple who shared their first date here and went on to built a lifetime of love. For the blind date that became the start of a beautiful marriage. For the friends whose simple dinner turned into a marathon of laughter and connection. For the souls who sought comfort after the first heartbreak, finding solace in a warm meal and familiar ambiance. For the dreamers and doers who found inspiration here, and for the professionals who successfully closed business deals over a cup of coffee and the perfect setting.

Thank You for making this restaurant more than just a dining place, but a witness to milestones, a keeper of secrets, and a sanctuary for countless hearts.

Bless the loyal customers who have supported Cafe Adriatico not just with their patronage but with their stories. Bless the dedicated staff whose work turns meals into memories. And bless this evening, as we come together to honor the past, celebrate the present, and dream of a bright future.

May Cafe Adriatico continue to thrive, offering not just food but love, not just service but connection, and not just tradition but a timeless sense of home.

In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.”

Gondoh di ba?!