Cheers To Your 51st!

So yesterday we celebrated our father's 51st birthday. This celebration was supposed to be last year for his 50th birthday but since last year was lockdown, it got postponed and we celebrated it this year instead.

So where do I start? I think I'll start to share how good, hardworking, helpful, disciplinarian, and strong a father he is.

A disciplinarian father.

I was the eldest daughter I did have my time to maximize my chance to be the only child for 6 and 1/2 years. However, it didn't go as smoothly as you could imagine. As early as 3 years old, I was sent to school for kindergarten.

I remember when we were living in a subdivision, the school was just one block away and when it's time to go to school, I usually cry. Cry not because I don't want to go to school but because my mouth gets flicked every time. Yes, it is because it takes forever for me to finish my food. I don't really chew my food I just store it in my mouth.

Honestly, I really don't know why I like my food to hang out inside my mouth. I guess it's a common issue for kids? No appetite? My cousins and I were like that though. I never ran out of vitamins so it's unjust to blame it on them. That being said I'm always running late even if the school is just near.

What my papa does was he used to flick his fingers on my mouth urging and forcing me to chew my food but I can't do it anyway because all I do was cry, cry and cry. It sounds so harsh but that's how he disciplined me. Tough love it is! Mama has been a strict mom too but papa was the aggressive one. So then, I felt like every mealtime is a calvary for me. I got over it when I reached grade school. But nah, it has not ended yet. It was just the beginning of my sister's turn! Haha.

Back in the childhood days, I recognize him as a strict and strong father. He was a very disciplinarian one.

I experienced getting whipped by a broomstick, his belts, and guava sticks. Wooh, those were so painful.

A helpful child/sibling to his family

Papa came from a poor family. They lived in the mountains and their main source of living is farming. My parents met in the school where mama got her first assignment to the school that papa lives nearby. Mama rented a room to stay in papa's house and that's where they had me.

Out of 7 siblings, papa was the 3rd child and he's the only whom you could say that his life got better (somehow financially) because he married mama. Although it would turn out that papa would have insecurities throughout the marriage but mama didn't let that happen.

Whenever his siblings need financial assistance for their own families, papa extends a hand to them. They go to our house and ask for help. But then, they went too abusive and have taken too much advantage of our family and so we are the ones who get to pay for their debts.

Sometimes my parents argue and they're the reasons why one misunderstands the other. Until now, that's what we're dealing with. It may sound that I'm complaining but we're the ones suffering from their debts. We are very open to helping but at least feel accountable for the favors they asked We have needs too and the money was hard-earned.

A good friend.

Papa has always been a good friend to his peers. Even when we were still living in the subdivision where I grew up, he developed strong friendships in the neighborhood and he never got into a fight or anything.

Even though we have relocated, his former friends were still keeping in touch whenever he gets a chance to visit the subdivision, most likely fiestas. He has also gained friends in our recent neighborhood. He's good with people. Their main bond is to drink alcohol and cockfighting.

Which brings me to the second phase of this article: The birthday celebration.

We have planned this secretly along with our aunt 3 weeks ago. I sent $200 worth of BCH to mama to take care of the expenses.

He didn't have an idea of what to happen yesterday. 4 am when my aunt, together with her sisters in BEC (Basic Ecclesial Community) held a mañanita, serenaded papa for his birthday. At first, he didn't like the idea, he even got mad at mama because he doesn't like these kinds of things, like people's attention and efforts are offered to him. That was his initial reaction.

After a while, he realized that it made him happy and turned out to be so thankful. He appreciated the efforts and sacrifices made for him. He thought the celebration was over until we held a party for lunch.

We had many guests, from mama's side, papa's, and the neighbors. It was very tiring to prepare all the things needed but the event went out successful and we feel so blessed.

When the party's over, I went home again with my relatives back to where my grandma lives, and my sister stayed in our house with mama and papa. She said that papa was very thankful to us for the celebration. He was already drunk when he said it.

He gets to show his true emotions with the influence of alcohol. As his child seeing him smiling and laughing with his relatives and friends makes my heart so full.

This is just one way of showing my gratitude to them for raising us as good, respectful, and well-mannered children.

It is never an obligation for the children to give back the sacrifices their parents made. The children decide whether they want to help their parents or not, but if you became loving and good parents to them, for sure they'll see and realized how deserving you are to receive the goodness your children can offer.

Children didn't get to choose their parents and we consider ourselves as lucky snd blessed to have such a simple and loving family.

The lead image was when my aunt and her sisters serenaded papa and did a bible sharing after.

Thanks for reading!

Keep safe everyone ❤