@eommaZel 20 February 2022 more from that month

For the first time: Still a Happy Birthday *“It's okay, pa, what’s important is, you're happy.”* Supposedly, this day should be an ordinary day for us. No events or occasions to be celebrated. But a simple suggestion last February 4, made this day special. Last February 4 was my Auntie's 50th birthday, we were invited to celebrate with her and we hang out at her place the whole day. While we were taking a quick rest with our full stomachs, she suddenly uttered a suggestion... ***“Why not tell your father to celebrate his birthday here, it's on February 21, right?”*** I was amused when I heard her suggest it. I grow up with my father and he was always busy with school works since he's a teacher in a public high school. And to tell you, honestly, my father never celebrated his even during my younger years. *Mostly he celebrated his birthday at their school with his co-teachers because the date of his birthday has classes.*

*He is the man in the green shirt.* And when he went home from work, he will just serve us roasted chicken for dinner. That was his celebration annually that I remember. So hearing those words from my Auntie made my ears clap. I honestly wanted to give my father a decent birthday celebration but I am financially unstable yet. Then on February 5, it was Saturday, my father visited us here in the house. He's living far from us now so he only visits his grandsons every Saturday or Sunday. I told him about his sister's (my Auntie's) suggestion and I told him to discuss what's his decision with her. Unfortunately, he didn't see my Auntie that day because she wasn't at her house. Then recently last Saturday, my Auntie informed me that my father and she chatted and agreed to celebrate his birthday here but instead of February 21, they agreed to just make it happen on the 20th since he has office work on the 21st which is Monday. Our Auntie handed us 1 kl of Spaghetti plus the ingredients for the occasion. While my father pleaded to bring native chicken tinola for us to share on lunch. This is the first time he celebrated his birthday, it'll be also the first time to sing him a birthday song. Aside from that, we informed their Eldest sister who is just living in the same compound with us that his brother will be celebrating his birthday here for the first time. We waited for this day to happen, and today his birthday was successfully dedicated. *It was 10 am when my father arrived with his new wife and their adopted child.* Yes, my father has had a new family since my mother and he broke up for almost more than 10 years already which I accepted wholeheartedly. He brought food for us to share but he wanted to hold his birthday at my Auntie's house just across the street and I just agreed with what he wanted. *They brought chicken adobo, native chicken tinola, cheese sticks or cheese spring rolls, and pancit guisado meaning that he truly prepared for this event.*

While my Auntie bought him a cake. His grandsons were so happy to see him and sang him a Happy Birthday song over and over again. But what made me a bit upset, was their other siblings didn't come even their eldest sister who just lives beside our house. It hurts me, to be honest, my dad didn't do anything against them, but maybe she couldn't accept that my father has a new wife because she and my mother got a tight bond. But we all know that the past can't be undone and the present should be accepted. I could see in my father's eyes that he was a little sad knowing his other siblings failed to show up. They are 6 of them, and one of his sisters lives in Pampanga while the rest are here in Iloilo in our hometown. *But then, we don't want to ruin the day so we just celebrated with him the whole day, me, my husband, the two kids, his new wife, and their kid, my cousin bestie, my Auntie, and my father.* His happiness matters to me a lot, so I accepted his decision to have a new wife. And I could see that he is happy and healthy, he smiles and less stressed, even my Auntie noticed it too. I still have huge respect for him and owe him so much for the sacrifices he made just to raise me and my eldest brother alone. He might not be the best husband for my mother but he's a great father to me. *Tomorrow is his actual birthday, he will be turning 57.* And after dinner tonight, we chatted on the messenger, I checked him and asked him how he was feeling. Then he answered me that despite his other siblings didn't attend, he was still happy, and that's what amounts to something to me. I could now rest after the tiring day with a smile and a delighted heart. Ps: Sorry I failed to take some shots of the celebration today, I couldn't use my phone well because I am attending to a hyper toddler. 😅 Thank you for reading! @eommaZel ✍🏻🥀