Hi guys! I’m Grace Ann and you can call me 
Yesterday, July 20, 2025, was really a memorable day for me and my family. We celebrated my grandma’s birthday, our beloved lola. and even though it wasn’t a super grand celebration, it was full of love, laughter, and food (of course, it’s not a Filipino celebration without food and rice, hehe). The plan was simple: go to the mall, eat out at Mang Inasal, spend some fun time together, and just enjoy the day as a complete family (well, almost complete).🌷
We all agreed to go to Pacific Mall. That’s the name of the mall where we decided to celebrate lola’s special day. Our main plan was to eat at Mang Inasal, which is a well-loved fastfood restaurant here in the Philippines. Filipinos know it. it’s the go-to place when you want something affordable, filling, and delicious. And the best part? Unli rice! Yes, extra rice, and for a family like us who are certified rice lovers, that’s the jackpot.
So anyway, when we arrived at Pacific Mall, we all got off the car and headed to the entrance. As usual, the guards checked our bags and welcomed us in. As we entered, we didn’t waste any time and walked straight to Mang Inasal. It was kind of busy that day, so we had to wait about 25 minutes before our food was served. But it wasn’t a big deal because while waiting, we were just talking, catching up, and most importantly, singing happy birthday to lola.🎂
Lola looked so happy. And honestly, it made me emotional a bit because I know how strong she has been. Her husband, our dear lolo, already passed away due to a dog virus (which was really sad and unexpected). But even without him by her side, she still smiled and celebrated with all of us. She was glowing with joy, and you can really feel how grateful she was just by looking at her face. That moment, just being there with her, seeing her smile, made everything worth it.
After a while, the staff at Mang Inasal finally served our food. The smell of the grilled chicken and rice made all of us so excited. The crew was also super nice and friendly. they assisted us and made sure we were comfortable. The unli-rice magic began and we ate. It was really satisfying! As always, Mang Inasal didn’t disappoint.😋
Once we were all full (and probably a little sleepy from eating so much rice, haha), we decided to explore the mall a bit more. We went up to the third floor, which was the fun area. Some of our relatives spotted the massage chairs and immediately sat there to relax and rest their full tummies. The rest of us walked around and saw something that made our eyes light up… a karaoke machine!
At first, we thought it was the type where you just insert tokens and sing, but apparently, this one needed a VIP card and the time limit was one hour. We didn’t have extra money to spend for it at that moment, so we were already about to skip it when our cousin suddenly insisted that he’ll pay for it. We were so happy and thankful because that meant we could enjoy singing.
I went to the counter to process the payment and fill out the form. Since I was the one who filled everything out, the card was under my name. I felt kind of proud holding it haha! So we finally got access to the karaoke machine, and that’s when the fun really started. We sang our hearts out, it was so fun and energetic. Singing is one of our family talents, and I think we kinda surprised some people arond us. Some even stopped and listened to us sing, especially when we hit those high notes. You know that feeling when people notice your voice and you’re like,
“Wow, they’re actually listening?” That felt nice.💖
The one-hour karaoke felt like only a few minutes because we were enjoying so much. But as the clock ticked, we realized it was getting late already. When we checked the time, there were 28 minutes left on the karaoke timer, but we had to leave early since some of us still had other things to do and it was almost nighttime already. So we said goodbye to the karaoke machine and made our way back down to the ground floor.
Finding the car was a little adventure too. we kind of forgot exactly where it was parked at first, so we walked around a bit. Everyone looked a little tired by then, especially the younger kids and even some of the adults. Once we found the car, everyone hopped in, and honestly, it didn’t take long before a few of us fell asleep on the way home. I guess that’s what happens after a full day of eating, walking, singing, and laughing.
Looking back at that day, it wasn’t anything super fancy or over-the-top, but it was special in its own way. Celebrating lola’s birthday reminded us how precious time with family is. Even though we didn’t have lolo with us physically, it felt like he was there in spirit. Lola’s bravery and happiness inspired us all. She showed us that even when life gets sad or paiful, we can still choose joy, especially when we’re surrounded by people who love us.💖
So yeah, that’s how my day went. Simple but meaningful. A lot of laughter, good food, unli rice, loud singing, and warm memories with family. I’ll never forget it.🥰🤍