While I typically don't post my family gatherings here in Hive because I keep them personal and private, today I find myself compelled to share a glimpse into a recent moment that has filled my heart with joy. As I scrolled through the photo gallery on my phone, I couldn't help but smile once more as I looked at our happy faces. It was a simple yet heartwarming eat-out occasion, over a sumptuous dinner shared with my cherished people. It was a double celebration, our father's birthday, and my mother's victory in the last local barangay election.
It always brings us immense joy as children to bring smiles to our parents' faces. Yes, we can make them smile every day by doing things that will make them happy and proud. But there is a unique magic in celebrating special occasions with the whole family no matter how simple the celebration may be. It hits differently. 😍
And so today's blog is the birthday celebration of our Father, or as we lovingly call him "Tatay Mario". He is undeniably the kindest, the most patient, and the best father in the world there is. Even though we can't give him all the riches in the world, we make it our mission to provide him with the experiences he might have missed during his childhood and adult days. One such joyous occasion is treating him to a delightful meal at a fancy restaurant on his birthday.
He has been the most hardworking, tirelessly plowing the farm and tending the animals way back just to send us to school. What I am now is the debt I owe to my father and indeed to my mother.
In every birthday celebration of our Tatay, we make it a tradition to gather in a cozy restaurant. There's something truly special about marking this joyous occasion while savoring a delectable dinner. Before we only celebrated it with "pancit" or noodles and a bottle of coke divided equally among us 5 children. Now here we are celebrating in a restaurant! Since then, this has become a time-honored way for us to come together and create beautiful memories in every birthday celebration of our parents.
This time's happy place, the Seaside Restaurant!
This year, we opted for Seaside Restaurant, it's actually our second time celebrating his birthday in this cozy spot. With only a handful of restaurants in our place, we've tried them all, but there's something special about Seaside that keeps drawing us back.
We surprised our Father with the venue, even though he was expecting this already, but there was still a thrill of surprise as we didn't tell him where the venue was.In fact, my brother teased him that we'd only be dining at a Barbeque Plaza.
As we made our way to the restaurant, I couldn't help but notice the sheer happiness on Tatay's face. His sweetest smile adorned his face, making it evident that he was the birthday celebrant in our lively group.
The joyful feast.
One thing we absolutely love about this restaurant is its Boodle Food offering. Inspired by the military tradition where a variety of dishes is laid out on banana leaves on a long table, the restaurant has elevated the experience by providing utensils to the customers.
Still, the goal remains the same: for everyone to enjoy the food together, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness. It's unique and amazing, right? For us, we found this unique dining experience perfect for celebrating a birthday.
One Gibitngil Boodle and Danao Boodle please!
We went all out and ordered the Gibitngil Boodle, perfect for 10 to 12 persons. This delightful spread includes plain and garlic rice, a delectable mix of Barbeque, Tuna, Balbakua, Shrimp, Squid, Pancit, Tola Tahong, Crispy Pata, and to wash it all down, a refreshing 1.5L of soda. It's indeed a feast making every bite a celebration!
To ensure an abundance of flavors, we added the Danao Boodle for 5 persons, just in case we craved more. Better have extra! This delightful set features garlic rice, tuna, balbakua, salted eggs, Tuna Panga, BBQ, lechon, liempo, and vegetables like okra and talong. To complete the feast, there's also Tuna Belly and another 1.5L soda!
As we deeply indulge in the food, the more our conversation gets heartwarming and meaningful. I glanced at my father from time to time and so did with my mother, and I could see the sheer happiness and satisfaction on their faces.
The celebration was filled with joy, and our tummies were happily full. We even took the remaining food for a little extra joy later
We were all smiles and overflowing with happiness. We couldn't have asked for a better celebration. This marks another unforgettable birthday celebration and a family gathering which strengthens our oneness and togetherness as a family.
Thoughts and Reflections:
Birthday gifts and celebrations need not be grand. The simple presence of our love, sharing food and time together, is a gift that will forever be kept in our hearts. Our presence is indeed the best present!
That's it for our simple birthday celebration of our dear father. Thank you so much for reading! Happy birthday to all the November birthday Celebrants! I wish you all safe and well always.
Don't forget to smile often!😍🤗😊