Last July 27, 2024, Saturday, we celebrated the 60th birthday of my mother-in-law. Doubtful at first but we had it perfect for her. For us, me and my wife, since we are at our mother’s house, we make sure that the celebration is well-prepared. Well, it is a one of Filipino culture to have an extended family, fortunately we are of those Filipino family who practice the culture.
We were hesitant at first because my mother-in-law, a woman of a simple taste, often find herself shies away from grand gestures. However, we still decided to go ahead with the celebration, believing that she really deserved a memorable day surrounded by family and love ones.
The planning began a few months in advance, because we still needed to contact her children who were at work and far away from home. We needed to warrant that they should be part of the plan. My wife and I discussed for days what would be appropriate for her 60th birthday. My wife decided to have it a simple yet modest and heartfelt celebration. She invited all her siblings to attend her mother’s birthday since it will happen on Saturday, they might not have work on that day.
We started inviting her children and closest friends. Given that my mother-in-law had seven children, coordinating with everyone’s schedule was a challenge. Despite their busy live, six of her children, including those who live out of town, committed to being there. This itself was a testament to the love and respect they had for their mother.
The next was deciding on the decoration. We settled on cakes and cupcakes, knowing that mama Vilma has a soft spot for both. She was diagnosed with diabetes but it’s just a once in a lifetime experience though. The cake was a classic chocolate cake with a layer or golden ganache and adorned with delicate flowers with golden sprinkle on the side, perfect for her 60th birthday.
On the other hand, we decided to order food trays, thinking it would be easier than cooking such a large group – not too large though. We selected a variety of her favorite dishes. The menu included everything from savory finger foods to delicious main courses and sides. We wanted to make sure that mama Vilma would enjoy it without making her feel overwhelmed by the extravagance.
It was Saturday, July 27, 2024, that day or the simple celebration arrived. Our house was buzzing with excitement since most of her children arrived. My wife and I woke up early to decorate the small “payag”, a little hut. We hung up a simple “Happy Birthday” backdrop design with balloons on the upper side and set up a two small table for the cake and foods.
When mama Vilma arrived from church, she walked into the hut, her eyes wide astonishment and a hint of tears. Seeing her children almost complete - one cannot leave work due to some important matters at work, her emotions trembled. We worried about how she might feel on the decoration and everything, worried she might feel unsatisfied or even uncomfortable on the attention we gave her, but her reaction expressed the opposite.
As the evening ended, it was clear that the celebration had been a successful one. Mama Vilma overjoyed, and the love and appreciation she felt were deep. Our hesitation had been unproven. Sometimes, stepping out of our colors and comfort zone to show someone how much they mean and treasure to use can create one unique and unforgettable memories.
Mama Vilma 60th birthday was a testament to the power of family and love. It reminded us of the importance of celebrating a day, even seconds count, of people we care about. If it means taking a risk and being unsure about doing things, we must take the first step, and everything will follow. Mama Vilma’s happiness and gratitude made it worthwhile, and the day will be remembered forever.