It may be a belated birthday celebration but it was so memorable. It was not only a celebration of my birthday but a moment to gather with great food and cherish wonderful friendships with my colleagues. And as the saying goes, it is better late than never. This is somehow exciting especially when there is food involved.
The gathering happened during our lunch break since this is the only time that we are all free from work. We gathered at the office and the delicious food on the table made me hungry, not to mention the presence of all my favorite foods. My favorite pizza is my all-time favorite in a combination of pepperoni and overload pizzas. There were chicken dishes, chilled drinks, and of course, the irresistible Mango Graham Cake at the center of the table.
The pizzas were not only big but should I say that they were gigantic. The big slices were all cheesy, golden, and the crusts were loaded with all varieties of toppings just like the pepperoni, Hawaiian, all meat, and even a veggie overload. I enjoyed each slice and everyone had their favorite but I think that no matter what flavor of pizza it may be, pizzas would always bring beautiful people together.
Aside from the pizza, there were already crispy and tender fried chicken with fries. They were my favorite too because of the glazed, spicy, and golden brown appearance that made each bite juicy and seasoned to taste just right. We had wings, drumsticks, along with the delicious gravy. All of which were truly so tasty.
Additionally, the gathering was never complete without the dessert at the center. It was given by my colleague. I am so happy to try for the first time one of Cagayan de Oro City's best desserts, not to mention the Homemade Mango Graham Cake. It is something unique, because it is a combination of cake and ice cream that melts deliciously in my mouth.
Meanwhile, another colleague had given me a drink that caught my attention. Honestly, I am so happy that I was given a fruit-flavored soda from Starbucks. However, Dragon Fruit is not my favorite as I only eat this kind of fruit rarely. Despite it, I tried the drink, and surprisingly, I was amazed by its delicious taste. It was so refreshing and funny how I judged it right away.
In addition, a Filipino birthday would not be complete without a birthday cake. I was so surprised when I was given by another colleague named, Conz. No number of how old I am but as for me, age is just a number. It is my favorite cake as well made from Ube and delicious cream, with a Happy Birthday, VP!
Later in the afternoon, another friend surprised me with a big round tray of Bilo filled with traditional Filipino sweet delicacies. I must say that the Bilao was so stunning with the colorful and sweet sight of kutsinta, sapin-sapin, puto, putomaya, biko, and more. And yes, they were all laid beautifully. I was amazed not only by the presentation but by the delicious taste of each bite I had.
What I ate a lot was the sapin-sapin and the biko. These are my favorite Filipino delicacies since I was younger. That is why when I received a big Bilao full of colorful bites, I was so happy. It is actually my first time to be given a Bilao with this kind if style. My common experience is usually a one kind of delicacy at different platings. Thus, this is really something new to me.
Before the day ended, I got a small souvenir from a friend. It may be a small bit I found it a thoughtful gift since I was given a refrigerator magnet from Boracay. I have never been to this place since then but the beautiful scenery was so enticing that I wanted to go there someday. I always hear beautiful stories about Boracay. Nevertheless, I did not have the time to go.
My day was so full. I had experienced the best memories with my friends and I felt so appreciated and loved by many. It was a day full of shared joy and moments to cherish. Even if it was not celebrated on the exact day, the belated birthday gathering turned out to be just right and it made me realize how lucky I am to have good friends surrounding me. All of them made me smile and truly made my day extra special with the big taste and more fun.
Moreover, I also realized that having good people to work with is what makes life even more beautiful. No matter how small the cicle may be, what matters most are having the precious ones that would always be there at all times, not only through hapiness but as well as on glommy moments of life. And I must say that I found them. Perhaps it is one of the most unforgettable birthdays I have had.
All contents are mine.