Initially, I wanted this to be a surprise, but knowing my mom, I figured that wouldn’t go so well. She’s not the biggest fan of surprises, and it would’ve been a logistical nightmare, so I told them about it a week in advance. That way, they could prepare, and we could discuss everything properly. Since this was my treat, my parents were a bit concerned—I knew they didn’t want me to spend too much on them. But honestly, that was the least of my worries. I wanted to make this night special, and no price tag could change that.
We originally planned to go on February 14, but knowing how busy Cebu gets on Valentine’s Day—packed restaurants, heavy traffic, and my sister having school—we decided to move it to the next day. And that was definitely the right choice.
When Saturday arrived, I woke up in a pretty good mood. I had an NSTP class and a Basic Life Support (BLS) seminar to attend, which took up around five hours of my day. But I had bigger plans for the evening, so as soon as I was done, I rushed back to my apartment to get ready. By the time I arrived, my parents were already waiting for me, so I quickly threw on whatever decent outfit I could find. Looking back, it actually turned out to be a pretty good fit—especially considering where we were going.
Our dinner destination? Tops. A classic spot in Cebu with breathtaking city views, a cool breeze, and cozy restaurants perfect for a night out. The plan was simple—good food, great conversations, and of course, lots of pictures.
We headed out at 6:00 PM, but Cebu traffic had other plans. What should’ve been a quick drive turned into a two-and-a-half-hour journey. The road leading up to Tops was especially packed, with a narrow lane for cars and motorcycles trying to squeeze through. But surprisingly, none of us complained. We were all just excited to finally have this night together.
Before even stepping inside Tops, my mom spotted a black hat she really liked. She admired it for a moment, probably thinking it was unnecessary to buy. Without hesitation, I told her I’d get it for her. At first, she resisted, but thankfully, she let me. Seeing her face light up with that small gesture made my night even before dinner started.
Once we reached Tops, we made our way to Darkside Moon, the restaurant we had in mind. By some stroke of luck, there was only one table left—for four people, just perfect for us.
Since their menu was a bit limited due to the number of customers that day, we all ended up ordering the same meal. My sister also got fries, my parents had mango and watermelon shakes, and I decided to try their Mountain Dew cocktail—partly because I was curious, partly because I wanted to see if it could compare to Dean & Deluca’s cocktails. The verdict? It was pretty good, but nothing beats Dean & Deluca. The salted rim did make it addicting, though.
While waiting for our food, my sister took the lead in snapping pictures. The restaurant had a beautiful moon installation, and since it wasn’t too crowded, we had a comfortable space to take our time.
When the food arrived, we all dug in. Their grilled chicken was surprisingly good. More importantly, everyone was full, and hearing my parents say that was enough for me. If I had to rate the food, I’d give it a solid 6 out of 10—not bad, but I’d love to try other dishes next time.
After dinner, we headed to the view—the reason so many people visit Tops. And let me tell you, it never gets old. Seeing the city lights twinkle from above, wrapped in the cool mountain air, was the perfect way to end the night. If you ever go, I’d highly recommend bringing a jacket because the temperature drops fast. By 10 PM, the fog started rolling in, making everything feel almost surreal.
As the night wrapped up, we drove back to my apartment, and I asked my parents if they were happy and full. Their answer? Yes. That was all I needed to hear. And just as I was about to step out of the car, my mom looked at me and said, “Thank you.”
It was such a simple moment, but it meant everything.
Giving back to them—even in this small way—felt incredibly fulfilling. It wasn’t about the money or the effort, but about making them happy, even just for one night. It reminded me that milestones don’t always have to be grand. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, intimate moments that mean the most.
This night was definitely one for the books.
Taking my parents out for the first time was something I had dreamed of doing for a while, and finally making it happen felt amazing. It wasn’t perfect—there was traffic, a limited menu, and a long wait—but in the end, none of that mattered. What mattered was that we were together, laughing, eating, and making memories.
I know this is just the beginning. There will be more dinners, more celebrations, and more moments like this. But for now, I’m just happy I got to share this one with them.
That’s all for today, Hivers! Thanks for reading, and I hope this inspires you to cherish the little milestones in life. Until next time!