13 November 2025
Just recently, our country was hit by two consecutive super typhoons. The strong winds and nonstop rain caused flooding in some areas and power outages. But the most devastating part was the number of lives lost. Many are still mourning and trying their best to recover from the devastation, even until now.
Because of these recent events, we weren’t sure if we could still push through with my mom’s birthday celebration. Our original plan was to go to the beach on Sunday since my younger siblings had classes on Monday, her actual birthday. But then, another typhoon came just before that day. Sunday arrived, and it was still gloomy and windy, so no chance to visit the beach. We just hoped for better weather on Monday, and thankfully, the skies cleared just in time.
We started the preparations that same day because we weren’t sure if the weather would cooperate. We went for simple dishes that were easy to make, like pansit, which is always present on special occasions because it symbolizes long life. I also made some puto, which has become one of my favorites. Using the same batter, I baked a few mini cakes too.
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For dessert, I prepared coffee jelly and maja blanca.
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My brother pan-roasted his native chickens for Mom’s birthday. Native chickens really do have a richer flavor than the farm-raised ones. He also butchered some ducks, and my mom turned them into a delicious caldereta dish. It’s definitely an advantage to have a small poultry right in our backyard. We can always enjoy fresh meat whenever we want. To add veggie to the menu, I cooked bean sprout spring rolls. And of course, our favorite chicken adobo was also present.
We bought a cake for mom, which became two because my sister added one as her gift.
With everyone’s help, we managed to pull off a simple yet meaningful celebration for mom.
During dinner, a few relatives dropped by to greet her. The atmosphere was full of warmth, in contrast to the gloomy days we’d just been through.
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My grandmother led the prayer before the meal, but one impatient little girl couldn’t wait to eat, haha! She even thought it was her birthday since the cake was placed in front of her.
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In the end, she greeted mom, “Happy birthday, grandma!” and gave her a tight hug. It was such a cute moment.
Of course, no Filipino celebration is complete without karaoke. After eating, some headed to the living area to sing with the grandmothers, who were already belting out songs, lol. We shared stories, laughed, and thanked God for keeping us safe through the storms.
Then the little girl sang Golden! The video of her singing "Golden" that night hasn't been uploaded yet, but here's a previous video already uploaded on FB. Don't mind her lyrics, though, lol. It's one of her favorite songs lately.
The night ended with hearts full of gratitude.
The recent calamities showed how fragile life can be, but also showed how strong and resilient Filipinos are. However, the year isn't over yet, so there may still be more storms ahead. After everything we've been through, mom's birthday was like a celebration of resilience, gratitude, and togetherness.
Have you been affected by recent typhoons? How are you doing now?