Celebrating my Father's 69th Birthday: A Family and Extended Family Reunion

Before my father's birthday, my sisters and I agreed to share or chip in for his birthday celebration. We also agreed to surprise him. He will be turning 69 years old. I was confused about what I should pledge since I won't have received my salary by then. So I finally decided to make a simple salad and bought some ingredients from our neighbor who sells fruits and vegetables. I asked my nephew to buy lettuce, carrots, cucumber, and an apple. I will add cheese, raisins, and pineapple chunks, which I will get from my mother's store. I was excited to make the salad, but I did not. 😩

My niece was really kind enough to go to the market and buy fish and some ingredients for the meal. She also cleared and cleaned the area for the venue. It is just beside the store, an empty extension room for their another small business. My sister and my niece prepared the table settings and more. My nephew also helped in cleaning the area.
This is my niece. I know she was tired from running errands the whole day.

My sister was preparing the cakes.

My father's Chinese friend gave him goat's meat. He is a generous millionaire who doesn't forget papa's birthday. This is my brother slicing goat's meat and preparing the ingredients. He then placed the meat inside the pressure cooker, since goat's meat doesn't easily become tender. I can't wait to eat kaldereta. I like goat's meat because it is grass fed.

On the day of my Father's birthday, I was so busy with class, while everybody was doing their share to make the occasion a success. I was also composing or working on a blog, and that was the reason why I wasn't able to make the salad for his birthday. I felt bad. Everybody had already left for the salo-salo. I thought of going after my class at 8:30 PM. I hurried there so I could eat, then attend my 9 PM class. I was the only one left at home, but luckily my brother came back, so I was able to ride in his car along with his girlfriend and his girlfriend's mom. When I got there, wow, I was surprised there was so much food. I hurriedly greeted everybody, my aunts, uncles, friends, and my papa because I only had 20 minutes before starting my next class.

I wasn't able to join the picture taking at the start because I was still at home. My sister and brother-in-law had really prepared for papa, they ordered a whole roasted pig (lechon), and there were various sweets and different kinds of viands.
The lechon before it was attacked 😆

There were also cakes for my niece, whose birthday was February 24th, and my nephew whose birthday was March 2nd.

My brother-in-law is very generous, not hesitating to give. He contributed most of the meal. His mom and siblings were also there at the celebration. Some of papa's friends were also present.
Papa blowing his cake. On top of the cake is his ever favorite Red Horse beer.

Papa's forever love, our mother

Children were happily playing at the back of the pick-up car, and the boys were sitting at the closed laundry shop.

Of course an occasion wouldn't be complete without drinking alcohol. Surprisingly, they didn't drink beer. They drank hard liquor instead.
I prefer to drink beer. Almost everybody was tipsy. We talked, laughed, and had conversations with just about anything. We took photos. I also took photos for them.

My nephews and I. Pardon my messy dry hair

Our eldest sister was also late because she lives an hour away from town.
We chatted about life, kids, work and relationships.

The lechon aftermath 😆

Every birthday becomes a reunion of friends, relatives, neighbors, and family. My sisters are thoughtful in their preparations for our father's 69th birthday. It's great that we agreed to work together to celebrate him, and chose to contribute whatever we can for our papa. I hope our father appreciates the love and effort we put into the celebration.

Also our brother-in-law's generosity and the presence of extended family made the celebration even more heartwarming. It was a memorable evening for everyone involved.

Father's birthday turned into an amazing celebration despite my busy schedule. Our family's effort and generosity truly shone through, and it’s clear we made the event extra special for him. Even though I wasn't able to make the salad or join the initial photo taking, I was able to make it there and be part of the joyous occasion.

Thank you for reading.