My first time in the Philippines to celebrate mother’s day with my boys.
actually, its an advance celebration because I am traveling back to Saudi Arabia.
We went to Sariwon Korean barbecue at BGC.
The meat was tender, actually all the dishes taste good but one thing I noticed, there were more side dishes than the meat itself. Service was also good and fast.
We had a set menu for 4 persons but the dessert was only good for one which I think its only for mom!
I’m lucky that I celebrated twice ! Last month was mother’s day in Jeddah and this month is for Philippines mother ‘s day.
Actually, we can always celebrate any day we wish! Speaking for myself, I always appreciate the simple things that my son’s were able to achieved. We’re living so far apart, literally in three different continent :-). Every time that I was able to video chat with them is a celebration for me! I feel awesome hearing their stories,ideas, practically anything that’s happening to them is a bonus. Sharing each stories makes me feel I am still a part of their growth even though they are both independent adult. Though ,I wish we live together I am happy for their achievements no matter how small or big it is, I know that one day they will make a mark in this complicated world. Yeah it’s complicated but hey ! let’s just be happy of what we have and continue to move forward to achieve our goal and if life becomes more complicated, look back who were you before and now, think of the struggles, think of the accomplishments and blessings and life would be simple to take in!
So, what’s the big deal of celebrating Mother’s Day?
Well, this is a day you receive smiling faces celebrating your day. This is the day you receive greetings from your love ones attesting how you are as a mother. This is the day you can have a day off and be surrounded with love ones and receive flowers and chocolates too!
Ok cut out the drama 🙂 in reality I think mothers would like to pamper themselves too! what’s the first in your list? Come on.. don’t giggles ..I know what you’re thinking!
Shopping!
right? but have you wish someone will give you a gift of shopping spree 😮
Spa? beauty treatment? jewelry?
Yes, now we’re talking, have you thought that each day of your life you think of your love ones and not yourself? Each day spent is for them? cook, clean, work!
So… today is the day! It’s a one day in a year… Happy mother’s day to all! I do hope you enjoy your day and this day is not just an ordinary day for you.
What about me?
Hence , I’m so far away from my sons, I celebrated “ME” day with my sister (from another mother), pampering ourself in Eric Zeimmour salon.
She did her hair, isn’t she gorgeous?
I did my nails and eyebrow .. we’re ready to party hurray!
After the salon date, we went to Uptown and celebrate the night with the family.
Working outside the Philippines has a trade-off and one of those.. is seeing my parents only once a year. This year, I have time to bond with my mom (my dad had a mild stroke and can not travel anymore).
A week before I went back to Jeddah, I asked my mom:
Me: mama would you like to come with me to Manila?
Mama: eh paano ang papa mo, sinung mag -aalaga? (what about your dad? who will take care of him?)her eyes twinkling and there was a faint smile at the corner of her lips, meaning she wanted to come but can’t leave without my dad.
Me and my siblings: don’t worry ma, all your grandchildren can take care of dad .
Mama: what about coming back, I can’t travel alone?
Me: ma, i will let the stewardess take care of you!
her smile widened and wallah! off to Manila.
bound for manila
inside the plane with my mom and nephew aron
always a beauty
so happy to be with you
touchdown manila
with mom and bro kelly and nephew aron
my mom and nephew
I was so excited to bond with my mom but let me tell you a secret: I have six brothers and I am the only daughter, I guess you are thinking hmmm spoiled? nope! I am not, was not and will never be! My father is a strict disciplinarian but I am closer to him than my mom.When I was in high school, I was always voted as muse or oftentimes as a beauty contestant. I never heard my mom says: “My daughter is beautiful”. She even said: kuh bakit ba ikaw ang napipili palagi eh marami naman diyan maganda! sabay kurot! (oh! why always you? there’s a lot of beautiful girls around?)and she pinched my side tenderly. When I say, I love you ma, she never reply ” I love you too my only daughter. In short, my mom is minimalist in words of affection.
I was determined to give her the best of times, I made sure the hotel we checked- in was near the shopping mall, who doesn’t love shopping? We all do!! 🙂
The Heritage hotel is near Mall of Asia
Mama: ang ganda naman rito, magkano ba ang one night? (it’s nice here, how much per night?)
Me: enjoy ka lang ma, wag mong isipin kung magkano. (just enjoy ma, don’t think how much)
We had breakfast buffet every morning and my mom said: Ang dami- dami naman pagkain, ang hirap pumili, buti pa sa chowking. ( there’s so much food, difficult to choose, it’s better in chowking!)
Chowking , a Chinese -Filipino fast food restaurant that serves Chicken Lauriat meal (fried chicken,noodles,rice,pork siomai,butchi and chipcharap) in one order and cost less than a hundred pesos (less than USD 2.00). While buffet in hotel cost a thousand pesos per head (22.00USD) and more.
so tired but i felt her happiness
We visited her only brother whom she didn’t see for many years and this was like” mission accomplished” for me, it was like seeing a reality show, the emotions was high and I couldn’t control my tears.
It was holy week and mostly of the shops were closed but we manage to went around and dined with other family members.
TGIF! and again my mom said: buti pa sa Chowking! (it’s better in chowking) hahaha if only Kris Aquino (chowking endorser) can hear this, mom will be the best endorser!
I took her to David’s Salon ( a popular and expensive salon in Mall of Asia). She did her hair and nails. After I paid and she knew how expensive it was, she said, it was better in Virac (our province of Catanduanes) a lot cheaper and they cut hair better than here. 🙂
I gave her money for shopping so she can get what she wants but every time she looks at the tag price, she would abandon it … mom: ang mahal naman! (so expensive!)
Manila bay sunset
It was a long day for both of us, I was tired carrying the shopping bags and I couldn’t get more pictures anymore but..guess what? My mom did not forget to mentioned” let’s eat in chowking!”
So we did! (no photos, tired of going around) 🙂
Mama, I know you enjoyed your trip and chowking 🙂 and even though you don’t say it, I always feel you love me too as much as you love my brothers, Even though we have different taste in clothes, food and lifestyles, I know you had fun bonding with me. I will always look forward to spend time with you and papa.
Hi mom! I have written a lot about you… today it would be different, I would like to share to you what my first son had written about me. Yes about his mom! (that’s me, with a capital M and a broad smile). For without you, I would not be receiving this kind words from him. You have made me what I am today. Thank you so much!
“After 7 years in college. After countless mistakes. Learning the hard way. After all that, all you had to say was “the past is gone and done with. You learned from it and it made you stronger. Now, go and chase your dreams”. Okay, maybe those weren’t your words but I think I got the gist of it. This was the day you took me to Hawaii. You helped me cross off the first of many places I want to go to before I die. And the same way you introduced me to drawing when I was a kid, this was also the same day you bought me my first camera. Thank you mom, for letting me learn the hard way and sticking with me through those days. Thank you for pushing me to keep chasing my dreams. I love you so much.”
Isn’t it wonderful mom? I owe you a lot of things, a lot of wisdom, a lot of beauty (in and out) but most of all, I owe you an infinite love that only mothers can give and this is pay back time… HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!
“A Mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary “- Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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