MY 46TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

(I know I'm already 50 now but as I was looking at my drafts I saw that I wasn't able to post this.... I was leaning towards not posting it anymore but then I saw how some of the special people in my life were still with me during this time, and how everything was just boringly "perfect." Maybe it's their way of saying that they're still with me??

Praying that life goes back this again...)

--------------------------- 

Another birthday passed and you know what that means:

I'll be 46 este... 36 years old now.
I'll be hotter.
I'll be sexier.
I'll be wiser.
I'll be delusional.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Seriously though what gets me all emo emo these days is how at my age I'm still crazy, weird, and childlike. I thought that when I get older I'll automatically become matured and be like those genteel Moms in Disney films. But nooooooh... I think I'm becoming worse with age. Maybe that's why the boys are so ashamed of me.

CHE!!!! Is it embarrassing to have a Mom who gives the name "Mati Da Pogi" to the barista so that when he calls it out for claiming, people in the cafe would know that Mati is indeed pogi??!!!! Cool kaya!!!!!

I've also started to accept that I am not like other women/moms out there because my craziness is always equal to happiness.   

Anyway.....

So yes, with my big 4-6, I thought it's going to be MEH and ordinary especially because of the pandemic. 

Turns out, it's still my best birthday EVER. 

I know you might say it's OA of me to say my birthday celebrations this year are fun when it's really ordinary and "tipid" to what others do. I don't know. Maybe that's just me. For me I always find joy in the present. And I think I've always claimed that as long as I have my family and my favorite friends, I'll be happy.

Eh pano yan, may delicious food pa?

Sharing with you again my birthday celebrations for turning 4-6... este.... 3-6. He he he he he! I once learned again that it doesn't matter if your celebration are grand or simple, as long as your family and true friends are with you, it will still definitely be AWESOME. 

(Belated) Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!!

MY 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

And the day has finally come...  

I turned 50. 

When I was younger, 50 was like oldy-oldy with grandkids and a ton of accomplishments. 

But ENNNNNNNGK (buzzer sound na matinis) when turning 50 was around the corner, I realized that I didn't have a lot...

a. I didn't have grandkids (not that I know of... well I better don't).
b. I didn't have a lot of major accomplishments BUT I'm working for a boss whom I idolize and respect soooo much in the number one noontime show in the Philippines.
c. I didn't have a lot of friends (well..... just valued the reals and so lazy to make new ones... ha ha ha).
AND
d. I didn't have the reality of what I projected for when I turned 50. 

But you know what? Honestly? Seriously? 

I'M JUST FOINEEE WITH IT.

Of course there will always be room for improvement and goals to accomplish, but the good thing though is that I'm not as worried nor insecure of my non-achievements as I did before when I would celebrate my earlier birthdays. 

So yeah! The golden 50??? Yohooo!!!!!!

I got actually so excited for 50 because my family and I had a lot of plans -- I saved for multiple travels and plotted all the restaurants that we'll be eating in. Yep. If you saw my other birthdays where we did a lot, trust me, it was going to be double this year. 

Or so we thought. He he he he he he! Dan! Dan! Dannnnn!!!!!

I don't want to get into details but like they say if we were initially planning to go West, plans went for the East. He he he he he he! It's okay though because no one may have warned me about life going to be this way (thank you "FRIENDS" series) we still had a LOT to be thankful for. And I think one of the main reasons why I'm now so FOINE and thankful for everything is that life has a way of putting trivial matters in perpective. 

So saying that plans did not go the way we wanted to may be an understatement, but believe it or not, EVERYTHING was still memorable and had it's own special charm to it.

We had many unexpected celebrations but they are all something which I will definitely not forget!

One of the best things too is that we have yet to do our initial plans... so yeah, there is still something to look forward to and excited for....  ha ha ha ha! Party party tugs tugs!

Also, looking at the bright side and valuing what we have right now. I just know and pray that everything's going to be better by the grace of God. 

So here I am sharing also my simple celebrations... yet I assure you, they're the most memorable, unforgettable, and somehow romantic for me.

And if you ask if given the chance if I'll change anything for the last 50 years? (Well.... apart from hoping that I should've followed BTS sooner so that I'll be able to watch when they were in the Philippines....) 

I would say, not a minute.

:) 

I'm 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaah!!!!!

SENIOR CITIZEN NA AKOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEGUSTATION DINNER AT THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM (THE MANILA HOTEL)

Hello everyone! Remember me??? He he he he he!

Yeah... yeah... before you remember me as the person you blocked before (he he he he he he), this is Jaz of ERICJAZ FOODIES who still believes in her online diary. I know I am not writing here as much as before, but work got hectic, annnnnd there are some things happening in my private life (PRIVATE LIFE DAW O) that warranted the delay of my posting. 

ANYWHO...

To say that our year was uneventful is an understatement.... BUT would just like to focus on what gave us smiles and happy tummies. Sooo no chismis for you... Ha ha ha ha ha! Maybe soon!

So last 2024, we were planning how to celebrate Mommy's 80th. There were a lot of options but I came upon THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM at the MANILA HOTEL when I was checking for some promos and what have you. 

At first my bossy kapatids didn't want to go that far as they're allergic to traffic, but later on they changed their minds so as to try out something new, AND because we luuuuuuuuuv our Mummy.

So to THE MANILA HOTEL we went, and we're all sooo glad that we did because it was the start of a beautiful friendship with THE MANILA HOTEL! :) 

We're in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM!!!!

A SUMO SAM HOLIDAY (2020)

Last December, THE YAPPY BUNCH went out for some family bonding bonding ekek because it was a holiday.

It may be so tempting to just stay at home and sleep the day away but going out with the boys and treating them to a nice lunch is something we'll not pass up.  Of course because of the present situation, we will still be extra careful and follow safety protocols imposed by the establishment. Yes, we all want to have fun BUT also be cautious at the same time.

With that, we decided to go to Edsa Shang because it's one of the malls I know that don't have many people. When we got there, the guard asked us questions and we answered honestly (we also called the restaurant beforehand).

So yay! Another fun family day. Even if there were a lot of extra things to do to ensure our safety, we all appreciated the caring measures and had an awesome day!  

WE'RE OUT!!!
(Can't buy me looooooveeee.... loooooove)

MATI'S 2021 BIRTHDAY!!!

As mothers, we are all well aware at how our children won't be babies forever -- one minute they're cute and chubby as potatoes the next second, they're long and lean like french fries.

Okay ba my metaphor and simile?? He he he he he he!

My dearest first born Mati celebrated his birthday last January and I lovingly discovered that when your son is all grown up, you would really have to listen to what he wanted. Even if his plans are not same as your own, you would have to trust him enough to say "Okay. Ikaw bahala."

So days before his birthday I asked my son "How do you like to celebrate your birthday?"

He answered "Just at home Mommy. Maybe we could invite just a few of my friends."

At first I'm like "No more gifts? No more Kimpura? No more getaways???"

Mati just shrugged and said "Whatever's fine Mom but as long as I get to go shopping in Greenhills and have a getogether with my friends. I'm good na."

One part of me was overjoyed that my big guy's wishes were so manageable with my budget. Super mura lang! Another part is "we can't have just THAT for your birthday!"

In the end, sorry I would have to contradict (a bit) what I wrote up there. Syempre, I would follow the wishes of my big guy na shopping in Greenhills and getogether with friends only. However, we just love our awesome guy so much that we feel we should give him all that we can. Of course, if we're going to make an effort, the best would be for my sons!

And as what we would do because it is our love language, we'll do it with FOOD.

Sharing with you our celebrations for our Master Mati!

(Belated) Happy Birthday my dearest big guy!

ANDREI'S 14TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

It's my baby bunsoys birthday and syempre, pandemic or not, Yub and I will do what we can to make it an unforgettable one.

Last year, we had a surprise party for him when the bunso turned 13 years old.

This year, even if turning 14 is not as grand of a milestone as when he officially became a teenager, we still wanted to give him a celebration to honor our loving and talented bunso.

Of course, there may be no staycations nor multiple dinners at our usual birthday restaurants, but still, our munting celebrations were filled as much love as we could all muster.

So HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS my dearest baby bunso!!! We love you soooooooooooooooooo much!

MANN HANN CAPITOL COMMONS

Once upon a time before the pandemic...

If you're close with my hub, you'd know that he's one of the most simplest man ever and it doesn't take much to make him happy. He's really not for grand celebrations and as long as we're together eating his favorite grub, he'll be super happy.

For his birthday this year, he really didn't want to make a fuss anymore because of that growing pandemic. Still, we thought that we cannot let his birthday pass without giving him even a tiny celebration and we promised to be ultra-careful.

When pushed he said he would like to have some (surprise, surprise) Chinese food. He remembered the last time we went out with Team Godoy how much we enjoyed the food in MANN HANN and asked if we could go there.

OF COURSE! His wish was our command!

We're extra happy too because we LOVED MANN HANN!

Yipee!!!!

MANN HANN!!!

UNO SEAFOOD PALACE

Once upon a time before the pandemic......

For my birthday week many, many eons ago (tee hee), my favorite foodie kumares/friends and I planned to have a weekend getogether because we haven't seen each other for so long.

Finally everyone was available for Saturday and when it came to deciding where to eat, it was suggested that we try out UNO SEAFOOD PLACE because they had this eat-all-you-can promo.

Hala! I also have a buffet dinner tonight pano yan??

Well!!! At least I could afford to eat "onti lang" because of the promo so I won't be so "hinayang" about it. I'm sure I could control myself from eating too much food.

Or so I thought. Tee hee.

UNO SEAFOOD PALACE!!!!

KIMPURA (2020)

Once upon a time before what's happening now, I CELEBRATED MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

Now...

I don't care if we have done this here many times before...

I don't care that it may make me go over my budget...

I don't care that I've made SEVERAL blogs about birthday celebrations here ordering the same food with the same people...

But we're having my birthday in my favorite KIMPURA and here's my post about it!!!

DAN DAN DANNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yohoo! We're in KIMPURA!!!!!!!!!!!

THE YUB'S 2020 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS!

It's Yub's birthday once again and even if he's not too much on grand celebrations, we still want to honor him and thank his ugliness for all the love and hard work that he has given us (I'm a bully I know. Ha ha ha ha ha!)

Well, as much as we want to make out-of-this world gimiks for his birthday, we didn't because of the following reasons:

a) There was an incoming pandemic.
b) He wanted everything simple.
c) He didn't plan anything for my birthday naman e so why should I plan anything for him??? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

Ignore the last one. Matindi ang hugot ng senior moments ko non! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Anyway, whatever the actual and pure reason, we did what we can to thank the big Chinese panget on his birthday. And based on his big smiles and thank yous, he's happy.

Syempre that made us all happy na din!

(Belated) Happy Birthday Yub!!! We love youuuuuuuus panget!!!!!!

MY 45TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

When I was younger, I thought that 45 is somebody very old, knowledgeable about life, ladylike, well-behaved, and goodness would just flow through her veins.

Looking at the mirror I'm thinking... NAAAAAH. He he he!

Anyone who's close to me would assure you that I'm nowhere those traits above: I am still figuring out this thing called "life," I am still wacky and kenkoy, my voice is still very loud and I laugh with a guffaw, I could still be very mean, AND, I look 30.

I'm sure the last one made you gag. Ha ha ha ha ha!

What I did discover about growing old is that I got more emotional and became a crybaby. Yeah! Not just by watching movies ah (oh I love crying at movies) but my stone heart has finally melted (to think I'm the girl who was dedma with all the palanca letters from school retreats). I finally got why my Lolos and Lolas would suddenly burst out laughing when we're together. At this age I finally understood how unimportant material things are and that what matters most are the people around you.

In fact, I didn't expect gifts! When friends asked me what I liked, I would always say "Just promise you'll always be there for me" is my usual reply. (Of course Yub and the family are not included since I rely on them to buy new clothes or techie stuff. I don't usually have the budget to do so. #kuripot. Ha ha ha ha ha!).

Sharing with you my birthday celebrations this year when I turned 45! I know I say this always but, yep, it's still the best one yet. You may find my celebrations boring but I'm the type who values what I have now rather than reminiscing the days before or aspiring for what I will get in the future. Of course, like I always say (again), my birthday celebrations would be ultimo perfecto if my Daddyowzers was with us, but I guess celebrating with our loved ones and receiving blessings (that he initiated) is the next best thing.

So yay! Here's to me!! I'm 45 and super alive!

:P  

OOPS.. Sorry! Typo! I'm only 35 pala. He he he he!

ALBA (CAPITOL COMMONS)

Once upon a time, before the pandemic....

It's the super pamatay belated birthday of my dear Mareng Gail and as tradition permits, I will be treating her to her restaurant of choice.

DRATS... este... MAGALING! MAGALING! He he he he he!

Her choice for the night was ALBA in CAPITOL COMMONS because she was craving for some good ol' Spanish food. I have eaten with the family in ALBA many times before but I haven't tried out their dinner buffet (P933.00 per pax).

I guess there's always a "tindig-balahibo" first time for everyone and I'm glad that I'm going to do it with a friend.

Wait. No pun intended and suggested AT ALL there. Ewwy. Kadire.

:P

We're in ALBA!!!!!!!!!

MATI'S 2020 BIRTHDAY!!!!

My big guy is "sweet 16" na!!!!! GRRRR.... 

I'm sure that it's a term he'll violently veer away from (ha ha ha) but yeah, he's really a teen now.

DRATS.

Currently, I'm in a place where I am torn between letting him have fun and enjoy being a teen, to keeping him safe and teaching him discipline.

HAY!!! Lately he's been asking me many times to go out with his friends. I don't want to be a party pooper but I'm also worried of how he'll manage outside! I know that the Yub and I have trained him well but still, times are different these days and there are many "stranger dangers". To think that there's even this virus going around!

NGIIII!

Oh well.... I know that I have to let him go sometime and the Yub and I promised that we will always be there. So yeah, he may go out with his friends but his Daddy and I will drive him to the place and wait for him somewhere. OR, if we're at work, our long-time driver could act as his "bodyguard". It's not that we don't trust him. It's more like we just want to be there for him until he grows up and be really ready to face the world alone.

Though I doubt if I'll ever be ready to do THAT. Ha ha ha ha ha!

But yeah, I'm sure Master Mati is on his way because from what I (and other people) see, he's growing up to be a kind and independent gentleman.

An example is his birthday celebrations: he's so used to having about 3 weeks of fun where we'll have foodtrips here and there, getogethers with friends, and staycations! But this year, he knew that my budget was tight  that when I asked him if it's okay to have a simple birthday, he was like "Of course!"

"My only wishes for my birthday is to go to Greenhills to shop, eat at Shabu shabu, and have a day with my friends."

AWWWWWWW......... 

And that's what we were able to give him.

His celebrations this year may not be as grand or super long as what we would have before but it still made my big guy so happy. I guess, even if I'm not ready to accept it, he is indeed growing up and appreciated spending time with his true friends and family more.

And, like with Andrei, even if the celebrations are simpler this 2020, it is still filled with so much love and gratitude for this super awesome guy that we proudly call our son.

We love you soooooooooo much dear Mati!!!!!!

(Belated) Happy Birthday dearest!!!!!

ANDREI'S 13TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

If you're a regular reader of this silly little foodie blog (what is wrong with you??? He he he he), you would know that birthdays are such a big thing for us!

For Andrei's birthday last December though, we somehow shortened our usual 2 week celebration because we had a trip to Japan and we gave him a party, so budget was a bit tight. I'm proud that my bunso, unlike other kids, understood everything and said "It's okay" with a smile. Awwwwww.... He's really growing up na! Either that or he had a lot of fun for his birthday celebrations that even if it's just for a few days, it's already more than enough for him.

I would like to think it's a little of both. He he he he he!!!!

But really, even if we had a 2 week or a few days for Andrei's birthday we know that in every celebration (or even our mere Powerplant mall dates) it is filled with so much feelings and gratitude. I can't stress enough how much I love my baby bunsoy and how I'm so proud of the kind, talented, innocent, cute, and loving guy that he is. My favorite thing to do is hugging him tight and showering him with kisses. And I won't stop doing that just because he's already a teenager.

(Belated) Happy Birthday my dearest! We love you sooooooo much!!!!!!

My baby bunsoy is not a baby anymore!

HMP!

ANDREI'S SURPRISE 13TH BIRTHDAY!!!

When my big guy Mati celebrated his 13th birthday many years ago, I gave him a simple surprise lunch and swimming party with our close friends. It was so fun that when it was over, the little bunsoy Andrei took me aside and shyly told me that when he turns 13, he hoped to have a surprise party too.

"Of course!" I answered then.

Fast forward to 3 years and even if the little bunsoy didn't demand it, the Yub and I were already planning silently his surprise birthday.

You might wonder why we need to make a celebration when our kids turn 13 (and not when they're 18 or 21). During Mati's time, we did it because he's so excited at becoming a teenager (mostly because he'll get to watch PG-13 movies na) that we also got excited for him. It's like, this will be an important life event that he'll want/need to celebrate with us (because when he turns 21, he's most likely to plan a low-key getogether with friends and family that's more on the "inuman" side). At least we'll be saying goodbye to his "baby-hood" with loads of "family-friendly" fun.  At the same time I thought, I've been giving surprise parties to almost everyone I know (friends and family) that I feel that I should give it to my ultimo VIP!

Days nearing the event, I was nervous that the little one is already guessing that we have something planned for him. Earlier that month, we gave my Mom a surprise birthday too (since it's her 75th) and with the gimmicks that we had for her my bunsoy would always say "Is that for my partyyy??"

I would always answer "Sorry baby, no party muna for you because Mommy and Daddy don't have enough money now."

"Okay..." He'd answer nicely.

For Andrei's surprise bday celebration, I was able to have many accomplices and one of them was his class adviser. Since we just finished a party for my Mom where the alibi was we have blogging, we needed to have a different reason why he needs to go somewhere where Mommy and Daddy couldn't take him. Also, he's very familiar with with Valle Verde Country Club (where my brother is a member) and we're scared that he'll suspect something if he knew that we have to meet him there.

With that, we asked help from his teacher to tell him that he had to attend this seminar in Valle Verde Country Club because he missed a lot of tests when we went to Japan.  His teacher agreed to write a note which Andrei showed me with ultimo seriousness "I have to attend this." He declared.

The Yub and I were "supposed" to take him to the seminar, but lo and behold, his Daddy suddenly had an attack of gout (kuno). Yun lang trust on reliable Yub to stick to our alibi so much that he FORGOT he had gout that morning!

"You're walking straight Daddy!!!!" Andrei shouted. "See? You don't really have gout! You just don't want to attend the seminar!!!"

Well... That's a YES and YES! He he he he!

So the Yub and I suddenly had to go to the ER ( Kuno... he he he he) while Mommy, Kuya Jon, and Cio will take Andrei to his seminar. Awwwww....

Read on to see what happened to Andrei's surprise birthday!

SURPRISE!!!!!!

The venue for Andrei's party was in BARAS room in VALLE VERDE COUNTRY CLUB!

MOMMY'S SURPRISE BDAY PARTY (2019)

It's my Mom's birthday and even if she's not the type to have a grand party, my sister and I thought of making her celebrations MORE special....

We're going to give her a SURPRISE PARTY!

It's Mommy's (belated) birthday!!!!!!

MR. SUNMOON (2019)

My brother celebrated his birthday recently.

And when it comes to birthdays in our household, you know the drill.

WE EAT!!!!!!!

MR. SUNMOON!!!!!!

MR. SUNMOON was formerly SUN MOON GARDEN and it's where my family always had birthday celebrations when the celebrant is craving for some Chinese food. 

As in bata pa kaming lahat! There was even a time when my Dad treated his sisters from the US here then when the food came, nag-agawan and naghabulan kaming magkakapatid (it was so embarrassing for him. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!).

Their restaurant used to be in Greenhills Shoppesville but then they transferred to Club Filipino Avenue. And that's where we went to that Sunday when my brother was in the mood for our usual comfort food.

BUDDY'S (2019)

When the Yubhub celebrated his birthday last March, he only requested for 3 things:

A. To attend mass.

B. To have BUDDY'S for his birthday dinner.

C. Not to receive ANY gifts from yours truly..... 

He he he he.... Okay fine. Only 2 out of 3 is true.

Anyways, it's fine of course but I was just concerned that my senior citizen Mom might not be suited for BUDDY's especially that the popular restaurant is always jampacked and standing room only. But she was SOOOO game and said how everything would be fine (after I raised my worries). See? She's not pintasero of a place (Unlike some people I know. Nitpicking fakers).

Good thing that when we got to BUDDY's, the place was nearly empty and we were able to have Yub's cravings ASAP (after a few minutes that's when the people came jamming the place up.)

I love it when our guardian angels help us out. I guess they're "hungry" too! He he he he he!!!

Or maybe, that's their "birthday gift" for the Yub this year! He he he he!!!

PWEDEEEEE....

:P

We're in BUDDYS!!!!!!

KIMPURA GREENHILLS ( 2019 )

I know what you must be thinking...

KIMPURA AGAIN???

Not only that, it's KIMPURA again on MY (belated) birthday. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Yep some time last March my dear HS friend Sandra invited me out to treat me on my birthday. When she asked me where, the usual "tug-of-war" of who will name what place, erupted. FINALLY, fickle minded me decided on Italian. So Sandra arranged for this restaurant she loved in Greenhills.

Then at the last minute while I was on my way to the venue, I texted her "Sandz, will you get mad if we switched to Japanese na lang again?" (I said "again" because we'll already been changing and re-planning the venue).

Her answer was, "He he he... Sige Japanese" -- you'll get the impression that she's about to wring your neck.

KIDDING!!!

So KIMPURA it is because she hasn't eaten there yet and we felt that it was the best choice for Japanese in the Greenhills area.

YAY!!!

Once again, my KIMPURA loyal heart (and tummy) is happy!!!!

WOHOO!

KIMPURA baby!!!!

OF CAPTAIN MARVEL AND GANSO SHABUWAY

Call me childish...
Call me bratty...
Call me sexy (tee hee)...
Call me OA...
or call me maybe (sorry I cannot resist.. ha ha ha!)

But yeah, birthday celebrations are done when I say it's done.

As they say, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Now wait a minute....

For my birthday celebrations early this year, I was happy to have spent it with family and friends over delicious food and wonderful company.

However, like all losers, I needed some "closure" or finality from all that birthday celebrations (otherwise, I wouldn't stop and use it to make the Yub treat me everyday!!!). So with that, I eyed a particular Saturday where my favorite dinner and a movie routine would be accomplished.

Because yeah, the perfect date is a dinner and movie don't you think?

GANSO SHABUWAY!!!!