My sweet Neni, the heart of our home. <3 I always joke the giblings that each of them have different attributes. Babyson is the “beauty” while Ate is the “brains” hehe. And our Neni is most definitely the “heart” while Kap is the “soul”. Ako? Eh di ano pa, pambansang dekorasyon! ;))

Namaaaan, pati pala si Kap my Kap eh may pasabog!! ;)) Naghintay lang pala na bumaba ang presyo bago ako binilhan ng roses HAHAHAHAHA-rsh! And thank you furbabies (c/o their Ate Neni) for the colorful balloons that added another ray of sunshine to my happy morning. Of course, to my Honey -who even after 32 years, never fails to surprise me. As I said, me & him, we’ll never get boring. 😉

Still at both ends of the world, hindi nagpapansinan ang magkapatid. I never had trouble with the giblings getting along. Ewan ko ba dito sa mga furbabies ko, stress sa chest ha, hindi magkasundo! Giving me grief! @_@

Kap: Yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Buntunghininga. HAHAHAHAHA! My poor Kap. Before this collaged photo, what you don’t see are the BTS (behind the scene).. naka-ilang talon na si Twinkie muntikan nang masakal, at naka-ilang taob na yang stroller sa bigat nila. ;)) Hindi ko lang agad nakunan dahil nga tinulungan ko si Kap my Kap. Baka mabulyawan ako pag nag-peechur ako imbes na tumulong, lol. Birthday na birthday ko pa naman ayaw kong masinghalan! 😛

I was surprised the furbabies were allowed in this Mongolian resto. Nung una mukha kaming yagit sa labas until the store manager welcomed us in with open arms. Pwede pala yan?

Will forever be grateful to my birth & life-giver. Thank you Mommy. Happy birthday to us! :-*

Couldn’t have had a better day than spending it with this guy, my guy. <3 Thank you Honey for keeping me company the whole day! :-*

1-2-3-4-5. Five plates for my birthday dinner. 5 is my lucky number then, I guess. ;))

My silly geese! They hid my real gift pa inside this Typo shopping bag hahaha. Giblings! Doncha know by now, whatever you give me, I will always treasure???

Mga kababayan, hindi po ako nag-iinarte. Ayan oh, hindi nakakain ang mga anak ko because they scrimped & saved to buy me this gift huhu. Naiyak naman ang puso ko! I hate that they had to sacrifice for me, but at the same time, I’m so touched to have them love me this much. Waaaaa! Pero diba? The sisters are so loving to one another. Down to her last 200, Ate was willing to split it pa with her shoBAE. Ayan, cry a river na naman ako huhuhu! :'((

My first birthday gift for 2018. Thank you so much Kim & Joe for your thoughtfulness. You already gave us a precious gift in Twinkie, and now this. My heart is so full! <3 You may order this beautiful personalized caricature picture frame from Pete Rich (Find him on Instagram). Super limited time!

Thank you dearest Leah. Out of all the “socialites” you’re the only one who greeted me, lol! And you sent me pa a surprise. I will love you always & forever my friend! :-* And yes to WORLD PEACE hahahahaha! Guys, do patronise FRUITS IN BLOOM, I promise you, whoever receives this will be so happy! Naubos ko nga agad ang kalahati sa isang upuan. #takawmemommy

My BFF Marina, who even though her heart is still grieving, managed to think of me and buy a thoughtful gift. I love you my everdearest! I pray that in time, God will heal your wounded heart & turn your sorrow into dancing. </3

My dearest Meding, you always make me feel so loved & special. <3 Your friendship is one I truly value. I love you dearly, and I love this personalized gift. Thank you for always being so thoughtful! :-*

The Rafaels are dear family friends. Jena & Aliah are besties & her wonderful parents have become close family ties as well. I am so touched by their thoughtfulness in spite of their very busy schedule.

I told you I’m also besties with my kids’ friends hahaha. See? I’m truly part of their inner circle lol. Thank you Babycakes, Pat & Ivan, Marti & Tessa, and our many “common friends” hehehe for the love, gifts, and messages that made my birthday so special! <3

And even my kids’ friends’ parents become my friends wahaha! Thank you Jessie & Josephine Gutierrez, Gucci’s most hospitable parents who always feeds the entire barkada in their love-filled home! Jo makes THE BEST food for the gods, I swear. Too bad she doesn’t sell them waaa. I tried one when she sent over some Christmas goodies & I got soooo hooked. I’m so kapal, I made “parinig” to her that it was my birthday, so she immediately sent a whole bunch over. Selfish me, I hid my stash in the ref away from the giblings eyes & I’ve been eat one (okay fine, maybe three) a day! 😛

The gift of time. These 2 ladies kidnapped me & treated me to some pampering at the spa and then fed me pa. Ako nga dapat ang magpapakain, but they insisted on treating me for my birthday huhu. I have the sweetest, most thoughtful friends. (O ayan ha Kap, I DO have friends of my own, lol! Kahit na minana ko pa sila kay Jena over a decade ago!) Thank you Faye & Regine! :-*

Last but not the least, thank you to my Marcom friends from City of Dreams, Raffles & Fairmont Makati, and Discovery Primea Makati for your generosity, love, and thoughtfulness year after year. I am so overwhelmed with the love & support you continue to give me through the years. Thank you Charisse, Mina, Frannie & Amba. Thank you Monique & Gabbie. Thank you Margaux. My heart is SO, SO, SOOOOO full! <3

With you, I can do anything. I can do all things, cause it’s you who gives me strength. Nothing is impossible, for as long as we are together! <3

“If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield & protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so. And it grows more beautiful & precious as time goes by”. -F. Burton Howard