January 18, 2017

Honey Leoning came up to the veranda this morning while I was on my second stick, and my coffee. While walking towards me, she was singing the 'Happy Birthday' song to me, like a child, with her hands clapping. The tears started to fall from my eyes, swollen as it was already because of waking up too early. That was the first set of those damn droplets of liquid (I don't know how to properly say 'tears') which I promised myself I will not entertain on my birthday. But there she was, this 86-year-old woman who welcomed me into her home, her family, in Vigan. I felt so blessed and thankful at that moment, I could not help but hug her and say 'thank you' for all that she is in my life.

I was thrown a mini-party at the office later in the afternoon, put together by my colleagues in DAR Ilocos Sur. Food was plenty, they had cupcakes laid out with letters which greeted me on my 50th, in my full name. Imagine how many cupcakes that took. The makeshift stage was decorated tastefully, simple but spoke of how they all feel about me, and my 'golden' year. I was asked to sit on this 'reyna' chair: they adorned one square couch I think, with handwoven Ilocano cloth, 'inabel', and they sang a traditional Ilocano song to honor the day I was born fifty years ago. A wreath of flowers was placed atop my head, and each one offered a rose to greet me with. 

It was short tribute, and of course, I shed the second set of tears, almost. Isabelo, or Belong, one of my colleagues said over the mic that they were already hungry. So I cut my usually kilometric speeches short, and we feasted together on the food they all shared to put together. 

Mads, one of my ever reliable colleagues said in her wish for me: 'may the emptiness in your heart be filled on your birthday'. I once thanked them for filling in those empty little spaces there were in my life, so she knew that despite all that I had then, there were still loose ends I needed to tie, for my peace of mind. I just want to tell you, Mads, that I am deeply touched that you remembered. And that those empty little spaces? They are now filled, more than I deserve. This morning, with Honey's song, and this afternoon, my time with all of you, both are proofs of that. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.