A Birthday Lauriat, Two Sisters, and a Sister’s Pabaon

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Yesterday (Saturday), we celebrated our sister Luisa's belated 87th birthday, or Isang, as we fondly call her, at Friendship Garden Restaurant in Angeles City, Pampanga. Doc Bubut hosted the celebration, which the four of us siblings attended, along with our birthday celebrant, Ate Isang; her husband, Koyang Jun; their children, Emil and Karen; their grandson, Noah; and some nephews and nieces.

It was a Chinese lauriat, so naturally, there was plenty of food. We started with assorted cold cuts, followed by creamy soup. They served the Peking duck in three ways: crispy duck skin with hoisin sauce and wraps, stir-fried duck meat with salt and pepper, and minced roast duck served in lettuce leaves.
We also had fish fillet with tausi sauce and bean curd, mushroom with vegetables, Chinese-style beef tenderloin with red sauce, steamed lapu-lapu, birthday noodles (I suppose), eel prepared in two ways, prawns with cold fruit salad, and fried rice with salted fish. My brother Katoy chose the eel, which turned out to be particularly delicious. The food was sumptuous, and everyone had a good time.
But the celebration was more than a feast. It gave siblings and relatives a chance to come together and celebrate another year of life.
I live in the south, and the drive to Angeles City takes about two and a half hours. Thanks to the Skyway, the journey is now about an hour shorter. Still, long-distance driving at our age can be tiring. On the way home, I felt sleepy and stopped at a gas station to rest before continuing. Safety comes first.
Before returning to Manila, we also stopped in Minalin to visit our eldest sister, Mely, who is 92. We had heard that her blood pressure had risen the night before and wanted to see how she was doing. She was seated at the dining table, looking a little frail, and her voice was no longer as loud or clear as we remembered. But she was attentive and could still talk with us.
Our nephew Bong gave her some money. Ate Mel held on to the bills and showed no intention of letting them go! It was a small, amusing moment that reminded us that, despite her age and frailty, some things never change.

A Special Pabaon

Another thoughtful gesture made the trip memorable. My sister Christy thought I would stay overnight, as I sometimes do when visiting Pampanga. She had prepared Asadong Manok, a special Kapampangan dish usually served during fiestas and other important occasions, for our breakfast the following morning.
Her thoughtfulness touched me. Although I eventually decided to drive home that evening, I ended up taking the Asadong Manok as my pabaon instead.
And what a wonderful pabaon it was! On Sunday morning, my family and I enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast of Asadong Manok. Christy’s kindness didn't stop at her doorstep; it traveled home with me and was shared with my family.
Sometimes, love among siblings is expressed not through grand words but through a lovingly prepared dish, a visit, or a little food packed for the journey.

Life Is Short

That day, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to have our siblings around us still. Ate Isang celebrated her 87th birthday surrounded by family. Ate Mely, at 92, may be more frail now, but she is still with us. And Christy showed her affection in the most familiar Kapampangan way—through food. Our thanks to Bubut for hosting and treating us to this wonderful birthday lauriat.  
The journey was tiring, but worth every kilometer. As we grow older, we realize that time with family is precious, and we cannot take these occasions for granted. These are the moments we treasure as the years go by—time spent with our siblings, sharing stories, laughter, and, of course, good food. 
Life is short, as they say.   It's better to show our love by being present, even when it requires sacrifice and effort.
And if we happen to bring home a delicious pabaon along the way, that is an added blessing!
At 87 and 92, what more can we ask for? More time together, good health, and more opportunities to celebrate life as a family.                             
 





Visiting Ate Mely




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