Death Anniversary Turned Into A Family Reunion (and Birthday Celebration)

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3 October 2024

Time truly flies so fast. One 'ber' month is over, and three more months are left in the year. And it's been three months since I returned home from abroad. It was as if it had happened yesterday, but I guess I have to stay longer than planned.

As mentioned in one of my previous posts, we'll be going to celebrate our father's first death anniversary, and it happened on the last day of September. Unexpectedly, the celebration was turned into a family reunion because everyone living in the same province was present. We would have been complete if our brothers from the Manila area had come, but they had respective work to attend to. Later in the afternoon, relatives and some friends also came. In our country, anniversaries are usually turned into reunions. It reflects the rich Filipino values of family and culture.

The preparation started prior to the big event day. The boys butchered the pig early in the morning, and we ladies prepared the ingredients and desserts. It's usually the exhausting part of the preparation for a big celebration in a Filipino tradition, so other families usually hire a cook and other staff to prepare everything. Shopping for necessary things and ingredients is another exhausting part of it. My brothers and mom were the main cooks for this event, and my sister and I prepared most of the desserts and did other stuff. It was exhausting because we slept at four in the morning and woke up after two hours to set up everything for the big event.

To lessen the workload on the event day, we opted to hire a caterer to serve the visitors. Everything was set up before the novena prayer started. The novena is always the first part of a death anniversary before proceeding to eating and other things. I love the simple yet elegant design of the cater, which consists of white, gold, and light blue colors. A total of ten tables were set up inside and outside our house. Each table has a floral centerpiece of white and blue roses on a golden stand with crystal decorations. Its colors complemented the natural surroundings, which created a soft and calming look. Everything has a balance of simplicity and sophistication, which I intended for this event.

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After the novena, the feast began. Visitors started to arrive one at a time until all tables were occupied. Relatives, close neighbours, and some friends of my late father came. Everyone was welcomed, even those uninvited. It's normal in a Filipino celebration to welcome outsiders because we are hospitable.

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The oldies occupied our dining table, and other visitors occupied our backyard, while we, the younger ones, occupied the tables in our front yard. People kept coming even until night. It was a great decision to hire a caterer. We just sat down, relaxed, and chatted with the visitors. My oldest brother arrived with his family. It was nice seeing them around. On the other hand, my second oldest brother's family arrived later in the afternoon.

I chose the best table facing the small pond next to our house. My other nieces arrived, so I accompanied them. Relatives started to come in the afternoon, and I was able to chit-chat and bond with my cousins again after a long time.

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At night, our house was emptied of visitors, and only my immediate family was left. I remember my mom bought a cake for my late father's birthday on the 29th. We took it out and let the toddlers sing the birthday song and blow the candle for my late father. It was a funny scene because the kids couldn't blow off the candle. In the end, it was our mom who blew it. It was odd that three kids couldn't blow off the candle, which little Breiana usually does alone when there is a birthday party at home. While watching the kids, I thought Dad made it so he could watch his grandchildren a little longer. The funny scene is truly memorable.

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When I realized that my family was complete, excluding those working in faraway places, I requested a family photo with them because we never had a photo where all of us were in a single frame. Moreover, I was uncertain when we would be completed again since, sooner or later, I needed to leave, so I took the chance and convinced everyone to participate. Grandma later arrived, so she was included. It was hard to fix everyone to get a better shot because the toddlers were naughty.

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Three children and two grandchildren aren't here. I wish we'd be all complete in a single frame someday.

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I was absent from posting blogs here for about a week because of this event. It was exhausting, yet worth the effort. The day was filled with joy, laughter, and family bonding, creating valuable memories. I then had a wonderful sleep after this event.

Thanks for your time.


•••


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Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.

Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can.

Join her on her quest for self-discovery and wanderlust. If you like her content, don't hesitate to upvote, drop a comment, reblog, and follow for more wonderful adventures.

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29 comments
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When you said a family reunion I thought it would be like 20+ people, I didn't think you'd need a caterer for ten tables. That's a banquet gathering!! It's a great way to remember your dad after a year, and for so many people to turn up, I remember he had quite a send off

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We requested tables and chairs for 50 people, but I guess, visitors were more than 50 that day. Not all people we expected were there. I bet they weren't informed about the right date since there's what we call pasiyam where the event is held on the 9th day from the death day.
It was quite a preparation, finally it's done.. next will be for our grand father a week from now..

!LADY

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I'm sure your papa is watching happily in there, seeing how his family are happy down here and moving forward despite his absence. And what a beautiful family photo. Unfiltered and showing just what fanily is 🤗✨

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Sana nga he's happy watching us from above..
sobra gulo nyan group pic..natagalan dahil kukulit nung maliliit. haha..

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Seemed like yesterday when your Papa left and now it's been a year already.

Hope your Mama is okay as it was hard to lose your better half

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Kaya nga noh, parang kelan lang nung umuwi ako, tapos Ngayon anniversary na pla..of course, it's hard on her part, pero trying to go on with life para sa mga anak..
!LADY

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Kay bilis talaga Ng panahon. Hindi mo Lang mamalayan patapos na naman ang taon.
Kapagod talaga Pg may celebration, pero worth it ang saya at bonding

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Oo, super worth it . Pati mga cousins ko na tagal ko na Hindi nakabonding, pumunta din..

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I am sure your father's soul is at peace seeing his family members reunion. I can feel the vibes of there.
Have a great time with family members.

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Thanks. I hope he is and happy.
!PIZZA

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Parang kelan lang, isang taon na pala yon. It's nice to see you all together and having fun kahit may ibang absent. Mas okay nga yung pa cater na lang pag malakihang okasyon, at least hindi super mapagod. And ang weird nung hindi mablow yung candle hehe, maybe he wanted your mom to do it :)

Lovely celebration sis❤️

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Kaya nga sis.. parang kelan lang last uwi ko, tapos 1 year na pla wala si papa..

Katuwa nga nun, usually kaya Yun iblow ni Breiana, pero three na sla Hindi mapatay Yung apply haha.. baka nga si mama gusto nya nagblow..

!LADY

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Wow I have to admit it surely doesn't seem like you have returned home 3 months ago. Time does fly by,hehe.

The foods and the design of the cater did was nice. What dessert did you make?

Though the preparation was exhausting for many but it appears everyone including yourself had a good time and some great new memories were made. Funny three kids couldnt blow out candles but your younger niece could do it by herself. Glad you rested well afterwards I'm sure it was easy to fall asleep after all that hardwork 😃

!LUV
!PIZZA

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Yeah, right? Not sure if I'm still here until Christmas. But I wish I am..

We made mango-bango, moron, and spaghetti.. I forgot to take photos of them on the catering table...

It's always worth the effort seeing the result of your hard work..

Those kids were truly fun to look at. We recorded videos of them, that I could play anytime I missed them hehe

!PIZZA
!HUGZ

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I know what you mean by staying. Its great spending time with family, for me it's a time I'm probably most happiest. Oh I haven't had filipino spaghetti in awhile 😋 You cut up hotdogs or add any other meat to it or just sweet tasting sauce?

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(Edited)

PIZZA!

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I like how your family gathered around💗💗.

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It all turned out very nice. The decoration was so sober and familiar. Of course, it was a good idea to hire this service.
I can imagine how many beautiful and meaningful conversations they had that day. It's always so great to be together with the family in a loving and collaborative atmosphere.

Greetings, @jane1289, friend.

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Hey there, friend... Yes it was a wonderful day, full of meaningful conversations with my immediate and extended family members I haven't seen for a long time..
!LADY

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