Time flies, indeed! I have been a stay-at-home mom and work-at-home mom since I got pregnant with my eldest child. But this month, when my eldest turned into a young adult, I still felt like the years went by so rapidly.

I have mixed emotions when we celebrated my eldest son’s 18th birthday. I felt so grateful and happy. But I also felt a bit nostalgic as I looked back on the past almost 2 decades of his life and of our life together.

I’m so grateful to God that I had been a hands-on mom to him and that we spent so much quality time together while he was growing up. It was a huge blessing from God that I got to do this, that we got to homeschool and create many happy memories in his childhood and teenage years.

Let me share with you my honoring to him for his 18th birthday. I shared this also on my personal Facebook account.

There are many reasons I love Yanthy, and choosing just 18 is not easy. These are not simply talents or accomplishments I am proud of. They are also the little, often unseen ways he loves, serves, perseveres, and inspires the people around him.

But some of his most beautiful acts of service happen not on a stage or in church, but quietly at home, where fewer people get to see them.

1. He inspires people through the way he lives.

Here are 18 things I love about Yanthy.

Yanthy’s life, music, and service have become a source of inspiration to many. He reminds me that a person can make a difference not only through grand achievements, but through faithful service and the everyday choices to use one’s time, talent and treasure for others.

Yanthy has inspired me so much that I have written two award-winning books (Yanthy: God’s Little Pianist and Ang Batang Pianista ng Aming Parokya) about him and his life, including his service in the Music Ministry. But his influence goes far beyond the pages of a book. He has inspired his younger brothers to sing, play the piano, and serve in the Church choir. Wherever he has served, he has also inspired and touched parishioners and Feasters—young and old, clergy, religious, and laity alike.

2. He has a servant’s heart.

His service is not limited to the Church or to places where people can see him. He also serves at home—helping with cooking, cleaning, laundry, preparing fruit shakes, and other ordinary tasks. These quiet acts matter just as much as the more visible ones. A servant’s heart is revealed not only in public ministry, but also in the things we willingly do for our family when no one is watching or praising us. That is the mark of true humility.

3. He is a faithful and dedicated servant in the Music Ministry.

Through the years, for at least a decade, Yanthy has shown remarkable commitment to serving through music, mainly by playing the piano in daily evening Masses. He also served in Anticipated Masses and Sunday Masses. There were a lot of times when he gladly and willingly substituted as pianist for other choirs and Sunday Mass schedules when the assigned instrumentalists were absent. There were even periods in recent years when he attended both early-morning and evening Masses so he could serve whenever a pianist was needed. He made sure that Masses were made more beautiful and solemn through music. That kind of consistency says a lot about his heart.

4. He is devoted and faithful to the Holy Eucharist.

His devotion to the Mass is more than a schedule or responsibility. His willingness to make time to attend and serve reflects how important the Eucharist and the life of the Church are to him. He attends weekday Masses even when he is not the assigned pianist. He has been my daily Mass companion in the past 14 years. The only times he missed Mass was when he isn’t feeling well. His faithfulness reminds me that serving God is not just about what we can offer, but also about continually drawing near to Him.

5. He is an achiever.

Yanthy has accomplished things that many adults hope to accomplish even once in their lifetime: writing a book, serving actively in Church, recording and releasing a single and eventually an album, composing music, and developing extraordinary skill as a pianist or musician. I am proud not only of what he has achieved, but also of the effort, discipline, and perseverance behind those achievements.

6. He is passionate about music.

Music is more than a talent for Yanthy; it is a gift he continues to nurture and share. His dedication to the piano and his growth as a musician show what can happen when passion is matched with practice and commitment. I love seeing him use music not only to express himself, but also to serve God and bring joy to others.

7. He is a composer, songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist.

He does not only perform music—he creates it, too. I admire the imagination and work involved in composing songs, arranging music, and exploring different instruments. His creativity allows him to communicate ideas, emotions, and faith in ways that words alone sometimes cannot.

I am amazed at how God has showered so much musicality in Yanthy that even at a young age, he has accomplished a lot as a musician.

8. He is tech-savvy.

From coding and video-making to editing and audio production, Yanthy enjoys learning how technology can bring ideas to life. He is willing to explore new tools, experiment, and use them creatively. I love how his interests go beyond music and how he continues to discover new ways to develop his gifts.

9. He is a loving older brother.

By his example, he has encouraged his younger brothers to sing, play the piano, and join the choir. More than telling them what to do, he gives them someone to look up to and learn from. It is a special kind of blessing to see one child inspire his siblings to discover their own gifts and find joy in serving others.

But even before his brothers were bigger, he was a dotting and caring kuya or big brother. He helped change diapers, sing lullaby, feed his brothers, play with them, read to them and teach them their lessons. That’s why I was also inspired to write the children’s book Mommy Loves You Just the Same. The big brother in that story was him.

10. He is loving and caring.

Yanthy’s affection is expressed in actions as well as words. Whether he makes greeting cards, AVPs for lovedones, helps in practical or concrete ways, teaches, plays music for his younger brothers, or finds another way to show care, he reminds us that love is often made visible in small, thoughtful gestures. Sometimes, the most meaningful expressions of love are the simplest ones.

11. He is helpful and generous.

He is willing to share not only his time and effort, but also his resources and knowledge. He has a heart for the poor and those he notices to be in need. I love that he uses what he knows to help others rather than keeping it to himself. His willingness to help is another reminder that our talents become even more meaningful when they are shared.

12. He is dependable and reliable.

When Yanthy commits to something, people can count on him. His faithfulness over the years—in Church service and in responsibilities at home—has shown that dependability is built through many ordinary acts of showing up. It is not always glamorous, but being present and faithful, especially when others need you, is a beautiful quality.

I’m proud of how dependable he has been in his service as pianist in the Mass. His maturity in being consistent is unmatched even by older adults.

13. He takes initiative.

He does not always wait to be told what needs to be done. He notices, thinks of ways to help, and takes action. Whether at home, in the parish, at The Feast, I appreciate his willingness to step up and contribute. Initiative is one of those qualities that can turn good intentions into meaningful action.

14. He is courageous and willing to try difficult things.

Yanthy is willing to attempt new challenges, learn unfamiliar skills, and keep going even when something is difficult. His courage is not about knowing everything in advance; it is about being willing to try, learn, and grow. I admire this openness to challenges and the willingness to keep discovering what he can do. He has shown this from the time that he is a toddler up to now that he is a young adult.

15. He is intelligent and quick to learn.

I admire how readily he absorbs new ideas and develops skills. His curiosity and ability to learn help him move between music, technology, writing, and other interests. More than intelligence alone, I appreciate his willingness to keep learning and exploring.

16. He is a bookworm.

He loves to read, and reading gives him opportunities to discover and learn new ideas and things, deepen his understanding, and keep learning beyond what is required. I love that books continue to be a source of knowledge, imagination, comfort, relaxation, and growth for him.

17. He shows leadership wherever he is.

Whether at home, in the parish, or The Feast, Yanthy can lead through example. His younger brothers see his example, and people in the Church have seen his willingness to contribute and serve. To me, the best kind of leadership begins with responsibility and service. It is not simply about being in charge; it is about being willing to do your part and help others grow. To contribute so that the experience of those present is made more meaningful and beautiful.

Like what the Jesus said in the Bible, “The greatest among you is the servant of all.”

18. He has confidence and knows what he wants.

Yanthy has always known what he wanted to do with his life and what he wants to pursue in the future. At 5 years old, he already knew what God wanted him to do to serve Him and His Church. He knew from childhood that he wanted to be a musician. That’s one reason we practiced interest-led and project-based homeschooling. Now that he is applying for college, he is clear on what he wants to learn more of and what course he wants to take.

But more than that, he has the courage to work toward them. I love seeing him develop his own direction while continuing to learn, grow, and use his gifts in meaningful ways. My hope is that he will always have the confidence to pursue what he believes he is called to do, while remaining humble enough to learn from others and be guided by God.

Of course, these 18 things do not capture everything I love about Yanthy. They are simply a few of the qualities I am grateful to witness in him: his gifts, his perseverance, his faith, his generosity, and above all, his willingness to serve.

I am proud of his accomplishments, but I am even more grateful for the person he is becoming.

I’m so thankful for his love and presence in my life! I have experienced God’s love and miracles through him.

My prayer for Yanthy is that he will live his life according to God’s Will and purpose for it because that’s how he will find joy, love, peace, success and fulfillment.

I pray that he will always remember that his gifts are not only for his own benefit and success; they can also become blessings to his family, the Church, and everyone he meets.

I told him on his birthday that I have loved him already for 18 years and 9 months! And I will continue to love him for the rest of my life!