I just turned 50. I’m now a Golden Girl! As I look back at the 50 years of my life, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude for life, for my family, for the love that filled my heart through the years, the achievements and milestones that I had, and for the incredible gift of learning.

Rather than throwing a big party this year, I decided to mark this milestone with something deeper—something that would not only honor my journey but also give back.

A Quiet, Heartfelt Celebration

My birthday this year started with a beautiful morning wherein my two younger sons made me handmade birthday cards with sincere messages that came from their hearts. My middle child composed an acrostic poem using my name.

Then, we attended The Feast at Rizal Park Hotel. I was glad that my favorite preacher, Bro. Bo Sanchez was the speaker that day. The message from Bro. Bo’s talk deeply resonated with me, and I felt that God spoke powerfully to my heart. I felt affirmed and encouraged. Attending The Feast gave me a good time of reflection, spiritual renewal, and a perfect way to start my golden birthday.

After our prayer meeting, we headed to Mama Lou’s in Makati for a simple and intimate lunch celebration with my immediate family. It was a meal filled with love, laughter, and surprises. My family went above and beyond to decorate a portion of the restaurant just for me. Walking into that space and seeing it beautifully adorned with thoughtful touches meant so much—it was a celebration of love and I felt incredibly blessed.

I ordered seafood pasta alio olio, pizza for my boys (They love pizza!), chicken and green healthy salad. It was also a good thing that they allowed us to order and bring cake from another store. For my birthday cake this year, I decided to try a new cake flavor for a change. I ordered avocado cake.

Each of my three sons and my husband shared song numbers, each of them singing or playing something that was meaningful to them. My eldest son even composed an original song for me titled Heart of Our Home—a song that brought tears to my eyes. His words, his music—it was a gift that I will treasure forever. You can find the lyrics of the song when you click here. Aside from his song composition that he sang for me during their program, he also gave me a new necklace.

I couldn’t help but feel all the years of motherhood come flooding back—the early years, the growing pains, and now this moment of quiet celebration and gratitude.

My family took time to speak words of gratitude and affirmation, sharing what they appreciate most about me as a wife and mother. Hearing their kind words filled my heart with so much joy and love. In that moment, I felt cherished.

My family also surprised me with a bouquet of red roses—such a classic, timeless gesture, and it added the perfect touch to our intimate lunch.

My husband led our boys in praying for me, laying hands on me and speaking blessings over my life.

We’re so grateful to the staff of Mama Lou’s for being so gracious and helpful to us during my birthday celebration. They didn’t charge us extra for using the venue and decorating it. They were also attentive to our needs.

After the celebration, we all went to evening Mass at Don Bosco Makati to offer our thanks to God. It was the perfect way to close the day—grounded in faith, love, and gratitude.

By the way, my outfit on my birthday was a dress I chose and my husband bought for me as his gift. I loved this dress the moment I saw it because it was golden or yellowish in color and it had purple patterns all over. I also like that it was a long dress. When we first bought it, I was hesitant because of the design at the back. It was quite revealing. I was so thankful that my husband and eldest son accompanied me to the mall before my birthday to look for a tube that I can wear with my new dress so I can still wear it to Mass. God honored my desire to dress appropriately for the Mass on my birthday by helping me find a purplish tube that matches my dress. I was so happy with my attire on my birthday this year!

My golden birthday may have been simple and it only included my immediate family, but it was all that I really wanted and wished for. I’m glad my family honored my wishes of making sure I received spiritual nourishment, which is my priority, and having quality time bonding with them over food that I liked.

A Golden Year of Giving Back

I’ve been incredibly blessed in my life, and I want to pay it forward. So, this year, I’m dedicating my golden birthday year to a mission that is close to my heart—giving back to those who need it most.

I’ll be donating 50 copies each of two of the children’s books I authored—Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay and Pasko Pa Rin—to poor children. These books carry messages of hope, resilience, and joy, and I want them to reach those who might not otherwise have access to them.

But that’s not all. I also plan to donate copies of my breastfeeding book Breastfeeding: A Journey Worth Taking to mothers who need support and encouragement on their breastfeeding journey. Motherhood is a challenging yet beautiful experience, and I want to provide resources that empower and guide mothers in nurturing their children, especially in those early days of life. I have been blessed with breastmilk to nourish my three kids and I want to help other mothers to also be empowered to provide the best milk for their children with the help of my book.

On top of these book donation drives, I’m organizing free storytelling sessions to share the joy of reading and spark the imaginations of children. Through storytelling, I hope to nurture a love of books and ignite their potential to dream, learn, and grow.

Books have always played a significant role in my life. As a child, they shaped my dreams, fueled my creativity, and provided comfort. Now, I want to share that gift with other children and mothers who deserve the same opportunity.

How You Can Be Part of This Celebration

I’d love for you to join me in this mission. Whether big or small, your contribution will help give children and mothers the tools they need. Every book you donate, every session you support, brings us one step closer to raising a generation of readers, dreamers, and empowered mothers.

Here are a few ways you can help:

• Donate funds to help purchase books
• Sponsor or participate in a storytelling session
• Share this post and spread the word about this mission

If you’re interested in donating or learning more about how you can support, feel free to message me via my Facebook page Hands-On Parents while Earning or email me at teresa.hopenetwork@gmail.com for details on GCash, BPI deposit, or PayPal options.

As I reflect on my golden birthday, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It wasn’t the big party or the extravagant gifts that made this day so special—it was the love of my family, the words of affirmation from my children, and the opportunity to give back.

This golden year isn’t just about me. It’s about sharing the gifts I’ve received—the love, the faith, and the knowledge—with others. Together, we can raise a new generation of lifelong readers, empowered mothers, and dreamers—one book at a time.