Birthdays and lockdown

NO THANKS to COVID-19, my birthday which fell on a Sunday was a lockdown Sunday birthday! Yup, it’s for real! General Santos City has implemented Sunday lockdowns since mid-May and my birthday falling on a Sunday was no exception.

Even then, I celebrated my birthday in style – my own brand of celebration. I ordered food Saturday afternoon for the Sunday treat: lots of gelato, humba, fried chicken, and baby back ribs! No birthday cakes this time. Gelato replaces the birthday cake. They’re all delicious!

By early evening of June 5, the first surprise came. After clearing the weeds of my pocket garden, I rested a bit and then, a knock on the gate. When I checked, I saw a heart-shaped balloon carried by a delivery person. Then it dawned on me! Hey, this is a birthday treat, haha! I received a bouquet of exquisite flowers, a balloon, and a birthday cake – after all.

Special thanks to my first batch of On-the-Job Trainees at General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. – #Batch2014 – for the remarkable set of birthday treats! Thank you Jessica “Jessi” Llego, Mae Pellarada, Angelou Dimaano, and Achilles Ganados. I love you Team! Thanks for the thought! It rocked my night!

By late afternoon of June 6, another treat came. Birthday cake and cupcakes! Thank you, Congresswoman Shirlyn Bañas for the special delivery. And thank you Mary Grace Jimenez for the special effort.

The following afternoon, as I was donning the hat of an editor for the coffee table book I am currently working on, a big basket of assorted fruits arrived courtesy of Shalom Labra and Rowena Comaling Ruiz of BOHECO I and layout artist Joffrey Joy del Rosario Tancinco. Thank you Shalom and Rowena for conspiring with Joffrey to surprise me with a big basket of fruits so early in the week!

Of course, I thank the hundreds of birthday greetings on social media. As a tradition, I will answer individually until the end of the month (smiles). I always consider the whole month of June a part of my birthday celebration. Why think small huh! Think big! That way, the gifts will keep on coming, haha! Thank you to Hezekiah Kit and Shiloh Ruthie for the birthday efforts.

My lockdown Sunday birthday was genuinely relaxing filled with good music, delicious food, heartfelt messages, online conversations with fun people, lots of positive thoughts, and simply gratitude for life. Indeed at 55, I have come a long way.

 For posterity, here’s my social media birthday post:

#LockdownSunday June 6, 2021

@FIFTY-FIVE

BUILDINGS that are over 50 years old are preserved in consonance with the National Cultural Heritage Act. I am, therefore, “heritage” if I were a building, haha!

MY BEST years were my FORTIES! Oh, those were great years! But when I turned 50, I exceeded myself! I broke grounds, stretched my professional limits, and best of all, I have come full circle. Isn’t that the grandest!

@55, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

THANK YOU ALL for joining my divergent journey as newspaper columnist, radio and TV host, communicator, writer, and editor. Isali na natin assistant professor sa police school. Deeply appreciated!

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I received good feedback for my story on former Bohol Governor Lino I. Chatto, Sr. Thank you for reading and following my column.

I also want to thank those who directly communicated with me for the article. Carthelyn Caiña, Joyce Chatto  – granddaughter of Gov. Lino, and I share the Balilihan connection. Thank you, ladies! Here’s to friendship – a long, long one!  

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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN

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