A recollection of success and a simple celebration

The four (4) months of staying in Mindanao was a priceless and precious experience. Swerving through the roads of the ‘promise land’ passing through bridges over deep wide rivers, unwinding in the beaches of Surigao, mingling with people from different sorts of life, laughing out loud with our friends from the Muslim community, hotel hopping and masticating luxurious food for free – these were things I never thought I could plunge into!

But there was one event that really overwhelmed me while I was there forcing my body to move out every morning to battle short-time sleep.

Third week of September 2007, a week before my birthday. Davao-bound from Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, we dropped by Harbor Lights Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City to stay for the night. The next morning, while having a meeting with my boss regarding our liquidation during our past activity, my mother called up from home, in front of the computer, she was checking the licensure examination for teachers list of successful examinees at Inquirer.net - she reported I passed.

I was speechless for a while, thank God and told my boss about it and there she started sharing the news to our fellow workers in the dining hall!

Felicitations filled and I was overwhelmed. God is awesome.

My officemates were suggesting a celebration. Too unfortunate, we didn’t have much time.

We went to Kidapawan City, North Cotabato the following week and stopped at a pick and grill restaurant serving my favorite deep fried ‘hito’ (too bad, I can’t find it here in Negros Occidental). There was an acoustic band playing for the customers from table to table and later they played for a group of young people next to us. Surprisingly, two among them sang in lieu of the band’s soloist.

I was already munching the 'hito' then while I overheard how they sang the songs! It was pretty relaxing and cool. I’m a lover of music and I can’t help but glance at them once in a while, trying hard to listen more. I can’t help it. I wanted them to sing more songs.

Alright! I was so mean! But I just love them sing more songs!

Later did I know that the Implementation Coordinator of the Project from Kidapawan City knows the two girls and so I asked her if she can request them to sing for us. My boss related that I passed the Board Exam and it will be my birthday few days from then.

What looked like our supper became a little celebration. They agreed immediately and invited the band to accompany them and there, all the eyes on us. (Please bear with the amateur cell phone video.):

part 1

part 2

part 3


I was impressed. Not only with how they sang but with how they accepted a little request and gave an enjoying part in my simple celebration, my simple thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord during those days. Too bad, I didn't get their names and email addresses. (Toink!) I still wish to meet them sometimes - while eating 'hito' again.

Those were two of the awesome birthday gifts I have ever received. Unwrapped and no ribbons – but deeply prized and will stay with me for the rest of my life.