KATORSE

My brother, Andrei, and I celebrated only one party since his
birthday is only 6 days away from mine.

A picture of me giving tokens to my guests.

My 14th birthday will surely be very memorable. =)

It’s such a nice feeling when you know you have just made other people feel special. It’s just so wonderful to see others happy because of your efforts. This is what I felt when I celebrated my 14^th birthday last May 14, 2010, at the Gawad Kalinga Center of Ajuy, Iloilo.

                My 14^th birthday was quite different from my other birthdays. This is because instead of inviting friends, I invited people I barely know. In fact, it was only during that celebration when I first saw their faces. Instead of watching a movie or going swimming, I had a children’s party with children who were needy. And instead of receiving gifts, my family and I were the ones who gave gifts. But in a way, I also received great gifts, that is, in the form of realizations.

                I celebrated my birthday by gathering all the beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga Community of Ajuy and having a simple meal and games. I was quite charmed when some of the children surprised me with a dance number that they prepared. We had bihon, bread, juice, cake, and ice cream for food. After eating, we played games. Lots of games. For prizes we gave away toys, some new and some old, and other useful things. Actually, my mother was the one who suggested this kind of party. When she said her suggestion, I never hesitated and said yes immediately because I have been longing to do something like this for a very long time already.

                To be honest, no matter how simple the celebration was, it made me shed a few tears. It’s because it was just so overwhelming to see the children who barely even know me be somehow very excited and happy. I’m sure it was the very first time for some of them to witness a birthday party. They had this innocence and great joy in their eyes whenever they received a toy or a token which made me very emotional. 

                My birthday celebration made me appreciate more my family and friends and what I have. I am the kind of person who wants a lot of things and I often find it hard to let go of the things that I don’t need anymore. This event has made me realize that even in the simplest way of life, you can still be happy. You can still be happy even without those gadgets, clothes, shoes, bags, etc. I realized that sometimes, that the things that I may consider worthless or take for granted are things that others need but can’t even have. My birthday has opened my eyes to the reality that I have no right at all to complain whenever I don’t get what I want or when some things are not good enough because others don’t even have access to their needs. While I keep on complaining that I don’t have the right kind of shoes to pair with my shirt, there is someone out there who doesn’t even have slippers or worse, does not even have feet but is still very contented. I have made a promise already to be contented and to be happy with what I have. On top of it all, I realized that true happiness is not gained when you receive something. It is gained when you give what you have especially to the needy.