I was supposed to do this yesterday, but I was feeling a bit emotional from all that transpired during my birthday weekend (yes, me emotional during my own birthday).  Plus, I wanted to go through all of those birthday greetings and well-wishes in order for me to do this “thank you entry” properly.

They say that good things sometimes come unexpectedly, and this held true for me this year.  As far as I can remember, I haven’t experienced what I did this past Friday in close to 10 years.  From simple gestures such as three hand-made birthday open cards littered with personal greetings, to a very surprising birthday cake, I don’t remember having smiled a lot in one day and even being speechless from everything that came my way.

I have mentioned time and again that I don’t really care about my own birthday, and that it doesn’t matter to me anymore.  What does matter are the people who do really remember and took time to greet me last Friday and over the weekend.  For them to do such, makes me want to repay them ten times over, but we all know that wouldn’t be possible unless I win the lottery, so I will or send them good karma and hope for good fortune coming their way.  And to really show my appreciation, allow me to list here everyone who did what for me is a humbling gesture and sent their birthday greetings for someone like me.  Here goes:

First and foremost, my family:  my awesome Mom and great Dad, my lil’ big brother Patrick and his lovey-dovey Ivy, and my lil’ big sister Lei and her husband Jared; my aunts:  Tita Letty, Tita Linda, Tita Ofie, and uncles:  Tito Nards and Tito Fermin; my cousins:  Aileen, Malen, Ian, Ryan, Lynette, Debbe, Treck, Lyn, Faye, Matt, Martin, Chey, Gab, my goddaughter Dani, Zaren, and Jerome.  Family is indeed love and they have never stopped giving love and support to me all these years.  Thank you.

My friends:  both close, regular and once-in-a-blue-moon friends, whether your greetings were made via Facebook, Twitter or SMS, you have all shown me how much you value my friendship with you (or maybe you either really remembered that it’s my birthday, or saw others post on my Facebook timeline, but they’re appreciated nonetheless).  In no particular order:  Liezl, Princess, Roel, Edgar, Khai, Chappy, Lisa, Cher, Wally, Jaymee, Trina, Reggie, Shandar, Raschelle, Jabi, Mela (thank you for the black forest cake), Weng, and Diana.  I admit, there are names who I wish were on that list, but I guess there’s always next year.  Thank you for your continued friendship with me.

Finally, my Helicon colleagues:  from our CEO, Mr. Konstantinos Boukis (who conveyed his greeting the Greek way which took me by surprise), to everyone else, I have never experienced the kind of outpouring of support and greeting compared to my previous jobs, which is really, really special.  To the Operations team:  Ems, Bryan, Kat, Isah, Myrell, Heizel, George, Mark, FF, Korie, Kaye, JG, Cherryl, Angel, Ashley, Dan, Rona, Krizia, Francis, Bel, Marie, Eunice, Rhoda, Rachel, Jermarie, Mike, Maita, Leo, Marge, Ronna, Anton, Nino, and Ariel; to the TQA team who also gave me a very delicious birthday cake:  Lara, Meanne, Julie, Tonie, Dada, and April; and the IT & HR personnel:  Kenn, Pat, Rolly, Joy and Atty. Juvy.  I am so humbled and blessed to have colleagues and colleagues-turned-friends such as you.  That videoke party was really one for the books!  Thank you so, so very much.

All of you, again, your well-wishes and greetings are very much appreciated.  Thank you.  You have made my birthday this 2013 one to really, really remember.  One common greeting I received was “may your wish(es) come true.”  In this stage of my life, there is only one wish that I want to come true.  Some of you may have an idea what it is, while most of you are in the same area.  Only time (again) will tell whether that wish will come true or not.  Nonetheless, whatever happens, that wish will be the very last one I’ll ever be making.  No more in the following years.

I couldn’t say “thank you” enough to all of you.  May you be blessed more by the big guy upstairs, and may more happiness and success in whatever you do come your way.  You’re all warmly remembered in my heart (or what’s left of it).  Until my next entry.

Thank you.