Hello Hivers and fellows. Hope your day is as beautiful as you are. I just want to greet a happy birthday to all September celebrants.
Celebrating a birthday reminds us how grateful and blessed we are to celebrate it with our loved ones. Birthdays reminded us how special we are. We were chosen by God for why we were born and the purpose here on earth. Nowadays, it's so sad to hear on the news that some babies were left or thrown away by their parents or mother due to unreadiness or maybe out of curiosity. Others go for abortion, though it's not the solution. From the moment we were born, God had already made plans and molded our future, and it's up to us how we choose to live here on earth.
Today is the 23rd of September 2025, marking the second year since my nephew was born. Two years have passed, and also we've exchanged 'I do's in front of God and in my witnesses, families and friends. I can recall the day when my pregnant sister said to her tummy, "Baby, just wait for your delivery date, not now, because we're going to eat lechon and yummy foods." Lol, funny it is, but I could think the baby also understands. My nephew was born just one week after our wedding, and now he will be celebrating his second year here on earth. Time flies really fast. It's just like yesterday; we celebrated his first year, and now we have been celebrating his birthday without his father for the reason that his father is working abroad. Though his father has a vacation once a year, as the child grows, he seeks attention for the whole family, especially for his father. I could remember those nights when he bid goodbye and had a goodnight kiss with his father through a cellphone. I am wondering what it feels like to be apart from his child or his family. Since we were children, our parents would not agree and would feel lonely if someone asked for a child to be far from them, though we were ten siblings. Sometimes my uncle would come here to pick me up just for two days because my mother would easily get depressed if I did not go home for three days or a week.
As we celebrate his birthday, the first thing we've got to do is to have a Dawn Rosary, where our neighborhood brings the image or icon of Mother Mary and a crucifix from one home and transfers it to another home.
Let's see what Dawn Rosary is.
A "Dawn Rosary" is the Catholic practice of reciting the Holy Rosary at or around the time of dawn, often in the form of a Dawn Procession within the Philippines. It's chosen for a peaceful atmosphere, allowing for prayer and meditation on the life of Christ and Mary, and serves as a spiritual activity to ask for peace, strength, and God's mercy. This devotion is also deeply connected to the Fatima apparitions, seen as a way to make reparation for sins and foster devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a tradition here in the Philippines.
Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=dawn+rosary+meaning&sca_esv=7
There's a part in Dawn Rosary also where the community sings and gives wishes to the birthday celebrant, though without material gifts; what they bring are bundles of flowers, and they also light a candle, bouquets or even flower petals.This is how we celebrate birthdays here.
As a way of celebrating his birthday, his mother treats us to a cozy restaurant for dinner with our not-so-big family. Hehe. That's all we've got. A little picture we had and some foods with its McQueen cake theme. Because this little boy is fond of McQueen cars.
I am fond of how energetic he is despite that he's unwell. He even has good shots and poses.
With his favorite food "pansit". Cuteness overload with his giggles.
With his uncle.
Thank you for giving your time to read my story. It's a kind of celebration with us also. I hope you enjoy it. You can also share your snippets of celebration, even a small one full of love.
Photos were taken by me using Oppo Reno 5A and some are edited and enhanced through Canva.