Getting to a relationship is rather easy. The beginning part has all mushiness and excitements every single day. This is when you carry the thought that he or she is the one. But staying and keeping the relationship alive through the years is what’s complicated and challenging.
In a blink, you seem to know this person and consider him or her the other part of yourself, part of your world. In another blink, you’d share your gravest secrets and lean on to his or her shoulder a little more. A bit later, you’d be surer that this would be the person your future children would call “Mom” or “Dad.” But certainly, there will be a point when you’d experience fearing if the idea works out and fear more when it doesnβt. You just have to take the risk and see how the rest performs next.
Sticking to marriage for life is another feat that’s hard to keep up with. Many marriages now, like businesses, fail as early as its first three to five years. The risks each has to take and the reasons for failures vary per case and family but let’s not go to that. What I’m just trying to say is that really, being married isn’t easy. My parents are together for 25 years now and this definitely is a big milestone that well deserved an unforgettable celebration.
Let me share with you how we celebrated our parents’ silver wedding anniversary last Friday. π
It all began when Mom and Dad went to Buffet 101 (Mall of Asia) with Auntie Chit and Uncle George for lunch. It was all their first time to this grand buffet restaurant. Of course, they were all in awe of the food, torn between trying something they have not tasted before and craving for the food that had them decide to go there in the first place.
Mom had a lot of Chinese dim sum, and she regretted it, not because they were not any good but because she was so full that she had not tried much of the flavorful and colorful food in the desserts section.
Dishes in Buffet 101 were completely transforming, and it’s not until you go through every section that you will discover what you were missing. They spent about two hours filling their stomachs with sumptuous indulgence.
Their next endeavor was window-shopping around SM Mall of Asia. Cheap thrill, I know, but if you’re one who has not been to this one of the biggest malls in the whole world for years (like Daddy), you would be just as ecstatic. Dad happily visited his favorite stores: Ace Hardware, SM Appliance Center and Astroplus.
There were staff who recognized him and asked where he had been in the past two years. By this, you would sense that he truly frequented these shops as staff do not usually know the faces of customers and remember them unless they’ve built some special impression on them. Dad went on with his story, while Mom dozed off in one of the massage chairs in the store for an hour.
At around 8PM, I met my sister in Tous Les Jours to buy a strawberry cake shaped like a heart for our parents. I saw posts about this Korean bakery online and was thrilled to learn that their cakes come in unique designs, far from the usual squares, rectangles and rounds offered in Red Ribbon and Goldilocks.
We chose the red big heart and asked the bakeshop staff to write on our message with the icing: “Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary, Mommy & Daddy!” Then off we headed to WATAMI Japanese Casual Restaurant where we planned to have dinner.
While walking to WATAMI, my sister saw Mom and Dad walking toward us and we immediately shifted our direction and changed our speed to second gear! We wanted to arrive at the restaurant earlier, as we had to surrender the cake first to have it stored in their refrigerator. We were successful in our plan and our innocent parents followed suit after five minutes. They alighted from SM’s car for senior citizens and the physically challenged, as if Cinderella and Prince Charming descended from the pumpkin carriage!
Watami is one of the many Japanese restaurants in SM Mall of Asia, a must visit stretch of pavement for any culinary globetrotter. Inside, the dining room was unassuming, agreeable and clean, withΒ comfortable seating for groups. The ambiance of the venue deserves to be awarded with five stars. As a critic, I can sing all good praises for this restaurant.
Watami’s salmon sashimi a la carte, beef and kimchee rice in stone pot, thin-crust pizza topped with teriyaki chicken, and deep fried tofu with tempura sauce in stone pot seduced our tasted buds the right way.Β Prices of meals were affordable. Members of the service team were super friendly and fast. The hospitality has been indeed genuine.Β And what made our experience in WATAMI truly special was the unexpected…
When we were handed with the bill, we whispered and requested the cake to be taken out. I thought that they will return it as it was nicely fitted in the box and the surprise gift would be enough. Rather, the waiters and waitresses went an extra mile. They approached our table in cluster and serenaded us to the chorus of Barry Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You” and greeted our parents a happy wedding anniversary! We were all caught in surprise. π
The night ended with us four riding a cab home. Mom was elated to receive a dozen of red roses and she immediately arranged the flowers in our new glass vase.
I had terrible colds and flu last week and I didn’t get the time to shop for a gift for them. At the last minute, I gave them the time-tested formula to happiness: food and surprises.
Their 25th wedding anniversary celebration was not a giant party with all our relatives and friends. There was no renewal of vows in a church setting, with flowers and all artsy and cutesy decors. There was no second honeymoon or romantic trip. But everything went perfectly well that night. It had been pretty simple but the meaning and memories behind it, I hope, had been significant. Being together and staying in love is what really counts, anyway. β₯
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
First, Happy Silver Anniversary to your parents! I’m sure they’ve enjoyed the moment during that day.
Thanks, Mark! Yes, they did! π
It’s nice that you had an intimate celebration and a great bonding experience for your parents’ silver wedding anniversary.
Yes, and I’m lucky to belong to a family that inspires me each day. π
Happy Silver Anniversary to your mom and dad!
Very nice of the staff to serenade them π (nakakatouch un!)
Thanks! Oo nga eh, naisip ko kung ako iyon baka umiyak pa ako haha drama queen π
Congratulations to your parents Rochkirstin! Your mom looks so young. It must be love. π
Thank you! π My dad also looks young; he’s ten years older than her!
Happy silver anniversary to your parents! Staying together for 25 years and counting is a beautiful thing.
Yes, it is a beautiful thing and then we hope we can celebrate the next 25 years pa. π
I’ve really enjoyed browsing your web site. My colleagues share this opinion. You have got a potential. Please, don’t waste it!Surely you know it.
Thank you!
It’s so sweet of you and your sister. I’m sure your surprises made your parents very happy on their special day. Cheers for the next 25 years more!
Thanks, Mommy Rossel. π
Congrats and Happy 25th Wedding Anniv to your parents. Your mom looks really young! π
Thanks, Claire! Oh, you’re the second person you commented on her youthful looks here. I’m sure she’d be proud haha
You look like your mom. Anyway …All in all, you have a very successful great celebration with your parents 25th Wedding Anniversary. Great choice of place too.
OMG haha I don’t know if that’s a compliment but thanks, Raine. π
Amazing to see a relationship last that long, I can see myself 25 years from now too with my wife.
Wow, nice thought, Mark! π Stay sweet and stay in love. β€
Congratulations!!! one of the greatest blessings one can have and truly worth-celebrating. my father who is 50 years married to my mom always says: Adjustment is life time… π and i guess very true for marriages to last! they seem to enjoy the treat though! π
Yeah, that’s correct! Wow they are golden! Congratulations to your parents as well, Ana. π
Staying together as husband and wife for 25 years is indeed a great accomplishments. Happy silver Anniversary to your mom and dad.
Thank you! π
Congrats them! They are indeed a happy couple. They really enjoyed that special day! π Amazing!
It was a happy moment for us, indeed. Thanks, Ron!
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Thanks for reading, Jerica.
That is really attention-grabbing, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to in quest of extra of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks
Thanks, Laura. π
[…] of Gumbo (read review of Gumbo at Robinsons Place, Manila). Funny it’s located exactly beside Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant, where we celebrated our parents’ silver anniversary last year. We were led to our seats and […]