Happy Birthday to Me. Am 50! Am 50! Am 50!

Posted on February 15, 2008
Filed Under Celebration, Faith and Spirituality, Friends, Fun, Parenting and Family | Viewed 1640 times

I have postponed writing this piece till the last moment, as words would not form to catch that truly awesome feeling of turning gold—a milestone in my life.

Years ago, I would have dreaded turning 50, imagined myself to be gray and weary, old and cranky, wobbly and wrinkly. It was always a guessing game when someone asked my age, or an indirect answer like, within the calendar (meaning at most 31), within the numbers in lotto (42, 45 or 49 depending on the draw), and I even anticipated saying bingo (when I near 70).

But suddenly when I started receving text messages, emails and phone calls in what a good friend coined as my “Dine Day”, my response was a hearty “Thank you. Am 50! Am 50! Am 50!”. To which I got reponses like “No you’re not!”, or “You are?”, or “You don’t look like it”, “Really?”, and from Angelo, “Mom, you’re only 40”, making me a mother at 12? I asked him.

As I was counting down the last 5 minutes, thinking it was only me and my MacBook, hoping some friends would join me, Noemi appeared on GTalk, and graciously joined me for the countdown, adding “precious” to my “golden”. I was surprised to have Pauline at YM at exactly midnight, saying “Happy Birthday Mom!” And I thought she was already asleep. When I told her, “Thank you. Am 50! Am 50! Am 50!”, she was shocked. All she could say was “omg! omg! omg! Mom, you’re old?” At 14 she seemed not to fathom what “50” meant.

At 50, I know what 50 means. It’s more than a birthday celebrated with merrymaking. It’s first of all loving myself more, though not necessarily taking away the love I have in my heart for my family and friends—they will always be there. It’s knowing what I really want in my life in the process turning to positive actions the challenges, distractions and struggles that come my way—they will always be there. It’s having the confidence to speak out my thoughts despite the rebuttals—they will always be there. It’s being myself, delighting in small pleasures, my red lipstick and mascara—they will always be there. It’s being proud to be a Filipina, despite the fiascos and obvious failures of the clowns, manipulators and powers that be—they will always be there. And finally, it’s standing firm to my faith, fully trusting, fully accepting—He will always be there.

So, funfare please….HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Am 50! Am 50! Am 50!

Postscript: Just got BA’s blogpost, called You’re My Golden Girl, and it touched me to the bone. Words well-written, as if representing the thoughts of my other 6, I couldn’t help but be emotional, tears flowing down my beautiful face. Yes, I thank God for my 7+1.

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50 Responses to “Happy Birthday to Me. Am 50! Am 50! Am 50!”

  1. ajay on February 15th, 2008 10:59 am

    Happy Birthday Dine. You’ve accomplished so much, being a loving wife and mother most of all.Best wishes to you!

  2. feng on February 15th, 2008 12:12 pm

    Happy happy Birthday Golden Girl!

    Wishing you all the best that life has to offer!
    Mwuah

  3. jun on February 15th, 2008 2:16 pm

    Happy Birthday! This is your Jubilee year, with God’s blessing and grace pouring out in abundance!

    Continue to shine your light for others to see.

  4. Em Dy on February 15th, 2008 2:52 pm

    Happy birthday Sexy mom.

  5. Em Dy on February 15th, 2008 2:57 pm

    Just read BA’s post. Ang sweet naman. You’re a lucky mom.

  6. ann on February 15th, 2008 3:01 pm

    Happy Birthday tita Dine! At 50 you’ve gone so far.

  7. toni on February 15th, 2008 3:33 pm

    Happy Birthday Dine :)

  8. Mitch on February 15th, 2008 3:50 pm

    Happy birthday po! More blessings to come!

  9. vk on February 15th, 2008 4:24 pm

    My dear Dine,

    Happy, Happy birthday to you,
    more blessing, more good lucks,
    God bless you.

    Happy birthday to you my dear,dine…...

    please visit my blog…......thanks

  10. Ria Jose on February 15th, 2008 4:50 pm

    Happy, happy Birthday Sexy Mom! :)

  11. Linnor on February 15th, 2008 6:56 pm

    Happy birthday!

    Age is just a number after all :) What matters most is how you feel – young at heart. :D

    God bless! May you have 50 more birthdays! :)

  12. dimaks on February 15th, 2008 7:06 pm

    happy birthday po.. more blessings and blog entries :)

  13. haze on February 15th, 2008 7:56 pm

    Happy Birthday and wishing you more years to come Tita Dine! Keep being a SEXY MOM ;) !

  14. MJ on February 15th, 2008 8:24 pm

    Happy Birthday po! May the Lord bless you with much more to come! :)

  15. Aileen Apolo on February 15th, 2008 8:53 pm

    Happy birthday! =)

  16. noemi on February 15th, 2008 9:32 pm

    Happy Birthday Golden Girl. Welcome to the club. BA is such a sweet son. What a lovely day it must be :)

  17. ApplesH on February 15th, 2008 11:00 pm

    Happy Birthday SexyMom! :)

  18. lady cess on February 15th, 2008 11:12 pm

    happy birthday

  19. L Salvador on February 16th, 2008 12:07 am

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    Maligayang pagtanda hehehe. Sana humaba pa ang iyong makabuluhang buhay;-)
    Love, Lita

    SexyMom: HA HA HA HA you missed the fun, while you were there in Austria (we sure miss you!), we had a delightful lunch a few days ago at Discovery Suites—with the gang, Guia from Canada, Raquel from HongKong, and the others, Maripe, Lucy, Carmi, Annie, Virgie, Becky and Joven. Ewan—Leo was not there, even if he was within the premises (the good old days). Another one coming up on Tuesday, wanna come—makakahabol ka pa. Hugs and kisses to you and the family.

  20. kathy on February 16th, 2008 12:25 am

    Happy birthday Tita Dine. I could really tell your happiness from this post! SexyMom definitely rocks at 50 :D

  21. Thet on February 16th, 2008 12:26 am

    Happy Happy Birthday Ms. Dine!
    God Bless you always!

  22. Sexy Mom on February 16th, 2008 12:30 am

    to all of you, ajay, feng, jun, em dy, anne, tony grrl, mitch, vicki, ria, linnor, dimaks, haze, mj, aileen, noemi, apples, lady cess, cathy, thet, and the others who called me, sent me text messages, from the bottom of my heart, thanks! am 50! am 50! am 50!

  23. Micamyx on February 16th, 2008 1:33 am

    I know I sent you a greeting through text this morning, but i would like to greet you belated happy birthday here! (It’s 1:30am na hehe)

  24. Meeya on February 16th, 2008 2:25 am

    have golden, sexy mom! may you have many more sexy years to celebrate. :)

  25. ganns on February 16th, 2008 6:55 am

    Many happy returns, Tina Dine!

  26. Gina on February 16th, 2008 7:20 am

    Happy Birthday Golden Girl
    Wishing you everything your heart desires. God Bless…

  27. Belle on February 16th, 2008 12:13 pm

    Happy birthday Dine. You are the best!

  28. tofubaby on February 16th, 2008 3:24 pm

    Happy Birthday, Sexy Mom! I’m so happy for you. Wish you more blessings to come.

  29. Rach (Heart of Rachel) on February 16th, 2008 4:36 pm

    Happy Birthday Dine! Wishing you more happiness and success in life. May you always have the gift of having your dear ones close at heart. God bless.

  30. Mari on February 16th, 2008 4:53 pm

    You’re 50! You’re 50!
    Happy 50, Dine.
    Great going at five oh!
    And also at five zero!

    Happy Birthday!

  31. Leah Tirol-Magno on February 16th, 2008 11:54 pm

    happy birthday Sexy Mom! it’s so nice to share your life with all of us! you inspire a lot of people. God bless!

  32. annamanila on February 17th, 2008 11:01 am

    Looking forward to giving you a big birthday hug soon—not online but in flesh and blood. You’re really golden and precious, Dine.

    And this is a beautiful post.

    Will read Ba’s tribute to his mom.

  33. julie on February 17th, 2008 2:57 pm

    Belated Happy Birthday Dine. May you continue to smile those lovely smiles and write about life’s lessons for us to ponder upon.

    Hope to see you soon :)

  34. Tina on February 17th, 2008 3:07 pm

    Happy Birthday Tita Dine! Many more birthdays to come! God bless :)

  35. amymd on February 17th, 2008 5:57 pm

    Belated happy birthday, Dine. Wishing all the best. (hugs)

  36. Kyels on February 17th, 2008 7:01 pm

    Belated Happy Birthday Tita Dine! Wishing you all the best in life!

    HUGS!

    (:

  37. FruityOaty on February 18th, 2008 1:40 am

    Belated Happy Birthday to you… and also belated Happy Valentine’s Day! :D

  38. Leah on February 18th, 2008 6:57 am

    Belated Happy Birthday. If I’d feel and look as good as you at 50, I wouldnt mind being that after all.

  39. Kongkong622 on February 18th, 2008 9:33 am

    Oh God, I’m late!!

    Anyway, Happy Golden Birthday to you, Sexymom!! What a way to turn 50 :)

    Stay sexy :)

  40. Lazarus on February 18th, 2008 11:04 am

    happy golden birthday, Ms Dine! I wish you more gold, and healthy years!

  41. Shoshana on February 18th, 2008 11:20 am

    Hello Dine, belated Happy birthday! You’re lovely! I’d want to look like you at 50.

  42. mixednuts on February 18th, 2008 3:11 pm

    Belated Happy Birthday Dine! Wishing all the best.

  43. verns on February 18th, 2008 3:17 pm

    Belated Happy Bday!!

  44. Arge on February 19th, 2008 9:32 pm

    (Belated) Happy Birthday Tita Dine!
    GOD BLESS :)

  45. cielo on February 19th, 2008 11:25 pm

    belated happy bday mommy dine. You really age gracefully, idol tlg kita.

    anyway, magpapa-alam lang po, i’ll be on temporary leave in blogging.

    see u soon

  46. amomandmore on February 21st, 2008 10:49 pm

    Belated golden birthday greetings to a golden girl, a golden mom. May you age positively and continue living a life of significance as a sexy Filipina mom. It’s nice to be 50; we don’t have to clad ourselves with gems and jewels to glisten and glow. God bless you, Dine!

  47. rhodora on February 23rd, 2008 9:57 am

    I’m late, but nonetheless, I wish you a happy golden year! And more years to come! Cheers! :)

  48. Jenny on February 25th, 2008 2:30 pm

    Hello Ms Dine! Belated happy birthday! You look really good for your age. I hope I look has as good on my 50th as you do in yours. Take care! :)

  49. Chase Ravndal on February 27th, 2008 9:36 pm

    Belated Happy Birthday Ms. Dine! Oh my gawd we are both Feb. beauties hahahaha. May you have many more bdays to come and shower of blessings!

  50. Under attack again–branded as a “Disgrace to Filipina Mothers” : The D Spot on June 28th, 2008 10:31 am

    [...] I have never been ashamed of it In fact, I even announced it to the world wide web, when I said, I’m 50, I’m 50, I’m 50 on my last birthday. If a few pounds heavier than normal is fat, so be it—a wake up call [...]

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