First Celebration of Birthday in America

[fish 0]

My birthday is coming up next month, now I wonder what my husband's plan is (don't know if he'll even got one). I'm not expecting anything anyway but a surprise would be great!

This is question for any Filipinas (or their spouses) who've lived here in the states and have already celebrated your birthday here. How was it? Were you hoping for something more elaborate?

It was depressing. My in-laws did not call me on the actual day, which I found very strange. They didn't call my husband either when it was his day. They usually celebrate the family member's bday on a weekend or when the celebrant goes to their house for a visit. A simple call to greet isn't that hard, is it? Anyway, I won't mope around about it.

So we went over my in-laws' place, ate dinner with them and conversed. The only food that came close to the "cake" was the pie. Not that I didn't like it, I am just sharing my story. My husband and I also went to a fine restaurant, and he requested, prior to my arrival, for a bday cake complete with the candles, singing and all the works. It didn't happen. The staff forgot to do the entire thing, and when my husband asked, then only did they start getting the cake ready. It could have made a difference, if they brought in the cake with the candles, but oh well, they forgot the candles this time. And one staff even chimed in "Blow the candles, make your wish?". I don't really fancy cakes and all the jazz, but they are supposed to do what was requested of them & everything was paid for.

In other words, it was the worst bday ever (plus the fact that I am away from my loving Fil family) but it was the best bday too since I have spent it with the most important man in my life. And that alone, made the difference.

So make sure you plan it well & ahead for your wife, or at least make her feel loved and welcome. Missing the family is the worst on that special day. It never hurts to pitch in some flowers and a bday card and some gifts, if she's into that.

Good luck!

[lirachadsbaby 0]

it was new to me...me and hubby just baked a cake and my in-laws brought something also.

[eau_xplain 2]

Steven, since Jinky is pretty social, perhaps you can get in touch with her Filipina friends and ask them to help you put together a surprise bday party for Jinky? They can prepare all the Filipino dishes that are usual for parties...especially the pancit (for long life)!!!

[David-and-Mae 15]

I'll be celebrating my birthday next weekend and I'm so excited about it. My husband likes to surprise me, so imagine the anticipation I am in right now. We already talked about our plans for that day and agreed to watch a movie and then have dinner at Red Lobster. We thought it's ok to be that simple since we'll have another celebration on Thanksgiving with my in-laws. He already gave me an early birthday present, which is way too much but he said I'm worth every penny. I HOPE SO!

--Mae

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steven, since Jinky is pretty social, perhaps you can get in touch with her Filipina friends and ask them to help you put together a surprise bday party for Jinky? They can prepare all the Filipino dishes that are usual for parties...especially the pancit (for long life)!!!

Excellet idea. I kind of ruined the surprise part because I talked to her last night about her birthday. She has to work that day and she said she's confident I could make the pancit...hahahaha. I'll give a try.

I'll be celebrating my birthday next weekend and I'm so excited about it. My husband likes to surprise me, so imagine the anticipation I am in right now. We already talked about our plans for that day and agreed to watch a movie and then have dinner at Red Lobster. We thought it's ok to be that simple since we'll have another celebration on Thanksgiving with my in-laws. He already gave me an early birthday present, which is way too much but he said I'm worth every penny. I HOPE SO!

--Mae

Hi Mae,

Jinky's is on the 18th - next Sunday! You are both Scorpios....oh boy...LOL

Enjoy your birthday and you'll have to tell us what David got you.

[sunandmoon 450]

foung thid on filipinp birthday party,

You know You're At A Filipino Birthday Party When:

1. Some of the guests didn't bring a gift, but brought extra uninvited kids.

2. When the cake says Happy Birthday Totoy instead of the child's

real name.

3. The party is at Chuck E. Cheese but they brought their own food and cake.

4. It's a child's party but there are more grown-ups than children.

5. It's Totoy's 1st Birthday and the party food is pansit, lumpia, puto, and 10 cases of Beer.

6. For entertainment, instead of playing pin the tail on the donkey, there is usually a televised baseball, football game,or a live fight.

7. They don't sing Happy Birthday; instead everyone is playing mahjong.

8. The party was over at 5:00, its 10:00 and the party is just starting.

9. You find out from Tito Boy that Uncle Nonong is taking viagra.

10. The host calls someone whos on their way and tells them to stop and get some ice.

11. The guests start arriving and the hostess disappears to get ready.

12. You hear someone go up to the birthday child and say "Totoy, ang laki mo! I'm going to have to get you something next week when I get paid."

13. The party is Saturday, and you get a call from the hostess Friday night saying, Im giving Totoy a birthday party tomorrow at 3:00.

14. Some guests bring gifts that are still in the store bag unwrapped.

15. There always seems to be more family than friends at the party.

16. You have the party over at your brothers because he just bought a

new house and he has a pool.

17. The cake didn't come from the store; it came from the mother of the comadre of your friends sister who makes really good cakes.

18. You are told you have to save your plate and fork you ate your food with, so you can eat your cake.

19. Someone calls and says they can't make it, but asks that you save them some cake.

20. Guests are wrapping up cake to take to Tatay,Chading, Girlie, Tita,and Nining.

21. The party music is coming from a small boom box.

22. The birthday child is dressed from head to toe in Tommy/Polo.

23. Its Totoy's party but since his cousin Jinky is there and her birthday is in a few days, it becomes Totoy's and Jinky's Party.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

foung thid on filipinp birthday party,

You know You're At A Filipino Birthday Party When:

1. Some of the guests didn't bring a gift, but brought extra uninvited kids.

2. When the cake says Happy Birthday Totoy instead of the child's

real name.

3. The party is at Chuck E. Cheese but they brought their own food and cake.

4. It's a child's party but there are more grown-ups than children.

5. It's Totoy's 1st Birthday and the party food is pansit, lumpia, puto, and 10 cases of Beer.

6. For entertainment, instead of playing pin the tail on the donkey, there is usually a televised baseball, football game,or a live fight.

7. They don't sing Happy Birthday; instead everyone is playing mahjong.

8. The party was over at 5:00, its 10:00 and the party is just starting.

9. You find out from Tito Boy that Uncle Nonong is taking viagra.

10. The host calls someone whos on their way and tells them to stop and get some ice.

11. The guests start arriving and the hostess disappears to get ready.

12. You hear someone go up to the birthday child and say "Totoy, ang laki mo! I'm going to have to get you something next week when I get paid."

13. The party is Saturday, and you get a call from the hostess Friday night saying, Im giving Totoy a birthday party tomorrow at 3:00.

14. Some guests bring gifts that are still in the store bag unwrapped.

15. There always seems to be more family than friends at the party.

16. You have the party over at your brothers because he just bought a

new house and he has a pool.

17. The cake didn't come from the store; it came from the mother of the comadre of your friends sister who makes really good cakes.

18. You are told you have to save your plate and fork you ate your food with, so you can eat your cake.

19. Someone calls and says they can't make it, but asks that you save them some cake.

20. Guests are wrapping up cake to take to Tatay,Chading, Girlie, Tita,and Nining.

21. The party music is coming from a small boom box.

22. The birthday child is dressed from head to toe in Tommy/Polo.

23. Its Totoy's party but since his cousin Jinky is there and her birthday is in a few days, it becomes Totoy's and Jinky's Party.

I'll have to show this to Jinky...LOL

[David-and-Mae 15]

foung thid on filipinp birthday party,

You know You're At A Filipino Birthday Party When:

1. Some of the guests didn't bring a gift, but brought extra uninvited kids.

2. When the cake says Happy Birthday Totoy instead of the child's

real name.

3. The party is at Chuck E. Cheese but they brought their own food and cake.

4. It's a child's party but there are more grown-ups than children.

5. It's Totoy's 1st Birthday and the party food is pansit, lumpia, puto, and 10 cases of Beer.

6. For entertainment, instead of playing pin the tail on the donkey, there is usually a televised baseball, football game,or a live fight.

7. They don't sing Happy Birthday; instead everyone is playing mahjong.

8. The party was over at 5:00, its 10:00 and the party is just starting.

9. You find out from Tito Boy that Uncle Nonong is taking viagra.

10. The host calls someone whos on their way and tells them to stop and get some ice.

11. The guests start arriving and the hostess disappears to get ready.

12. You hear someone go up to the birthday child and say "Totoy, ang laki mo! I'm going to have to get you something next week when I get paid."

13. The party is Saturday, and you get a call from the hostess Friday night saying, Im giving Totoy a birthday party tomorrow at 3:00.

14. Some guests bring gifts that are still in the store bag unwrapped.

15. There always seems to be more family than friends at the party.

16. You have the party over at your brothers because he just bought a

new house and he has a pool.

17. The cake didn't come from the store; it came from the mother of the comadre of your friends sister who makes really good cakes.

18. You are told you have to save your plate and fork you ate your food with, so you can eat your cake.

19. Someone calls and says they can't make it, but asks that you save them some cake.

20. Guests are wrapping up cake to take to Tatay,Chading, Girlie, Tita,and Nining.

21. The party music is coming from a small boom box.

22. The birthday child is dressed from head to toe in Tommy/Polo.

23. Its Totoy's party but since his cousin Jinky is there and her birthday is in a few days, it becomes Totoy's and Jinky's Party.

I was laughing so hard on this one, my husband thought I was crazy! WTG, Roy! Oppsss... that's really how it goes (at least in our family in the Philippines).

--Mae

[David-and-Mae 15]

Steve, these 2 recipies' always present in a Filipino birthday party so you might want to try preparing it for Jinky (but you have to know first if she likes the "biko").

PANSIT BIHON(pronounced pahn-SEET BEE-hone)

Ingredients:

1 8-oz. pack of rice stick noodles (called pancit bihon)

1 large chicken breast (1 lb.)

¼ lb. boneless pork, cubed (optional)

¼ lb. small shrimp in shells (optional)

½ cup vegetable oil

1 medium carrot, julienne

1 celery stalk, julienne

¼ lb. snow peas

1-½ cups shredded cabbage

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 small onion, slided

1 cup chicken broth (created when chicken is boiled)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Separately, boil chicken, pork and shrimp until tender.

2. Remove chicken meat from bones and shred. Set the broth aside.

3. If shrimp is used, remove shells and devein.

4. Separately stir-fry carrot, celery, snow peas and cabbage until crisp-tender. Remove, drain and set aside.

5. Soak noodles in warm water until softened. Drain and set aside.

6. In a wok, sauté garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil until lightly browned. Add onion. Stir-fry until soft.

7. Add chicken, pork (optional) and shrimp (optional). Stir-fry for 2 minutes.

8. Pour in chicken broth and shrimp juice mixture (if used). Bring to boil for 2 minutes. Season with soy sauce, salt, and black pepper.

9. Add noodles prepared in step 5. Stir constantly until cooked and dried.

10. Stir in carrot, celery, snow peas and cabbage.

BIKO

Sangkap (Ingredients):

3 cups glutinous sweet rice

1-1/2 water

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup regular Sugar

3 cups Diluted Coconut Milk

3/4 tsp. Salt

1-2 cups Lightly Toasted Sweetened coconut Flakes Topping

Pagluto (Cooking Procedure):

1. In a rice cooker, combine the glutinous rice, water, brown sugar, regular sugar, coconut milk and salt.

2. Turn on cooker and stir mixture occasionally until liquid is absorbed and rice is soft. Add more water if needed. If rice cooker turns off automatically and glutinous rice is not quite cooked yet, leave the warm button on until rice is fully cooked.

3. Continue to stir occasionally so that rice texture will be uniform. You may also cook this mixture in a deep non-stick pot medium low heat, stirring frequently until fully cooked.

4. Transfer cooked mixture into a glass pan. Flatten and smooth top with the back of a spoon. Let cool until firm then slice in serving pieces.

Top with toasted coconut flakes just before serving.

Good luck on the preparation! Don't forget to invite us all! My birthday is on Sat so maybe we can do it in a Pinoy was as "Jinky and Mae's Bday Party" Just kidding!

--Mae

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steve, these 2 recipies' always present in a Filipino birthday party so you might want to try preparing it for Jinky (but you have to know first if she likes the "biko").

PANSIT BIHON(pronounced pahn-SEET BEE-hone)

Ingredients:

1 8-oz. pack of rice stick noodles (called pancit bihon)

1 large chicken breast (1 lb.)

¼ lb. boneless pork, cubed (optional)

¼ lb. small shrimp in shells (optional)

½ cup vegetable oil

1 medium carrot, julienne

1 celery stalk, julienne

¼ lb. snow peas

1-½ cups shredded cabbage

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 small onion, slided

1 cup chicken broth (created when chicken is boiled)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Separately, boil chicken, pork and shrimp until tender.

2. Remove chicken meat from bones and shred. Set the broth aside.

3. If shrimp is used, remove shells and devein.

4. Separately stir-fry carrot, celery, snow peas and cabbage until crisp-tender. Remove, drain and set aside.

5. Soak noodles in warm water until softened. Drain and set aside.

6. In a wok, sauté garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil until lightly browned. Add onion. Stir-fry until soft.

7. Add chicken, pork (optional) and shrimp (optional). Stir-fry for 2 minutes.

8. Pour in chicken broth and shrimp juice mixture (if used). Bring to boil for 2 minutes. Season with soy sauce, salt, and black pepper.

9. Add noodles prepared in step 5. Stir constantly until cooked and dried.

10. Stir in carrot, celery, snow peas and cabbage.

BIKO

Sangkap (Ingredients):

3 cups glutinous sweet rice

1-1/2 water

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup regular Sugar

3 cups Diluted Coconut Milk

3/4 tsp. Salt

1-2 cups Lightly Toasted Sweetened coconut Flakes Topping

Pagluto (Cooking Procedure):

1. In a rice cooker, combine the glutinous rice, water, brown sugar, regular sugar, coconut milk and salt.

2. Turn on cooker and stir mixture occasionally until liquid is absorbed and rice is soft. Add more water if needed. If rice cooker turns off automatically and glutinous rice is not quite cooked yet, leave the warm button on until rice is fully cooked.

3. Continue to stir occasionally so that rice texture will be uniform. You may also cook this mixture in a deep non-stick pot medium low heat, stirring frequently until fully cooked.

4. Transfer cooked mixture into a glass pan. Flatten and smooth top with the back of a spoon. Let cool until firm then slice in serving pieces.

Top with toasted coconut flakes just before serving.

Good luck on the preparation! Don't forget to invite us all! My birthday is on Sat so maybe we can do it in a Pinoy was as "Jinky and Mae's Bday Party" Just kidding!

--Mae

Thank you so much, Mae! I'm going to be bold and try cooking for her since she'll be working that day.