She’s 60: My Tribute to My Sister’s Officially Becoming a Sexagenarian

Perhaps the biggest reason why we’re all (almost- as we are missing Bob, Julie Ann, Roxanne and Selena) in this special celebration was because Nilda, the second eldest of my siblings, is celebrating her Big Six-O. Well of course, Justin’s and Conor’s (all three of them are October birthday celebrators) too, but she’s the main event🙂. For someone to reach sixty is a milestone-specially amongst Filipinos- that is why we all took the opportunity to come together, travelled all over to enjoy a night filled of fun and memories in October.

A Short Reflection of Our Past. We all experienced hardships in life; and ours helped us shaped to the persons we are now. Our growing up years were not spent playing with dolls and choo-choo trains; instead we wake up in a household where all were given roles and tasks to fulfill. Everyone was delegated responsibilities: washing clothes on the weekends, cleaning the house, going to the market, etc. We’re all little humans that grew quick to be adults to help the family. Nilda is no exception. When she got the chance to work in a garment factory after high school, she took the bread winner role along side with my father. I didn’t exactly know why she never pursue a degree in the higher education, but she helped tremendously in fulfilling ones for myself and my sister Merly. Eventually we both graduated and none of these were possible without her help. Nilda’s unselfish love brought successes for us, her siblings. for her siblings. She’s indeed a very caring sister.

The first family and the birthday celebrators.

I consider all of my siblings (myself too!) industrious, and while we were in pursuit of our own lives, Nilda continued to be as hardworking that she is. When she’s done working in the garment industry, she’s embarked into different work roles. She may not be able to get a degree but because she has high regard to the works she did, she’s given high praises and recommendations from her former bosses and it wasn’t difficult to find jobs for her. Her values and good character made her an asset to places she worked for.

The Life and Love She Deserves. I am not going to the details of my sister’s personal life, it’s her story to tell. When her first relationship didn’t end well, it left her with a Justin. While life as a single parent is difficult in the Philippines, she endured it. She struggled, but she made it. There was a village called family that gave her hands and continued moving towards meaningful existence. Day by day.

Her life changed sometime in 2005 when he met and married my favorite brother-in-law, Damian😇. Eventually, they moved to Ireland and started life anew. We also gained a Conor (Damian’s son) as part of our family. Conor is a very talented, polite, handsome, always smiling boy (now a great man). I can’t believe its 20 years ago!

She is 60 and Fabulous. A month ago on Oct 13, 2025, she’s celebrated her 60th Birthday- an official sexagenarian. Damian told me it was about two years of planning and preparations that Nilda (and him) to make this event happen. She wanted it fabulous and she got it! She rented the entire El Marie Resort in Bacnotan, La Union in the Philippines for her 100+ guests celebrating with her from different timelines of her life. From our neighbors when we were kids growing up in Caloocan compound, her high school classmates and friends, the friends and colleagues from her different work places, my (brother and sisters’) friends that became her friends; our families and relatives; and those friends of hers that flew from Ireland and the UK and other parts of the Philippines; all gathered together to celebrate and give her a toast.

This birthday is beyond just a celebration- it is an attestation that my sister is truly a special person that all people love.