This was a major milestone for our little family—Liam turned three years old! To mark the occasion, Jessa and I decided to go big, or as I like to say, "The Philippine way," which apparently means a two-day celebration.
The first day was technically the day before his actual birthday, but in the Philippines, you don’t let a calendar date get in the way of a good party with the extended family. We headed up to the mountain house to celebrate with Jessa’s side of the family. Now, I have to be honest: I told Jessa this was a "bullshit idea" because the weather forecast was calling for heavy rain. Does she ever listen? No. Am I usually correct? Yes. But, as I’ve learned, life in the Philippines often involves navigating a bit of chaos and a lot of mud.
The drive up was an adventure in itself. We had to pick up some supplies—including a pig, because you can't have a mountain celebration without one—and the roads were a mess. It wasn't just mud; it was that slippery clay that makes even a 4x4 slide around like it's on ice. I had a bit of a "moment" where I slid into the edge of the road, but thankfully, no real damage was done.
Once we made it, the party was exactly what you’d expect: a huge spread of food, kids running everywhere, and a lot of laughter. We had the traditional cake-cutting (before the meal, because why not?) and some small gifts. We even bought a toy for our nephew Cyrus so he wouldn't feel left out—lesson learned from past celebrations! While the adults eventually moved on to some Red Horse and Emperador, Jessa and I stayed with the kids, keeping the vibe family-friendly.
The second day was Liam’s actual birthday, and that was "our" day. I started the morning with my usual "Coffee with Aksel" live show before we headed out for a "play day." The plan was simple: swimming, playground, and McDonald's. The weather again tried to ruin our plans with a massive downpour just as we reached the beach, but we’re used to pivoting by now. We swapped the long swim for a massive feast of fried chicken, burgers, and fries.
We spent the afternoon at my friend Jim’s place, letting Liam and Cyrus play with his kids. By the time we got home, the kids were absolutely "knocked out" from the excitement (and maybe a little bit of a sugar rush from all the candy).
One thing Jessa and I have agreed on is that we aren't going to get sucked into the "gift race" you see in the West. We want Liam to value things and understand that if he wants something expensive, like the phone he’s been asking for, he’ll have to earn it through chores when he's older. For now, a few toy cars and a day of total fun are more than enough.
It was an exhausting 48 hours, but seeing Liam so happy made every slippery mudslide worth it.
See you in the next one!
