#laraturns18

[athenajewelfaith]

Weekend's gala #Laraturns18 #Bluegardens (at Quezon City, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5yqCtFspa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kygrxilfsbzo

[lizmarcellano-blog]

LAICA TURNS 18!

To the craziest person in the family, my partner in crime, and the prettiest among the Tres Marias: Happy Birthday, Laica!

Time surely flew so fast. I still remember when she would cry and throw ridiculous tantrums whenever our parents would leave her at home when she was a kid. Oh dear, was she a crybaby? She definitely was! She was the Most Behaved pupil in their class for all of her grade school years, and we’d always find it weird because she was really loud at home. I remember pushing her when we were playing at the front porch when we were kids, and she got a cut on her upper lip. (It was terrible, don’t even ask. Oh and I was a child. Please pardon me.) I also remember when we used to pull our hair out—Another terrible thing, I know, when we had fights back in the years.

It was all crazy, really. We were that kind of siblings.

But I must say, that kid totally grew into someone…even louder. I don’t even know where to begin. It so happened that she turned out to be the most talkative among us girls; the one who cracks jokes whenever she can and gets a breathing problem while laughing; the one who takes advantage of every chance she gets to tease our youngest sister which always ends up with the latter being incredibly pissed; the one who turns silent when our parents scold her but softens up in the speed of light like they never got mad at her in the first place; the one who (still) has pakialamera problems that always make me lose my chill but she still keeps doing it /rolls eyes/; the one who always tell us what she’ll do when she wins the lottery (She said she’d get the roads tiled up. Never trust her.); I honestly could go on and on about this.

But if there’s anything I am truly proud and grateful to her for, it is that she grew up as a huge dreamer with a lot of positivity. I will always remember when I was almost reaching my breaking point, and she ever so positively said, “Ate, huwag ka mag-alala. Magkakatrabaho ka rin!” (“Don’t worry! You’ll find a job soon!”). I was then reminded how blessed I am to have a family who believe in me without failure.

My sister is not perfect. She may put up a huge smile on her face a lot of times, but I believe that sometimes, the happiest people do keep the most problems to themselves. I will never forget those nights when I’d hear her cry from her room, and until now, I don’t know why. I had the courage to ask her once but she just shrugged it off. I guess by now, you could tell I’m not really the best sister, either. But I love my sisters. I love her. And I always perpetually worry for their sake, more than I do so for myself. Even though we almost always fool around and never have serious conversations, I always remind myself to guide them with the subtlest pieces of advice I could find. And I’m ever so grateful to have parents that always remind us that: Even if the entire world turns its back on us, we’d always have our family. Hence, as the eldest sister to my siblings, I slowly yet surely impart to them what I’ve learned throughout the years. Although, I know I have yet to experience more. I don’t ever want them do the same mistakes I did before. I’ve learned and now, I have to impart these learnings to them as well.

Therefore, I hope, in the future, we’d be able to rely more on one another. Because we’ll always have us.

Laica, you’ll always have me. As you turn from a girl into a lady, you’ll slowly realize your responsibilities not only as a part of this family, but as His child. I believe in you. Happy Birthday. Love ka ni Ate. ❤️