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A mother from Maasin City, Southern Leyte got the attention of netizens as she did what she could give her son a birthday cake despite their financial situation.
Lea Orito Cruza posted a series of photos featuring her Lixter and the cake that she made for him. It’s not like the ordinary cakes people are familiar with as the primary ingredient of hers was “nilusak na saging” as a substitute for bread.
She then molded it to a round shape and decorated it using chocolate.
Nilusak is a native Filipino delicacy made from pounded boiled bananas with coconut and sugar.
“Happy birthday, son! I wish you good health, and that you eat a lot so that you will gain weight. I hope that you will eat all this nilusak cake that I made for you. I got tired of pounding this, son. I love you,” Lea said in their dialect.
Her post immediately captured the attention of the netizen and reached more than 15,000 shares on the platform.
Later that evening, she posted photos of their simple celebration complete with the all-time favorite pancit and two real cakes for Lixter, among other dishes.
She then explained that so many people shared her initial post that some of the netizens even reached out and gave him cakes, ice cream, and a few gifts. This made the family celebrate the young boy’s birthday on a grander scale than they were supposed to.
Lea said that her son got what he wanted for his birthday. Not the food, but the gathering of his loved ones.
“He did not even want spaghetti and preferred to have pancit. Thanks to everyone especially those who sent him gifts. We don’t know you but many people gifted him. We love you, Lixter. I love you.”
