You may not know it, but Mother’s Day was first celebrated in the US as a national holiday on the second Sunday of May in 1914 — seven years after an American named Anna Jarvis held a memorial service at her late mother’s church on May 7, 1907.
More than a hundred years later, Mother’s Day is definitely no longer just an American thing. One could even go as far as to say that every trick in the book has probably been played to the delight of moms all over the world. We asked some of them about the most memorable suprises yet!
“The most memorable Mother’s Day surprise I got from my three kids was when KenZ , Kenzo and Keli made me this very special Mother’s Day scrapbook from scratch. They chose their favorite photos with me, accompanied with the sweetest messages about how much I meant to them as their mother. I was so touched because it was so beautifully and painstakingly done. They presented it to me in my bed as I woke up on Mother’s Day morning with a breakfast tray of homemade crepes and my favorite hot chocolate. It was truly the best feeling in the world. I love being a mom!” – Dr. Aivee Teo
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“Mother’s Day in 2020 fell on my birthday, May 10. It was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic then and we were all still on total lockdown. Emma woke me up with kisses and led me to her playroom where she prepared a banner and decorated the room with balloons and buntings. She said she prepared that for an entire day. I was truly happily surprised since she was just four years old then and yet she was able to plan that. It was also a memorable Mother’s Day because Mark cooked his specialty beef brisket for me, while Emma baked cupcakes for me. It was a simple Mother’s Day and birthday celebration which to this day is the most memorable one for me.” —Em Aglipay-Villar
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“Every Mother’s Day with my children and husband has always been memorable, but I vividly remember in 2018 when they surprised me with a song number, lyrics rewritten by my three daughters and sung right after sunrise while we were travelling in South Africa. They were dancing together with the most lovable South Africans, who incorporated their language and music with wishes of a “Happy Mother’s Day!” — Joy Wambangco-Rustia
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“My heart still manages to burst with joy as I reminisce about the most unforgettable Mother’s Day surprise I’ve ever experienced. It was the moment our daughter shared the news with us that she was expecting our first grandchild. We were overcome with so much happiness and excitement knowing that Victor and I would soon step into the cherished role of being grandparents.
Babies truly are the purest form of love and blessings. This Mother’s Day holds such a special meaning for me, as I celebrate it alongside our daughter, Adrienne, who is embarking on her own journey of motherhood. Oh, to cuddle our precious Lewis Victor in our arms on this day— it’s a gift beyond measure, a true testament to the boundless love that spans generations!
As we embrace each other, three generations intertwined in love and joy, this Mother’s Day becomes an even more beautiful celebration of life, love, and the enduring bond of motherhood.”—Linda Ley
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“My most memorable Mother’s Day was when I just finished my final radiation session to address my cancer. My two daughters were there, showing their love and lending me their support. They even made me a very nice Mother’s Day card. In it, Pianne told me, ‘Mommy, I will always take care of you…’ Those words truly made me strong and gave me hope to be stronger. To this day, I can never thank God enough for giving me two wonderful daughters who continue to give me a reason to live.” — Pinky Tobiano
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“The most memorable Mother’s Day would be the first one during the pandemic lock down. The kids and dad made sure I wouldn’t go down to make sure they could serve me breakfast in bed. Rye [husband Ryan Agoncillo] made my favorite scrambled eggs, while Ate and Luna made pancakes. Lucho picked some flowers from our backyard. We all ended up having breakfast together and just cuddled the whole day,” — Judy Ann Santos
By Alex Y. Vergara, Büm D. Tenorio Jr. and Jose Paolo S. dela Cruz
