Honoring Kayla Tejero: A 21st Birthday Celebration

By: Veronica Leighton

It was a very memorable evening for Kayla as she celebrated her post-21st birthday in a formal party on August 5th at the Crystal Grand Banquets.

Superstar Kayla choreographed her own birthday party. She entered the hall in a pink-beaded gown, designed and created by a popular Ilonggo designer Adrian Pe. Singing her own rendition of “I have nothing,” a song by Whitney Houston, she serenaded her guests. It was definitely an evening that captured the beautiful Kayla, and an outpour of love and gratitude.

Kayla is blessed with so many things in life this past 21 years. And with a grateful heart, she has taken a whirlwind of life experiences that only her could ever achieve at a very young age.

She is a multi-awarded singer in the FilAm community. She is a columnist-writer for the Via Times. She is a full time university student who is completing her 4-year nursing degree in three and a half years, with more than 100 thousand dollars in scholarship grants, Currently, Kayla is posed to graduate in a Summa Cum Laude standing by December 2022.

At 21, she is blessed with very supportive people in her life. She is blessed with the many opportunities that came her way all these years. She is blessed with a musical talent that she shares unselfishly to the community.

At 21, Kayla is empowered! She had made decisions that drive her to becoming a better version of herself. She chose her own career path, and promised herself to excel on it. She makes sure that she goes out with the right circle of friends. She pursues things that help her and others become better people. She has become an inspiration to many.

In her recent grand birthday party, Kayla said, “At 21, I realized that there were so many people who have touched my life in a very special way!”

Here’s an excerpt from Kayla’s thank-you speech on her special night:

“My Via Times family, with Tita Veronica, thank you for always being there – you have never failed me with your love and understanding. You are one great person who showed me grace and strength. To the rest of you – thank you!

My church family – the Household of Faith Community Church, I have grown tremendously in my spirituality and understanding that everything that I am today is because of our God, thank you!

My friends from school, thank you for generously sharing your time with me, for your care, sometimes just for “nothing” when we hang out. It’s hard to find true friends, but I am happy I found you all! My friends in the community, thank you for being here tonight. It’s hard to invite everyone but I tried to remember who made me smile when I think of you. So think about being here because you made me smile. Thank you for all your care, for reaching out randomly with your positive messages, and most importantly for being genuine. Thank you!

For my family and relatives who are here tonight, thank you all for your support to me and my family. When things in life switch in a different direction, you came down to listen, to support, and to give love. We all are moving on and I would like to let everyone in the family know that I am okay and I am moving on!

For the person who made this party possible – Mom, I just want to let you know that I really appreciate all your efforts in organizing this event – my wardrobes, the food, everything tonight! Thank you so much and I love you! And I love my dad too! I pray always that God will grant all of us with peace and love as we continue to journey in this life.

To everyone else who came tonight – thank you – I love you all!

“ Happy birthday, Kayla! You have definitely lived a blessed 21 years, you had blessed others by your charm and talent, and may you have many wonderful birthdays to celebrate!

Following is my short speech in honor of Kayla that she asked me to deliver that evening…”When Kayla asked me to deliver a speech on her special day tonight for her birthday, I told her that I’d be more than delighted and honored to do so. Kayla is just like a daughter to me that I never had in my life. I have watched her grow from infanthood to adulthood up to a Honoring Kayla Tejero: A 21st Birthday Celebration beautiful young lady as she has blossomed today; I’ve watched her pursue pursue her passion in singing, dancing in modeling and achieving numerous accolades, appreciations, and awards; I have watched her excel in her academic endeavors, winning awards, honors, scholarships after scholarships in her nursing course. She will be graduating this coming December as a Summa Cum Laude in her chosen career.

She is a very good daughter to her loving parents, Pressian and Ryan, respectful, polite, obedient and courteous.

She has been writing as a VT columnist for many years now and her column features young Asian faces from various college campuses from all over. She goes out there always bringing pride about her Filipino culture and heritage, wherever she goes.

What else can I say about Kayla??? I SURELY WANT TO BE LIKE KAYLA WHEN I GROW UP! Happy, happy birthday, Girl!”