13 Heartwarming Ways to Surprise Your Mom This Mother’s Day

For many of us, celebrating Mother’s Day is a big deal—and it should be! With all their sacrifices and unspoken hardships, mothers deserve to be loved, revered, and celebrated every single day. 

Want to genuinely impress her and make her feel like the world’s luckiest mom? Check out some Mother’s Day surprise ideas she will surely appreciate and remember for years.

13 Mother's Day Surprise Ideas to Try

Looking for things to do for Mother’s Day? With a bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, you can create a memorable day for her. Let these Mother’s Day activities serve as your starting point.

❤️ Sweat It Out Together 

If you’re looking for physically invigorating Mother’s Day activities, get your blood running and sweat it out with Mom. Activate the happy hormones through physical activities!

If your mom prefers low-impact exercises, make a day of it and sign her up for a Mother's Retreat this May 11, 2024, at Networld Hotel in Pasay City.^[1] 

For just ₱850, she gets to do yoga for a full hour and enjoy a healthy merienda buffet right after. If you wish to check in at the hotel, you can enjoy a 20% discount on Networld Hotel’s rates. For reservations and inquiries, call 09175180709 or 02-85367777.

Alternatively, you can jog around the neighborhood, hike, or exercise at the gym. You can even master a new TikTok dance challenge together!

❤️ Treat Her to a Spa Day

Make the most of the day by giving your mom a relaxing and refreshing spa experience. Book her a session at a health and wellness spa. 

This Merry Month of Mom at Okada Manila,^[2] book a 90-minute package for mom. This includes a 60-minute custom massage and a choice of a 30-minute manicure/pedicure or a shampoo and blow-dry session. She'll also receive a The Retreat Spa amenity gift box. This package costs ₱5,800.

Want to just stay at home? If you have a tub in your bathroom, you can turn it into a spa with scented candles, flowers, and music.

Draw up a bubble bath for her and sprinkle some rose petals. Bring a bathtub caddy with a charcuterie board, wine, and a tablet to watch movies or read an e-book from for a real treat.

❤️ Book a Staycation 

Sometimes it’s good to leave the house and enjoy new sights. Book a weekend getaway—it's one of the best Mother’s Day treat ideas any mom will love.  

Get out of the city and let mom enjoy the sun and fresh air. If you want to enjoy cooler temps, book Taal Vista Hotel’s Mother Glows Best package^[3], which includes an overnight stay with a breakfast buffet, a 60-minute spa treatment, and an afternoon tea time for two. The package, available until May 31, 2024, starts at ₱9,000 per night.

Explore the local sights and sounds. Shop, dine, or just lounge around in the massive hotel bed and order room service. 

Related: 25 Fun Things to Do With Dad on Father’s Day

Splurge on a relaxing staycation for mom using a credit card. Use any of the options below to get discounts and enjoy hotel-related perks:

Credit Card	Hotel Benefits
Metrobank World Mastercard®	Exclusive discounts at partner hotels via Mastercard Travel Rewards and gift certificates from Metrobank and its partner hotels
Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®	Exclusive discounts at partner hotels via Mastercard Travel Rewards and gift certificates from Metrobank and its partner hotels
HSBC Red Mastercard	Exclusive discounts at partner hotels via HSBC’s home&Away program
HSBC Platinum Visa Rebate	Exclusive discounts at partner hotels via HSBC’s home&Away program
HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back	Exclusive discounts at partner hotels via HSBC’s home&Away program
Security Bank World Mastercard	Exclusive hotel discounts with Mastercard and discounts with Security Bank’s partner accommodations
Security Bank Gold Mastercard	Exclusive hotel discounts with Mastercard and discounts with Security Bank’s partner accommodations
BPI Signature Card	Up to 50% off select hotels all year round
RCBC Gold Mastercard	Cashback at Booking.com and discounts at Agoda
UnionBank Miles+ Platinum Visa	Exclusive rates at partner hotels (Astoria Hotels and Resorts for 2024)

 

❤️ Cook a Fancy Meal

While you can always book a table at her favorite restaurant, go the extra mile by preparing a special meal from scratch. Cook everything yourself or get some help from your siblings. The effort that each family member puts in will surely touch your mom. 

If you intend to make a restaurant-grade meal, consider making a classic roast chicken—tasty, lavish, and easy to make. You can go all-Filipino by roasting it over charcoal a la lechon manok or just season it with lemon, thyme, and rosemary.

Try porchetta if you want something different for your lechon belly. This Italian dish requires you to season the pork belly with herbs and aromatics (peppercorns, thyme, rosemary, or sage). Once seasoned, roll the pork belly into a tight log before roasting it in the oven.

❤️ Order Her Favorite Food

If you don’t have the time to cook, that’s alright. You can always order your mom’s favorite food—it’s still a great Mother’s Day surprise. 

Take advantage of Mother's Day bundles and promos offered by the most popular restaurants in the county. Here are some money-saving, mouthwatering options available for delivery: 

Taco Bell 

Mother's Day Bundle for Two for ₱599

• Nacho Supreme
• Two Crunchy Tacos
• Cheese Quesadilla
• Two Cinnamon Twists
• Two 12 oz sodas 

Mother's Day Bundle for Four for ₱799 

• Nachos Bell Grande
• Four Crunchy or Soft Tacos 
• Two KitKat Chocodilla 
• 4 12 oz sodas 

Mang Inasal 

Mother's Day Fiesta Treat for only ₱899

• Mang Inasal Family Fiesta with Extra Creamy Halo-Halo and drinks 
• Available for takeout and delivery via the Mang Inasal Delivery App or manginasaldelivery.com.ph

Shakey’s 

Get a free bucket of BBQ-flavored mojos from Shakey's for a minimum purchase of ₱1,500. Place your order until May 11, 2024 via the Shakey’s Super App at least a day before the delivery schedule. Delivery will be from May 10 to 11, 2024. 

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar

Order a minimum of ₱1,500 at www.periperichicken.ph to receive a free Carbonara Solo or spend a minimum of ₱2,000 to receive a free Carbonara to Share (worth ₱769). Place your orders before 9 p.m. at least a day before the delivery schedule dates, which will be from May 10 to 12, 2024. 

S&R New York Style Pizza 

For your pizza-loving mom, get this Mother's Month Treat from S&R. For only ₱971, you can get an 18-inch Shrimp Pesto Pizza, an 18-inch Cheese Pizza, and any 1.5-liter Pepsi product of your choice. That's as much as ₱600 in savings! This exclusive offer is available only at www.snrpizza.com and the S&R Pizza App. 

Ready to treat your mom to her favorite meals? Use a credit card to earn points, get cashback, enjoy discounts, and more: 

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Dining Features and Benefits
UnionBank Rewards Credit Card	₱2,500	3x rewards points at restaurants 1 rewards point for every ₱30 spend
Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®	₱2,500	2x rewards points on dining 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
Metrobank Platinum Mastercard®	₱5,000	Up to 50% off on premium dining offers 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
Metrobank World Mastercard®	₱6,000	Up to 50% off on luxury dining deals 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
HSBC Red Mastercard	₱2,500	Up to 4x rewards points on dining  1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
HSBC Gold Visa Cashback	₱2,500	5% cashback on dining transactions
Security Bank Complete Cashback Platinum Mastercard	₱3,000	2% cashback on dining
BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card	₱5,000	Up to 4% cashback on dining or online food purchases

 

❤️ Enroll Her in a Class

Take notice of your mom’s interests so you can get an idea of what to gift your mom for Mother’s Day. 

For instance, if she loves flowers, enroll her in a class where she can learn flower arrangements. Sign her up for a barista course if she loves coffee or dreams of someday setting up a coffee shop. Take cooking or baking lessons, or book a paint-and-sip class. 

If she’s interested in learning pottery, take her to Home Buddies and Sinta Ceramics’ Made for Mama Handbuilding Pottery Workshop, a beginner workshop on May 19, 2024, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Magdamag Market Cafe in Sgt. Esguerra, Quezon City. The workshop fee costs ₱2,800 per student. For registration, visit the sign-up form.^[4] 

For a more fun surprise idea for mom, you can even do it together—you, your mom, and her friends.

❤️ Write or Perform a Song

Are you the artsy or musical type? Why not write your mom a stirring and emotional song? She’ll love it if you perform the song live, but if you’re too shy, you can also record it. 

If you have no time to record a song or think you don’t have the musical chops, print the song in a poem format, frame it, and gift it to your mom.

❤️ Shoot a Heartfelt Video Greeting

A video greeting is one of the best Mother’s Day surprise ideas. It’s a sweet way to remind your mom how much you love her. 

You can include the greeting as part of a more significant celebration. Make it more special by collating individual video greetings from other family members, relatives, and even your mom’s friends. Include throwback pictures and embed a memorable track (or perhaps your mom’s favorite song) to set the mood. Don’t forget to capture your mom’s reactions as she watches the video!

❤️ Hold a Mom Trivia/Game Night

It’s just like a pub quiz night, only you’re hosting it at home and asking mom-related questions (or anything about Mother’s Day). It will surely bring belly-aching laughter to the whole family when moms need to explain themselves for any juicy bit of trivia. 

Moreover, you can enjoy a wholesome trip down memory lane as you discover special and little-known details about your mom.

You can also play games like Pinoy Henyo, Family Feud, Pictionary, or Charades. Customize each game to make it Mother’s Day-themed. 

❤️ Do a Self-Photo Shoot 

Photo: @atomm.studios (Instagram)

You can always take quick snaps and selfies from your phone. But there’s something special about going to a studio with a professional set-up, especially when it’s you and your mom being photographed. 

For self-conscious moms, self-photo shoots are perfect. You have the whole studio to yourself, and you just click on the camera remote when you’re ready for the shot. Take unlimited photos and choose the best ones to print and frame. 

You won’t just share a great moment with your mom. You’ll also capture the special memory in a photo you can both enjoy for years. 

Book a slot at tried-and-tested studios such as ATOMM Studios, Klick Self-Shoot Studio, and A Studios. 

❤️ Schedule a Movie Date Night

When did you or your mom last watch a movie that’s not on Netflix or other streaming services? 

Take your mom to the cinemas, complete with popcorn and soda. If anything’s good and worth seeing in 3D, treat Mom to a 3D movie experience, too! 

It’s a great way to relax, be entertained, and escape the real world for a few hours. You can also dissect the movie afterward and enjoy talking to your mom well into the night. 

❤️ Go to Karaoke 

It’s not a celebration without karaoke, is it? Set up your karaoke at home or book a room at any karaoke bar or KTV restaurant in the metro. 

Since it's Mother’s Day, let Mom hold the mic and dish out the greatest hits from her favorite decades. Make sure to hype her up on the money notes when she starts on the Mariah, Whitney, Adele, and Beyonce belters! 

❤️ Dress Up in Mom’s Iconic Looks 

Whether it’s her ‘70s flower child era, her ‘80s acid wash jeans phase, or her obsession with the ‘90s Demi Moore hairstyle, surprise your mom by recreating her most unforgettable looks. 

Let your creativity run wild by raiding her closet. Go thrifting to find similar fashion pieces to achieve the same look. Count yourself lucky if your mom prefers house dresses (also known as dusters). Just pluck her favorite one from the closet and wear it as your mom does! 

Further reading: Plan Your Dream Wedding: Best Bridal Fairs to Attend in 2023 and 2024

Final Thoughts

As a fantastic Mother’s Day treat for your busy and hardworking mom, give her a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, a day with no plans or chores, and some peace and quiet. Let this list of Mother’s Day surprise ideas inspire you to make your mom’s day memorable! 

While planning this year's Mother's Day surprise idea, use a credit card to enjoy discounts, get cashback, and earn points. If you don’t have a credit card yet, compare your options for free and apply via Moneymax:

Sources:

• ^[1] Networld Hotel Spa & Casino on Facebook
• ^[2] Pamper Her with Perfection (Okada Manila) 
• ^[3] Mother Glows Best Package from Taal Vista Hotel 
• ^[4] Home Buddies x Sinta Ceramics Sign Up Form (May 19, 2024 Event)