Bel-Air shines!

The golden yellow April flowers are in full bloom all over Bel-Air Village in Makati City. Mother Nature is indeed aglow during this special time of year. In keeping with the yearly tradition of thanksgiving practiced by this extremely close-knit community, everyone excitedly waited for the annual Pasinaya.

This year’s dance festival carried the theme Panahon Natin, Ritmo Natin. Our indefatigable barangay captain, Tita Nene Lichauco, was once again in her element. Being a stickler for detail, she personally called us for our assigned dance roles. Multi-talented choreographer par excellence Andrew Ferraris had his hands full with over 200 dancers to work with. All throughout the run through rehearsals, our gifted and big-hearted director, Floy Quintos, lovingly guided all of his young and ageless wards like a shepherd herding his sheep.

It was the height of the summer heat wave, yet no one complained even when we were instructed to repeat our dances over and over at the final dress rehearsal. We were like little kids having fun and loaded with boundless energy. The air was replete with the most joyful sounds of music, laughter, enthusiasm and lots of encouragement from our loved ones. As always, the gracious women of Bel-Air headed by beauty queen Malyne Lorayes prepared lots of food and drinks to satisfy our insatiable appetites.

On the day itself, Mitch Valdes entertained the crowd with her hilarious antics and all the fun began. The energetic youth led by sisters Andrea and Sam Turingan, Gabby Dario, Joseph Gonzales, siblings Kaila and Kevin Dionisio, James Roy and my son Vincent electrified the crowd with their opening Gary V remix dance number. The little children of Bel-Air led by cousins Sophia Abello, Marga, Luisa, Frankie and Bea Lichauco upheld the cuteness factor in their adorable Chinese costumes dancing Butchikik. The charming Galawgaw was a playful dance number led by Kelly Gana, Heloise Romualdez, Kimi Suarez, Celine Abella, Judah and Harry Liu. The alluring stage presence of the El Bimbo cast Maureen Santiago, Gina Bautista and Girlie Garcia mesmerized the audience. The swing was one memorable number led by Marivic and Francis Juico that transported us back into time as the ladies swayed to Donna Summer’s Last Dance and the guys strutted like endearing John Travoltas. I heard the audience shrieking wildly when Miko Calo, Nicole Santos and I executed our Aldeguer Sisters’ moves especially when we did our high kicks, splits, turns, flipped our big hairdos and posed with our mouths wide open! Oh my, I wish we could do it all over again! I was in absolute dance heaven in my shimmery silver costume. Tita Nene ever the perfectionist, went all out on this particular number. (For this I really love her!) She even made us an appointment with Basement Salon’s veteran hair and makeup specialist Flor Rivera (who was Lally Aldeguer’s stylist way back in the ’70s). So we were expertly transformed into the perfect Aldeguer trio. Earlier the crowd was already heated up by the sensuous chacha of Ope Lopez, Micky Rodriguez, Bechay Montserrat, Diane Gonzales, Vinnie Indigne and Jessica Baluyut. The Penthouse Live gang Anay Zalamea, Mayette Roy, Janine Dario, Odette and my hubby Benny grooved to party tunes of the ’80s delighting an already nostalgic audience. The elegant Mambo Magsaysay dancers and the flirty moves of the women led by Susan Calo-Medina in the Bobby Gonzales remix brought the house down. The grand finale Neo Ethnic danced by the Bel-Air juniors led by Aileen, Kennedy and Carl Dionisio, Tricia and Liza Lichauco, Tito Herbosa, Johnny Quintos, Karen Mendoza, Eric Barro, Cat and Rommel Turingan had us all spellbound by their synchronized movements. Cricket Abello was dramatically lifted high up into the sky like a true princess, as those dramatic lights started to flicker and confetti started to fall.

The program took only two hours but the process of learning, practicing, perfecting and primping took a whole lot more out of us! Being a part of it all provided us with the valuable opportunity to bond with our neighbors in the spirit of true camaraderie. As deeper friendships were forged, a magical chemistry emerged. Every year’s program is different, but the Pasinaya never fails to bring out the very best in everyone. The closer we get to each other, the better we work with one other. This special teamwork has resulted in the success of our every endeavor. Indeed, because of this winning formula, Bel-Air is one of the hardest communities to beat.

At the final curtain call, the entire cast held hands and did their final bow to a delighted crowd. Confetti started to fall on all of us, as Tita Nene jubilantly delivered her proudest closing remarks ever. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is our community!" The applause was deafening and our hearts were beaming in unison as everyone shouted ... WE LOVE BEL-AIR!

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