Divine Tarts and our Pearl velada

What happens in the lives of Assumption girls 30 years after high school? In the case of Batch ’79, they hurdled Herculean challenges and filled in many different shoes as career women, wives, mothers, movers and shakers.

Last Oct. 18, in the tradition of thanksgiving, we came home to where we first learned our life’s lessons to celebrate our Pearl year with joy and gratitude.

Anay Mayoralgo Zalamea shared: “The best part about this year’s Pearl velada experience was the chance to get together with Batch ‘79. Aside from our love for dancing and performing and working together towards a common goal, we re-bonded and re-connected in a deeper way. Since our silver year in 2004, it’s interesting to see how much our lives have changed in five years, to which we offered our praise, encouragement, support and commiseration. We laughed, we cried, we prayed and gave thanks for the sisterhood. When we’re together, it seems like all is right in the world.”

Indeed, it was a particularly special Pearl year made most meaningful since weeks before the velada we chose to start it off with a soul-searching retreat. We called upon our former teachers and spiritual mentors, Ms. Cory Villafania and Ms. Marilen Liwag Reambillo, who graciously accepted. Up in the serene hills of Caleruega, we embraced our Assumption spirituality. We sought to know God more in order to love, serve and pursue his will for each of our lives. With open hearts we welcomed the virtues of humility and joyful detachment — letting go of all our fears and irritations, joyfully trusting in the ultimate love of God to provide for all our needs. After the retreat, we all went home with this newfound stillness and peace in our hearts. Thus, our monthly prayer group called the Divine Tarts was formed and our sisterhood strengthened with a new purpose: to remind each other never to forget the little everyday miracles in our lives and to bring each other to heaven.

In the Eucharistic celebration of Old Girl’s Day, a lovely prayer written by Allure editor Joanne Rae Ramirez was read as a pearl rosary strung up by Arlina Arrozal de Jesus was carried by Nina Huab Cruz with reverence during the solemn offertory procession.

The beautiful prayer written by Joanne reads: “We offer you today, Oh Lord, the pearls we have become. Not just in years, though each year we consider a gift, but also in luster and iridescence. Just like a pearl born of an irritant in an oyster, we have become who and what we are now because we have thrived despite and because of irritants and adversity. May the world that is our oyster be better because we loved You, served You and shared our luster with the world. And as we string together the pearls that each of us has become, we offer them as a garland of prayer in your altar — in praise, in gratitude, in love. Like pearls, our faith will be worn by us for all to see, so that others, too, will seek its everlasting luster.”

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A month after our retreat, preparations were made for the annual homecoming. In following the tradition, the Silver jubilarians hosted a two-hour program of song and dance with Pearl, Ruby, Jade, Gold and Diamond batches as guest performers.

Our Pearl star dancers willingly took valuable time out to participate in the grueling rehearsals. Rina Go brilliantly collaborated with excellent choreographer Maribeth Bicharra to create a medley of dances. Ably assisted by Theody Delmoro and Cindy Santos, the girls sizzled on stage, making us part of the audience all so proud.

Floy Quintos, who is very close to the hearts of Batch ’79 and who directed our Silver velada, aptly described our soulful Pearl number which was a medley of dances entitled “If the shoe fits, wear it out!”

Floy said: “We don many shoes for the many journeys down life’s road. Soft ballerina slippers for remembering the times of our lives with quiet grace. Flashy stilettos that have seen us grooving the carefree nights away. Sports shoes awash in sequins and glitter for the times when the chic-freak attitude is the only defense against life’s woes. And when the doves cry, we tread softly in well-worn bedroom slippers. We rock the world in no-nonsense work boots that crunch gravel when we take new paths. And when we groove tonight, we do it in dancing shoes that hold our heads high, push our butts out and say, ‘You’ve come a long, way, baby!’ These are the songs. These are the shoes. And if someone could design an air sole with a three-inch heel, a sturdy strap, the softest instep and an arch that lets us reach for the stars, how many roads more we could journey.”

A reflection of their souls transcended onto the stage as a radiant Batch ’79 danced, costumed as graceful white doves, symbolic of the peace and sisterhood they chose to celebrate on their 30th year as God’s precious gifts to them. They wore white pearls around their wrists and graceful necks to remind them of the adversities and irritants of life they have given up with joyful detachment, knowing that no matter what comes their way God’s love will always prevail.

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The Pearl velada participants included Trina de Leon who sang a solo number. The dancers were Alta Genuino Sima, Andie Recto Montenegro, Carmela Ongsiako Isabela, Chary Ozaeta Gohh, Jojo Marquez Ocampo, Lizette Banzon Cojuangco, Maribeth Bailon Santiago, Ola de Vera Regala, Paz Martelino Paguio, Sandra Gordon Recto, Sandy Lamb Moran, Anay Mayoralgo Zalamea, Cecilia Dolendo Suarez, Ginnie Lim Fernandez, Lisa Lorenzo Uy, Liza Tomacruz Latinazo, Marilou Sarthou Lacson, Marissa Orosa Concepcion, Martha Orosa Uy, Rhona Lopa Macasaet and Rina Silayan Go.

Chevy Salvador acted as the production manager with Chloe Cruz Uy and Detsy Laurel as backstage assistants. In charge of documentation were Nina Huab Cruz and Yvonne Policarpio.

Batch ’79 is also grateful to Bing Cristobal who sewed the costumes for Batch ’79; Sunshine Domine, stage manager; Ivy Inocencio, assistant stage manager; Juan Miguel Salvador, musical arranger; and Sandae Muyuco, photo/digital editor.

Special thanks to Tereret Liboro who graciously allowed Batch ’79 to rehearse in her beautiful home.

Of course our resounding “Thank you” to the gracious Silver jubilarians for allowing us to be part of their velada.

(Please support our Assumption Mission School Fund by going to the Assumption Bazaar on Nov. 15 and 22 at Hotel InterContinental Manila.)

(Would love to hear from you at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)