That is, the high point of the 100th sitdown birthday dinner last Monday, May 2, for Doña Maria Marcelo Vda. de Ejercito at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel when former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada, allowed by the Sandiganbayan out of his Tanay, Rizal resthouse for barely eight hours (from 3 to 11 p.m.), sang to his wheelchair-bound mama a reworded version of his all-time favorite song Kahit na Magtiis (composed by the late Ernani Cuenco, with the lyrics done by Erap himself).
From the giant monitor on the stage, the guests could see Doña Mary wiping tears while grandson, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, whispered to her every word of every line of every stanza of the song that has become Erap’s personal anthem. Was Doña Mary aware that she was surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren (with the sole great-great-grandchild unable to come home from the US for the grand occasion)? Did she notice her favorite son’s voice crack a bit, overcome with emotion as he was, when her wheelchair was pushed to centerstage and Erap bent forward to plant a loving kiss on her cheek?
I thought I heard the Fiesta Pavilion fill up with muffled sobs as the guests, touched by the almost palpable unbreakable bond between mother and son, watched the drama unfold, capped by the whole clan joining Doña Mary and Erap while singing the remaining lines of the song.
Some 700 guests, mostly close friends of the family, joined the celebration which was kicked off by a concelebrated Mass officiated by Bishop Ted Bacani (main celebrant), with Fr. Larry Faraon as homilist and, as co-celebrants, Msgr. Rodriguez, Msgr. Albert Venus, Fr. Francisco Tuano, Fr. Sonny Ramirez, Fr. Peter Lavin and Fr. Thomas Naval. Dinner was served (Timbale of Roast Eggplant and Prawns, Chicken and Corn Soup with Jani, Canneloni with Spinach Stuffing Cheese Sauce, Guyabano Sherbet, Grilled Salmon with Vegetables and Baked Alaska downed with either coffee or tea), followed by a memorable show (hosted by Boots Anson-Roa, Ariel Ureta and Eric Quizon) featuring the Ejercito grandchildren rendering songs that ranged from Broadway hits to love songs from the ’60s to the present.
Leading to the dramatic highlight was a performance by Dulce who sang Anak Dalita and a stirring version of Ugoy ng Duyan which set the mood for Erap’s Kahit na Magtiis number.
Kahit na Magtiis is one of the eight songs in a souvenir CD entitled Songs For Mama (along with Ikaw, Anak Dalita, Ngayon at Kailanman, Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan, Ugoy ng Duyan and Gaano Kita Kamahal) given away to guests and well-wishers along with a cookbook titled Maria’s Recipes (Food For The Soul, Food For The Body) which contains prayers to The Virgin Mary and Doña Mary’s favorite saints (dozens of them) and her favorite recipes (the procedures of some of which are written in both English and Spanish). Doña Mary took up Culinary Arts in Europe and America.
The book’s introduction, entitled Maria’s Hands, sums up the 100-year-old Wonder Woman who might live long enough to see her favorite son a free man:
Maria loves to work. She makes her hands work to be able to serve.
These hands played the piano very well to please her family and friends. Hands that brought beautiful music to her Pinaglabanan home.
These hands cooked great meals for the whole Ejercito clan... Maria’s special way of sharing her love. Her hands were always busy... attending to her loving husband Emilio, her 10 children Pilarica, Emilio Jr., Paulino, Patrocino, Antonio, Consejo, Marita, Joseph, Jorge and Jesse; and her growing number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Maria is prayerful... she keeps in touch with her Creator through prayers... the rosary, novenas, devotions and daily prayers. She speaks to her friend Jesus. At 100, Maria’s hands continue to serve... in prayer and as a source of strength. Her warmth and unconditional love is felt just by holding her hand.
Maria’s recipes... her secret recipes for the soul and for the body.