It turned out to be a festive evening, and yet an intimate beautiful affair con mucho cariño and full of love with over 500 guests dressed in Filipiniana attire and barong tagalog.
The venue was Mira-Nila, the fabled ancestral home of the honoree – donde se podia mirar a Manila en aquellos tiempos – where the thanksgiving mass was celebrated at the patio by the most Reverend Luis Antonio Tagle, the Bishop of the Diocese of Imus in Cavite and a dear friend of the clan.
The remarkable garden, where several tents sprouted overnight for those heart-breaking just-in-case moments when possible inclement weather may bring about chaos and havoc, was a fitting arena for the honest-to-goodness full-of-life barrio fiesta complete with kakanin and refreshments, ice cream and palaro, brass bands and rondallas, and an extensive all-Filipino buffet showcasing the finest cuisine from our islands. The highlight of the brief program participated in by family and friends – from various grandchildren to repre-sentatives of several confederations the festijada heads or has been affiliated with through the years – was the surprise delightful Curacha number, spiritedly performed by the still plucky life-long friends.
Nine sets of impressive fireworks display followed and a nine-cakes-in-one culinary masterpiece was shared – to pay tribute to the 90 blessed, fruitful years of Helena Z. Benitez – indeed a true icon.
Tita Helen, en hora buena!