World-Class!

Modesty aside, one of the best shows in town mounted year after year is the velada presented by the "Old Girls" (alumnae) of the Assumption Convent.

My own velada "Take Me Home" two years ago was such a hit even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (then a silver jubilarian) gushed, "Just like Broadway!"

This year’s velada of Batch `81 headed by Tessa Prieto Valdes, and which includes my sister Mary Mae Mayor, was also quite a stunner. I won’t say which velada was better, `79 or `81 – I think I’ll leave that for the Supreme Court to decide.

Recently, the jubilarians (Silver, Pearl, Ruby, Golden, Diamond) celebrated their traditional Old Girls’ Day at the Assumption campus, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City. The host class was the Silver batch. The celebration started with a Mass at 10 a.m. President Arroyo, the jubilarians and other alumnae came in their high school uniform. It was followed by a traditional Assumption lunch, with Assumption meat, Russian salad, siomai, Assumption tart, Shepherd’s Pie – traditional cafeteria fare.

The highlight was the traditional velada, which is a song-and-dance extravaganza. This year’s theme was "Assumption... World Class!" Each Jubilarian Class was given a choice of country where there is an Assumption School. They had to present the dance of that particular country. Silver jubilarians chose France, Spain, England, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam dances. Golden Jubilarians, headed by Marixi Rufino Prieto, presented the dance of India. United States went to the Pearl Jubilarians, headed by Baby Herrera. Diamond Jubilarians, headed by Lulu Pablo and Cecy Magsaysay, preferred the Philippines. Jubilarian batches did the African dance while the Ruby Jubilarians (High School Class ’66), headed by Celine Saldana Bautista, chose Brazil, where Colegio Assuncao was established in 1934.

It was the first time that the Jubilarians had to present two shows – 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., due to the clamor from relatives and friends who wanted to watch the show and couldn’t be accommodated in the Mother Rose Hall.

It was a star-studded velada. "Performers" included Golden gals Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco (wife of Danding), and Maritess Lagdameo-Lopez (wife of Manolo) and for the Ruby batch, Gina Vera Perez de Venecia.

The Ruby Jubilarians’ presented Latin American-influenced dances to the tune of Brazilian music. Jeremy Vallejo choreographed the dance and Chinggoy Alonso did the lyrics. The medley songs from Sergio Mendes Brazil ’66 was sung by the chorale group of Ruby Jubilarians and these were "La Assumptionista" for Girl from Ipanema, "Book of Life" for Look of Love, "Hasta Ahora" for Mas Que Nada. Annie Montano and Celine Saldana Bautista went through recording sessions with Chinggoy Alonso and cantor Samara Evangelista to bring everything to perfection. Elegant and colorful costumes, headdresses and a medley of inspired dances made the difference. Ruby’s dance groups were Las Emperatriz Celine Saldana Bautista and Gina Vera Perez de Venecia, both wearing red elegant Rajo Laurel gowns with capes; La Princesa was Cris Recto Ricafort; Las Reynas were Lilith Liwag Castillo, Marietta Cuenco Cuyegkeng and Nanette Sapinoso Reyes wearing gold, red and multi-colored formal gowns; Damas del Cielo who wore big pleated wings were Meng Gala Perdices, Charrie Enriquez Pacheco, Paz Sotto, Alice Syquia Felix; Chicas de Abanicos, who were in colorful ruffled costumes with Latin fans, were Luli Perez Rubio, Nini Santiago Chanyungco, Lulu Olegario, Wally Ledesma, Marie Santos del Rosario, Vicky Galan de Villa, Jesse Medina Soriano, Marilen Erana Innocentes, Bambi Reyes Narciso, Chita Altarejos Indiongco, Chona Santos Lazaro, Biba Apacible San Agustin; Damas del Sol, who wore sunburst costumes, were Vicky Preysler and Adele Valle Olives; Los Indios, who were in feathers costumes, were Maridee Henson Chanyungco, Pria Gonzales, Mavis Villanueva Chua, Beth Jison Periquet, Corito Galvez de Claro and Lucel Villanueva; Soloista y portadera de banderas was Annie Montano and chorale singer in white pants, red blouse with fresh red rose were Cecile Sumulong David, Apples Pelaez Meer, Maricris Heras, Kookie del Rosario, Marga Melian Ortigas, Bella Yuchengco, Gilda Tanalega, Jojo Damian Gisbert, Ana Tabora Palomares, Dulce Abad, Mitzie Santiago, Ching Jison, Baby Pongos and Baw Jalbuena Alunan.

Well, it seems this batch rivaled my own velada!

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