I remember those good old days in the late 1960s when children my age used to watch “Lollipop Party”, a kiddy television show on ABC Channel 5, hosted by the then still very young and fresh-faced Maan Hontiveros every Saturday at about five in the afternoon. The happy and lively atmosphere of that week-end children’s party on furniture-sized black and white TV (Westinghouse, Hitachi, and the like) that was the vogue of those times, can only be matched by the carefree spirit of childhood in its very apt theme music, “The Syncopated Clock” by Leroy Anderson, the likes of which you definitely never hear nowadays.

It was the first time that a party of such kind would be held at their house and everybody was so excited, the retirees most especially, because it had been years since the last time they bonded together, and that was while they were still teaching at school. While Tia Esther and her daughters  planned the menu and busied themselves with preparing the house for the eventful gathering, the prospective “guests” were likewise busy with the program for the party. They were still quite young that time, mostly in their sixties and thus had the energy and capability to do almost anything that they missed doing since retirement. Those who sing like Mrs. Lily Castro and Mrs. Aurita Obordo selected the most appropriate “Kundiman” songs, just as the dancers, like Mrs. Rosy Guttierez and Mrs. Consoling Quejano thought of the best Filipiniana-inspired choreography, for the skit that the “script writer - director”, Mrs. Amalia Gamboa or “Tita Amal” and her sister-assistant  Mrs. Gregoria Bitong or “Tita Goring” were cooking up. The retirees, not yet known as the “Yellow Belles” then,  held meeting after meeting from one home venue to the other for the eventful brainstorming, yet  most of the rehearsals occurred at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Arturo and Angelina Dedace, where the phonograph discs and cassette tapes abound... because it was still the pre CD days of yore.

Catering, was not yet the norm for social gatherings then and with Tia Esther still the undisputed queen of the kitchen, there was no need to hire the services of the town’s seasoned cooks like “Mamang Emilio Emor” of Magdami street Ibaba who was still very much alive that time. A week before the appointed red letter date, she already bought three kilos or so of choice cut pork with meticulous aplomb for home-cooked ham, which she injected with her secret solution using a kitchen syringe and kept in the refrigerator for the much-needed turning and curing. As the days wore on, she scheduled her routines for chores such as baking her delicious  chocolate marble cake the old-fashioned way (sans the electric mixer) to be dressed up in rich chocolate icing sprinkled with roasted cashew nuts,  whipping up her famous potato salad, making “laneras” of her sinful Leche Flan, cooking “Dulce Macapuno”, and so on. Since their eldest sibling “Ate Nini” and her family cannot make it from Bacolod City, the younger sisters namely “Ates” Vinya, Babygirl and Girlie together with her husband “Kuya Efren” Alcaneses supervised the necessary preparations like preparing and distributing the invitations, cleaning the house, arranging the potted plants at the old terrace (among which were the bonsai-style  Chico, Sampalok, Powder Puff and others done by their late maternal grandfather Mr. Eriberto Dedace in 1949), choosing the plants to be used as indoor decors, preparing the curtains and the fixtures, readying the plates and dining utensils, etcetera, etcetera. Even their Dedace maternal cousins excitedly involved themselves with the other chores... from thinking of the most apt  parlor games that the super golden ladies would eventually squeeze themselves into, contributing a musical number for the program itself with the singing tandem of Gello, son of Arturo and Angelina Dedace and  guitar-playing cousin Tina plus her younger sister Millie at the helm, to helping  prepare some of the fares to be served just like their elder brother Eric who would be rendered busy with his signature “Morisqueta Tostada”, “Pancit Bihon”  and “Matam-is na Mani”. As always, Tia Esther’s younger brother “Tio Turing” would take care of the sound system with youngest sibling Ernesto (Tatay) assisting, just as her erstwhile co – teacher sisters-in-law “Tia Helen” and Mrs. Veneracion J. Dedace (our late Nanay) would be the gracious usherettes. Sickly yet still very much alive then was Tia Esther’s other brother Domingo or “Tio Doming”, and his young wife Lucila Albajera – Dedace or “Ate Lucy” was kitchen-bound likewise. Indeed obviously, it was a very busy yet happy family affair, and everybody  was involved in whatever way possible.

The much-awaited day, a Saturday,  came and the house was a bee hive of activities...  just  as the sliding door of the living room was opened wide so the terrace with its array of potted plants became its much welcome extension as always during social gatherings. Everything was readied and done according to plans, and the venue was truly laid out for the occasion. Last minute purchases like  two gallons of ice cream and the surprise beautiful birthday cake to complement the one already baked and decorated by the celebrant herself, were made to complete the ensemble. Soon enough, it was the afternoon and not too long after, the birthday girl was already dressed by three, an hour before the appointed time, and was stationed at the roofed entrance near the gate by three thirty to receive the arriving early birds. The excited guests, bringing their costume and props for the program, filled the house with  overwhelming cheer, especially when they were ushered upstairs to dress up for their respective numbers. Meanwhile, the official photographer, “Ate Girlie” was likewise poised at the entrance and took the very animated and candid “beso-beso” shots to capture the moment for posterity so to speak. Lively Kundiman folk songs like “Sa Kabukiran”, “Ako’y Kampupot”, “Pamaypay ng Maynila”, “Ang Maya” and the like,  sung by Sylvia la Torre on cassette tape which was bought by “Ate Babygirl”, filled the air and created the right mood for the occasion. A few of the guests like the then Sariaya East District Supervisor Mrs. Carmen Mendoza, her younger sister Miss Evelyn and Mrs. Elita Vendiola were still in the service, but they were likewise part of the circle of Tia Esther’s friends from way back.  The pre dominantly female neighbors and relations likewise started coming in, bringing their gifts with them and showering the celebrant host with all the pleasant well wishes that they could muster. Knowing that the old teachers were naturally adept at preparing programs on happy and eventful occasions as such was another bonus reason for them to grace the affair as well.

The retirees’ who’s who  list included the three sister tandems of Mrs. Amalia Gamboa and Mrs. Gregoria Bitong, Mrs. Lily Castro and Mrs. Rosy Gutierez,  and Miss Jessie Quejada and Mrs. Charing Macaraan, together with Miss Anita Salamanca, Mrs. Divine Cortez, Mrs. Aurita Obordo, Mrs. Greg Carlos, Mrs. Erlinda Abano, Miss Salud Carlos, Mrs. Gloria Libranda, Mrs. Naty Quejano, Mrs. Consoling Quejano, Mrs. Goring Alcance, Mrs. Veneranda Albufera, Mrs. Veneracion  Dedace, Mr. and Mrs. Arturo and Angelina Dedace,  Mrs. Maring Parungao, Mrs. Magdalena Limbo, as well as Mrs. Porfiria Gagolinan and Miss Juliana Rama who were the most senior of them all, then in their mid 80’s. Everyone occupied the pre - arranged chairs at the living room in a babble of “huntahan” or conversations while still awaiting the arrival of the other guests. Over and above the melodious strains of “Ibyang’s” singing, the animated elation generated by the spontaneity of the ever jesting “Tita Amal” and the irrepressible “Tia Helen” among others, never failed to elicit laughter of abandoned amusement. That time, it was Miss Rama or “Tia Juliana” who became both the object and the recipient of good natured “kantiyawan” because at the ripe old age of 86, she had an admirer, a likewise eightyish  widower from Batangas who always visited her, accompanied by a family member at her house in Rodriguez Subdivision. Asked about the real score by her much younger colleagues, she smiled and said that they were just plain friends, nothing special! It was a veritable sea of gray hairs as expected, but who cared? The golden girls just wan’na have fun that day, as the carrot orange - haired Cyndi Lauper put it in the 1980s. The family members, most especially the so called “Baby Boomers” were all smiles as they ogled to look and listen at the unfolding party scene, with their erstwhile teachers at “Iskul” in those memorable, innocent and carefree student days of the 50s, 60s and the 70s. It was so nice to be reminded of “Tita Jessie” and her very graceful and dexterous hands while she led the early morning singing of the “Lupang Hinirang” during flag ceremony, of “Tia Vener” as she instructed her class how to make “Yema” while typhoon-strong winds were howling outside of the old Home Economics building, of Tia Esther as she taught carefree and spirited songs like “Chumbara” and “Valderi, Valdera” in succession style of group singing, and of the very artistic “Tita Elite” as she demonstrated how to do “blowing” and “tinkering” techniques using water color in art class, among others.

Meanwhile, the kitchen to dining room area was in a flurry of movements, as the newly cooked and piping hot delicious fares were  being transferred from the pan to the pretty decorative aluminum trays and rectangular pyrex dishes, around an eclectic centerpiece of a beautifully trained plant circa 1949, for a sumptuous table setting. Tia Esther cannot completely recall what she had on the table that afternoon but most certainly, there was home-made ham, Morisqueta Tostada, pancit bihon, sio mai, potato salad, “gulay na ubod”and  beef caldereta. Dessert was composed of “dulce macapuno”, leche flan, ice cream, lychee - flavored white “gulaman”, “matam-is na mani” and  cake, with  a tray of fruits, pineapple juice on a punch bowl, Coke and ice cold water on a separate table.  Before long, the magic words “All Aboard” brought the guests to the dining room where a prayer was recited first followed by the merry traditional cheer of the  Happy Birthday song in English and Tagalog... before the beaming celebrant was made to blow the candles on her birthday cake to much applause and clicking of Ate Girlie’s  camera, and soon, everyone was enjoying the food and the wonderful company.

After the pleasant and very hearty “Merienda Cena” that took a good half hour or so, everybody was more than ready for the well - rehearsed program. With the celebrant seated in front of everybody, the veteran emcee, Mrs. Gregoria Alcance opened the proceedings with her spontaneous brand of Tagalog verses as an effective opening tribute. A poem in English written by Mrs. Nena Limbo was read to Tia Esther by Mrs. Elita Vendiola,  just as  Mrs. Naty Quejano read her self - composed greetings, in English verses as well. Mrs. Lily Castro and Mrs. Aurita Obordo sang an old Kundiman number in two voices, after which, Mrs. Rosy Guttierez and Mrs. Consoling Quejano, resplendent in their colorful Filipininana attire with flowers in their hair, then performed a very lively folk dance, both of  which were  very much applauded. The highlight of the evening was of course, the comic skit by Tita Amal which Tia Esther had already forgotten, except for the ending which accordingly involved Tia Helen and Tio Turing. Over the telephone, even Tia Helen could not remember the skit, though if the ending involved Tio Turing as Tia Esther remembered, she said that it could only be the very hilarious production number that they did when they were still at school, as directed by Mrs. Elita Vendiola. In the story, she played a very disheveled – looking mute wearing a torn duster, who had the misfortune of being raped. The supposed courtroom comedy had two principal characters, the judge and the very unfortunate mute who when asked questions vital to the case can only hum a tune for an answer. Thus for example, when asked as to the approximate time when the rape occurred, she either hummed the “Lupang Hinirang” meaning that it happened at the time when the school was having a flag ceremony, therefore at seven in the morning, or Silent Night that suggested a nocturnal attack! When asked what she felt during the ordeal, she hummed the “O kay sarap mabuhay” portion of “Maalala Mo Kaya” to more laughter. The only time that she didn’t hum a tune was when asked as to who the perpetrator of the crime was…..where she motioned the number two with a “Victory Joe” sign and slipped out her wedding ring placing them side by side. The judge pondered at the clues for a while and  said “two” and “ring” aloud, and therefore identified him as,  “Ah ay si TURING!”, to the utmost amusement of everyone! When Tio Turing was led into the “courtroom” and Tia Helen  was asked what she wanted to be done, she hummed the “Wedding March”, twisted her right arm with that of the left arm of her supposed “rapist” and in a jerky pulling motion, walked with legs spread apart to the rollicking laughter of the audience... end of the story.

Great amusement was still written on their faces when  Tita Goring Alcance declared  that the dance was about to start, and in an instant, all the chairs were removed from the dance floor in a raucous cacophony of pulling and tugging to even more amusement, after which the ultra eager retirees formed a big circle. Tia Esther was led into its center, where each one took turns into dancing the waltz with her, to the tune of Johann Strauss Junior’s “An Der Schonen Blauen Donau” or the “Blue Danube Waltz”. Thereafter, the dance repertoire  ranged from the Tango to the Cha-Cha, and the Paso Doble to the Rhumba, as the still very energetic ladies got their adrenalin levels going and gamely sashayed to the music on cue care of Tio Turing. Among the guests was Miss Asun Manese Perez, a niece of erstwhile town Mayor Luis B. Manese, who is a resident of San Juan, Batangas. A  good friend of Ate Babygirl,  she served as one of the instant dance instructors to the golden ladies. When the dancing queens got a little tired from all that jazz, a delightful  break of ice cream and  birthday cake slices followed to replenish those lost calories. Then it was parlor games time and the game show hosts, Ate Vinya and Ate Babygirl, started it all with the ever reliable yet slow mo version of  “Trip To Jerusalem”. A game of trivia followed with everyone trying to answer the questions that have something to do with the life of the celebrant. Other parlor games brought much activity and fanfare to the gathering and all the previously - wrapped prizes and give – away tokens  were care of Ate Babygirl, who scouted shops in Makati for the most appropriate items. Community singing of old Kundiman songs plus a few more dances followed and the delightful evening was capped with a very appreciative speech by Mrs. Carmen Mendoza, who graciously thanked Tia Esther for  the very nice party that served as a wonderful get-together for all the retirees.

It was to set the tone for a succession of birthday parties amongst all of them, with the number of retiree attendees getting bigger each time, care of the recruiter par excellence in “Tita Amal”. She “raided” the ranks of the newly retired, as well as the occasional “Balikbayan” retirees who come to visit every now and then. These expatriates, upon learning about the existence of the up and coming renascent party – going “Barkada” through the snail mail and overseas phone calls, planned throwing their very own welcome-home-parties weeks in advance of their return flight, with them as the most welcome guests!

One time, they got to be invited to the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Maximo and Aurora Quejano, and in the spirit of the milestone gathering, the retirees agreed to wear identical golden yellow “Tapis” and “Alampay” over their dresses to desired maximum effect. The costume clicked with everyone in attendance and henceforth, somebody thought of coining a very appropriate name for the group... the “Yellow Belles” (with an “e” for emphasis)! With that, they even institutionalized their signature song, the 1950s Carribean  beat – inspired hit of the same title, and started complementing their  tradition of opening every party by forming a big circle, at the inside of which  each one took her turn to dance with the celebrant to it!

It so happened that the next Yellow Belle who was to celebrate her birthday turned out to be Tia Esther once again, and so, she invited the old Golden couple, together with fellow visiting balikbayans, Mrs. Luisita Castro and Mrs. Luz Gagalac  to her forthcoming party. A week or so before that, Tita Amal and her cohorts had been planning a more grand and fitting production for the occasion…..the courtship and eventual wedding of Tio Isko and Tia Esther in the year 1947, and the people at the house cannot wait to see it presented as only the Yellow Belles’ can! Tia Helen played the role of the then twenty - eight year old young teacher  Esther while Tita Goring Bitong as Tio Isko, sported a polo shirt and trousers, holding a wooden rooster on both hands, stroking it  “panggas” -  style and aped smoking an unlighted  cigar, blowing “smoke” on  the fowl replica every now and then.  Tita Maring Parungao  on the other hand wore a “Baro at Saya” with the left shoulder of the “baro” almost falling to the left elbow as only “Inanang Bia”, Tia Esther’s “Inay” can carry with ease, had her hair tied in a bun with an old woman’s curved small comb or “karay” inserted to it and wore “chinelas na abaca” as footwear. In the scene, “Tio Isko” made known his intention to marry “Tia Esther” under the overprotective and watchful eyes of the ever scrutinizing “Inanang Bia”. Eventually, the wedding day came and some of the Yellow Belles were included in the bridal entourage as the cute flower girls, bridesmaids and the maid of honor to the delight of everybody. Resplendent Tia Helen wore a beautiful virginal white bridal gown while  Tita Goring  was so “manly’ in an exquisite tuxedo, and Tita Maring came out wearing a more formal version of the “Baro at Saya” with intricate embroidered designs, draped with the traditional “Baksa” for emphasis! The set was complete with the ceremonial rituals like the slicing and “subuan” of the “wedding cake”, two slices from the birthday cake that is, the linked arm drinking of the “wine”, in this case just plain Coke, and the very hilarious throwing of the bridal bouquet. As intermission numbers, the ultimate “makata” in Tita Goring Alcance delivered her spontaneous verses in Tagalog, just as Mrs. Elita Vendiola once again read a wedding inspired poem that Mrs. Nena Limbo wrote in English. Balikbayan guest Mrs. Luz Gagalac sang her signature Visayan folk song “Ay, Ay Kalisud” with gusto. The singing tandem of Mrs. Lily Castro and Mrs. Aurita Obordo was joined by “Tita Amal Gamboa” who led the singing of  the very  naughty “Malaki ang akin, Malaki ang iyo, ay malaki ….. etcetera, etcetera”, to the abandoned amusement of everyone. Meanwhile, the ever graceful Mrs. Rosy Guttierez and Mrs. Consoling Quejano did another folk dance number  in colorful appropriate costumes, which was well applauded. The Quejano couple and Tia Cita Castro served as the “Ninong and Ninangs” of the “newly weds” who eventually danced the traditional waltz. and they figured out prominently in the materialistic ritual of the “Sabitan”, punctuated in American dollars, for the show! Then, glasses of red wine were brought out  for everyone to toast the “newly weds” and the birthday celebrant with, for a good cheer! As always, ice cream and slices of the birthday cake were given for a delightful and refreshing break from it all. From there, the props were cleared and the dancing commenced, with parlor games in between so the golden ladies can catch their breath from all those movements, and the sudden adrenaline rush. The retirees that included eightyish Miss Presentacion Dedace or “Tia Pippin” of Quezon Avenue Ilaya, went home that night confessing that it was the happiest Yellow Belles party so far! Great credit for such can only be given to the ever resourceful and reliable Tita Amal, who as always had the never-ending fountain of the wackiest  and the funniest ideas for the gatherings. She brought the house down once again during the third birthday party celebration of Tia Esther when she came out wearing a beautiful wedding gown as a very, very pregnant bride who suddenly found herself about to deliver her baby on her wedding day!

Through the years, Tita Amal charmed Mrs. Helen Fajarda, Mrs. Didi Pesigan, Mrs. Antonieta Cantos, Miss Nieves Guttierez, Mrs. Panfila Guttierez, Mrs. Nellie Gamboa, Mrs. Nini Mendoza, Miss Leony Idea, Mrs. Zenaida Mendoza and Mrs. Violy Galeon ( the youngest member ) into joining the happy-go-lucky “barkada”. Mrs. Zenaida Mendoza like Mrs. Luz Gagalac and Mrs. Cita Castro are the expatriate members who only manage to attend and host parties whenever they come for a Sariaya vacation. The Yellowbelles have become a byword that  it is actually the daughters and sons of the members who truly go out of their way to invite and have them as indispensable fixtures and features of their respective Nanay’s “punsyunan”. Even an erstwhile mentor colleague at “Iskul” who hasn’t  been part of the faculty ever since she and her teacher husband (Mr. Arcadio Idea) left town to become  Manila teachers  right after the war, like Mrs. Dolores Carlos – Idea, elder sister to Miss Salud Carlos and sister-in-law to Tia Helen, invited them once to add much appreciated fanfare to her eighty plus birthday celebration at daughter Dolly’s residence at Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa. At times, they agree to have identical apparel for occasions just so they  will look even nicer for the particular presentation.

With the countless photos taken ever since they started  these wonderful  get-togethers at the Alcala-Dedace residence on that eventful afternoon in 1990, they can actually make albums for posterity.  If ever, such would be  very appropriate documentations on how people cope up with life after retirement, infirmity  and the loss of loved ones. As it is inevitable,  some members of the “barkada” had already gone to the great beyond, are therefore much missed and fondly remembered, yet the parties go on and on and in so doing, the Yellow Belles  become living testimonies on how to age gracefully, not unlike mellowed vintage wine. Even non Sariayahins are witnesses to these when our spirited ladies  staged a “Mukmukan Sa Mamala” one sunny afternoon sometime in late April of 2007, for the benefit of the two – year research project of the University of the Philippines – Diliman on  Community – Based Sustainable Tourism (CBST), in cooperation with the Sariaya Tourism Council (STC). The pioneering inter disciplinary undertaking of the five UP Academic entities (College of Human Kinetics, College of Home Economics, College of Music, College of Architecture and the Asian Institute of Tourism) headed  by UP AIT Dean Corazon Rodriguez, that aims to institutionalize a grass-roots culture – based tourism program for the town, documented this veritable showcase of Sariayahin heritage, particularly the making of  “Minukmok” or “Nilupak” from boiled unripe bananas that were pounded “Lusong” style, and the traditional “Paawitan” or ritual of drinking “Lambanog” amid an spontaneous  playful exchange of indigenous good – natured banters in Tagalog, sung  and enunciated with that unmistakable Sariayahin lilt. The Yellow Belles donned yellow green  Filipiniana “baro” over peach-colored “saya”, with long pearl necklaces streaming from their necks, and performed with the aptly costumed singing tandem of Engr. Eddie Abril and  Mr. Cadavid, accompanied in the appropriate old style guitar-playing by Mr. “Rading” Malabanan. The venue, a grassy space with bamboo columns and rafters draped with a big colorful “Tarapal” that shielded everyone from the afternoon sun and the rains whenever, is the site where the family puts up their tents during overnight campings. To start the program, Mrs. Maring Parungao welcomed everybody to the proceedings and gave a short talk about the age-old traditional ritual of the “Paawitan” in Sariaya. Then, the performers trooped to a table at the center of the venue with small glasses of “lambanog” and a big bowl of “Minukmok, that served as the “Pulutan”. While the rest of them were seated, Mrs. Aurita Obordo and Mrs. Lily Castro sang the “Paawitan” verses with the men while Mrs. Anglina Dedace and Mrs. Maring Parungao sashayed to the music each holding small glasses of “Lambanog”, which they gamely attempted to balance on their heads while the crowd clapped to the beat of the performance. Thereafter, they formed a line and sang the lively “Ikaw Ang Mahal Ko” for everyone to hear. UP College of Music mentor Dr. Verne de la Pena with the assistance of  two students from the Graduate School, recorded the live “Paawitan” sounds as part of their research into the indigenous sonic environment of Sariaya. This seeming “Aawitan Kita” set up minus Ms. Armida Siguon-Reyna, with mystic Mount Banahaw as beautiful backdrop was complemented by a hearty refreshment blessed first with a short prayer by STC President Rev. Fr. Andrew S. Hernandez. The hearty Sariayahin “Merienda” was made up of “Minukmok” and “Pancit Habhab”  served in “bilaos”, together with Biscocho and Pianono from Villamater’s Bakery, and ice cold “Palamig”, courtesy of Ms.  Girlie Alcala-Alcaneses, the  youngest daughter of Tia Esther. Ate Girlie’s beautiful sloping garden at the foot of Mount Banahaw proved to be an idyllic and unspoiled locale for this eventful undertaking. The proceedings included an impromptu ballroom dancing, greatly facilitated by Mr. Arturo Dedace Sr. who took care of the sound system, with the UP College of Human Kinetics Professors Gilda Uy, Minette Aguilar and Eloisa Marie Ulanday, together with the UP College of Music Graduate students Christine and Sol gamely becoming the dancing partners of the colorfully - plumed Yellow Belles, just as Prof. Toto de la Cruz,  Ms. Joy Quiambao and the rest of the research team looked on approvingly, and everybody had a wonderful time.

Truly and indeed, the Yellow Belles’ endearing appeal lies in their capacity to bring back the lost joys of Old Sariaya through their gatherings whenever and wherever. They may be fewer in number nowadays, just as they are  not that energetic and physically active anymore as they were eighteen years ago, but they still have that undiminished sense of “Joie de vivre” which they eagerly share in a very natural manner. Once when asked as to why she always walks with an “alalay” whenever she goes outside of her Magdami Ilaya house, yet can still dance as sprightly as she pleases, Mrs. Gregoria Luna – Bitong or Tita Goring said... “Aba’y  may tugtog ih, ay di ako’y napapasayaw!”. The eighty seven year - old erstwhile Physical Education Coordinator of Quezon Province cannot put it any better than that! You can even try asking Mrs. Veneranda  Albufera as to why despite all the inconveniences of her walking problems, step by painful step of the way, she can still manage to attend every Yellow Belles gathering... “Ay naku, harangan man ng sibat!” That unmistakable and unbridled  joy in their hearts brought about by togetherness and a sense of belonging  is what keeps them going for sure.

Tia Esther turned 89 on September 16, 2008 but opted to have the party that week end, September 22nd, a Saturday. The special day dawned clear and soon the sun came out which was a good start but the skies became cloudy and it rained a few hours before the appointed time of four in the afternoon. However, a makeshift tent was already in place at the terrace that was the extension of the living room as always and before long, the rain finally stopped. Family relation Ate Esper Tesoro provided the catering services once again and came to supervise and enjoy the party as well with a bonus treat, her delicious home-made “tamales”. A lap top computer was set on top of the piano that showed snapshots of the celebrant’s 88th birthday party in 2007 that featured, among others, a novel Flamenco dance number from her one and only grandchild Marissa. Her mother,  Ate Nini, enplaned from Bacolod a day before the town fiesta,  and took charge of  the parlor games as she had been doing since 2006, to add even more fun to the already fun affair. First was the trivia game and the tricky questions were prepared by none other than the celebrant herself, a sample of which was “Anong bagay ang maaaring gaw-in sa gab-i la-ang?” that yielded vague guesses as “managinip”,  “humigab” and “humarok”. The guesses were eating into the party time like insatiable “pac men” so after the customary question “Sirit na?, ”Tia Esther gave the right answer as “magpuyat”, that resulted in a babble of lilting “oo nga namans” from the newly-enlightened crowd! The next question was “Anong mga numero ang puwedeng bumuhat?” that yielded a very curt and smart answer from Mrs. Didi Pesigan... ”Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo!”, and amidst all the admiring applause, she won the very first prize of the evening, a medium-sized  bottle of Ate Girlie’s delicious, one-of-a-kind home-made strawberry jam with herbs, organically grown from her garden in Mamala. Indeed, we upstart younger ones cannot compete with the simple yet knowing wisdom of our more experienced old folks... agree?

The next game involved picking half-a-heart from a box and looking for the other half of it among everyone in the house, and those who found their better half-a-hearts won more bottles of organic, herbed strawberry jam which is great with  crackers. After the noisy and raucous brouhaha of it all, the golden ladies were asked to stand, choose their partners and waltz their way around the living room and when the music stopped, those closest to the chandelier for the first part, and to the seated celebrant much later won healthful prizes …… the freshest organically-grown produce from Ate Girlie’s Mamala farm like eggplants, big and heavy squash, string beans, carrots, “sayote” and the largest spinach plants that you ever saw in your whole life, which gave you the impression that they would have made you much stronger than Popeye the Sailor Man (Puff – Puff!)!

Sariayahin trivia game was next wherein questions about Sariaya were asked like “Ano ang dating pangalan ng Kalye Roriguez?” which Mrs. Didi Pesigan, who got the most number of prizes,  answered correctly as “Magtigas”, and she won a potted Euphorbia plant grown by Ate Vinya in Mamala. The very musical name-that-tune contest involved the help of Mr. Romy Albitos, who had been providing live piano music at Yellowbelles’ parties for years now. As always, he facilitated the community singing of our erstwhile forgotten Filipino classics as well as those old songs from the American colonial era like “Always”, which happened to be the theme song of Tio Turing and Tia Helen during their lovey-dovey sweetheart days of yore. The overjoyed mentors even got to sing their much-missed old danceable “Kundimans” over the piano, that inspired them to do sway balance steps in the process, and   this , in the heels of the  parlor game portion got them into a good mood for “Merienda”- time, thus automatically prompting Dedace “pamangkins” Tina, Gello, etcetera to aptly sway balance their way into the living room, bringing Maiz con Leche flavored Catanyag local dirty ice cream in cups together with birthday cake slices, to the delighted amusement of everyone! It would have been great  to go on and on with the party but it was getting late, and though the still sprightly ladies just wan’na have more fun, they simply can’t, as youthful feeling as they may all are in their 70s and 80s. Mrs. Maring Parungao thanked the celebrant for a wonderful evening and said that most likely, there will be greater fanfare to expect and more prizes to be won when Tia Esther turns 90 in 2009. Yet with the leave takings, Arturo Dedace  Junior announced over the microphone that the next Yellow Belles party would be on the occasion of the joint birthday party for his beloved parents, Tio Turing who will turn 85 the following Saturday, September 27th and Tia Helen about to be 79 on October 1st. Indeed, it was another celebration to look forward to, over at the Idea ancestral house at Magdami Street this time, and the overjoyed retirees were taken back to the warm confines of their homes care of Ate Vinya and Kuya Arthur, their cars seeming like modern carriages bringing our highly - spirited Cinderellas to their respective castles, a little less than three hours before the stroke of twelve midnight!

When they returned, it was the Baby Boomers turn to celebrate and sing those dearly beloved hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s, with a lot of help from Romy, likewise a Baby Boomer himself. Tia Esther, Tia Helen, Tio Turing and Tatay gamely sat on the sofa while the make - believe Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Everly Brothers, Monkees, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Turtles, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Bee Gees, Hair, Zombies, Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66, Carole King, Carpenters, etcetera took center stage. Like the Yellow Belles with their kind of sounds, it was fun to relieve the era of Yesterday, I Wan’na Be Free, McArthur  Park, Walk On By, Night And Day, Downtown and  Bus Stop with the Age of Aquarius/ Let The Sunshine, while Ates Nini and Vinya danced the Jerk and the Bossa Nova for emphasis, while on Top Of The World. It would have gone on and on likewise but the Fab Four on the sofa had better things to do obviously and so the jamming had to be continued with other fellow Baby Boomers, some other time...

If there is one thing that is very much associated with the Yellow Belles, then it had to be their sense of having fun and living life to the fullest. They had been blessed by being granted long lives and they spend what’s left of it in the spirit of togetherness, and indeed, they really know how to party! Like everyone else, they are living on borrowed time and the clock keeps ticking, but just like good old Leroy Anderson, they had it syncopated like in a jest, and they’ve been a lot happier ever since.