Attending Chary’s Party

Saturday, January 21, 2012

“A WOMAN’S beauty at seventy is her own soul’s doing,” penned an anonymous writer.

Indeed, it is for Rosario “Chary” Lizares Coo. Her grand seventieth birthday party at La Proa 2 at L’ Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City last January 12, 2012 was a gathering not only of family and relatives but also of friends and classmates, even from grade school, and high school.

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The intimate gathering was a time of warm homecoming and small reunion of one hundred guests who took time out to be with one fine lady who has grown more beautiful and wise as she is blessed by years of good health, gentle family and sincere friends.

The eldest in the brood of five children of the late Auterio Alunan Lizares and Magdalena Castaneda Benitez-Lizares, Chary deserves all the affectionate presence and genial wishes of her family and friends, after having been away from the country since 1967.

After finishing her Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Banking and Finance from the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos (then Occidental Negros Institute), Chary had her short stint working at Atty. Babes Estrella’s law office.

But God has greater plans for the kind-hearted Chary. An office job with Gulf Air- Canada presented a better option, and a stepping stone to a more lucrative, administrative career at the World Health Organization at Washington, D. C. Such managerial job molded Chary’s professional life and carved the best of her career years, until she retired last 2008.

Long years to be far away from home, family and friends, indeed. But the loving ways we sculpt in the hearts and minds of people endear us to them. As Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched; they are felt by the heat”. So even if Chary comes home to the Philippines every now and then, she may not have the chance to meet all those wonderful people in her birthday party.

Thus , her younger sister, Leda Lizares-Dionson and close family friend, Julie Soy, upon the initiation of Chary’s dear husband, Vicente Coo, planned the magnificent party. Friends and classmates of Chary since elementary and high school were invited. And close relatives and friends were sent invitations, too. Only the presence of the ones invited is asked, no more, no less of a fantastic and valuable gift to the celebrant.

And to the magical waft of the early evening entered the striking presence of the woman in gold gown accompanied by her husband. Through the lyrics and tune of the “Lady In Red” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” sang by Nestor, the versatile one-man band, Chary Lizares-Coo drifted among her guests, proffering them light kisses, warm hugs, and sincere “thank you’s” for coming.

After grandchildren Lev Henrique and Eia Isabelli Eseller offered the bouquet of roses and gift to their “mama”, the party poppers went off, “happy birthday” was sung and wine was offered to wish long life for the celebrant. Escorted by her husband towards her simple fondant birthday cake, Chary made her silent wishes then blew the 7 candles symbolizing the magnificent 70 years of her gift of life.

Chary’s high school chum Dolly Macainan intoned a very heartfelt prayer and grace before we feasted on the abundant and sumptuous food prepared by the L’ Fisher staff.

Kind and loving words are really fine gems for the heart. Chary’s husband, Vic, started the giving of tribute to Chary. Younger sister, Leda Liares-Dionson, shared with everybody the affectionate ways her “manang” loved and cared for her. Julie Soy, talked about the so many ways Chary had extended help to her and her family. And classmate Mepa Quebrar-Conde shared vignettes of the years she had spent with Chary during high school.

And when the woman of the hour spoke her heart’s contents of gratitude and love for all who have made her birthday celebration possible, Chary also took time to enumerate the personas who really have gladdened her spirit: her husband Vic; sister Leda and her family; her classmate in elementary Fe Guarino who was there; her high school friends and classmates; her teacher in college Mrs. Lourdes Mirasol; her Tyay Purita Lizares-Tiongson, the only living sister of her dad; the Lizares family; friends from Nevada who came all the way to Bacolod, Mr. & Mrs. Ray Hamil; cousin Renee Garbanzos, who had her ticket re-booked just to be with her; her pilot nephew-in-law, Marlowe Eseller, who had to take the last flight from Manila, and his family; and the list continues.

But really, from the abundance of Chary’s heart, gratitude and love really overflowed.

And atypical of any birthday party, the celebrant was the one who gave out tokens for her guests. Truly an amazing way to share God’s graces to a woman of seventy!

Chary may have to go back to Nevada and live a serene life there. But her days would still be framed by her daily household chores, her active participation in the church’s activities, and her charitable works among Filipinos in the U.S.

But the memory of her 70th birthday celebration would always be ingrained in her heart and mind. Moreover, home always beckons. And though this would mean coming home to the Philippines, and Bacolod once every year, still Chary’s heart will always be among her people - because they’re but part of her real home and her very soul.

And my attending Chary ’s party is not only one big opportunity to know her, and an honor, but a chance to be part of the bigger scheme of the heart and life of a woman Rosario “Chary” Lizares-Coo.

And to you, Ms. Chary, thank you and “may each passing day moment bring a song as pure as angels sing, but may there be above all things, a peace that only God can bring”. God bless you.