Utzurrum: She’s 90 and loving it!

CELEBRATING 90 years is a privilege reserved for a lucky few, and one of them is the charming, scintillating personality that is Doña Felisa Yap de Chiongbian, widow of the late George Sr. and mom to the late George Jr. and Richard, her two sons.

FELISA with daughters-in-law Nenita and Urma Chiongbian (extreme left) with her six grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
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Tita Felisa, a term of endearment that she wants us all to use, was glittering and glowing in a gold gown with her gray-platinum hair, as she marched toward the chair of honor, beneath a huge life-sized tarpaulin of her at the mystical and magical age of 30—in a becoming, black strapless gown at that!

Tita Felisa is not only known for her glamorous looks and her keen business sense, but more and happily so, for her generosity and charitable involvements which have had far-reaching beneficiaries through the years!

Very recently, her Georich Livelihood and Learning Foundation turned 15 years and she looks back fondly at the hundreds of recipients of her bounty in the form of scholars, young and old, sent to Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, and sons and daughters of the trustees who were trained at the Banilad Study Center and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). Wards at the Asilo de la Milagrosa also
received educational assistance.

Going back to the celebration, Tita Felisa had special guest, His Eminence, former Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who is also a recipient of her generosity. No doubt, the good Cardinal blessed her with many more years.

Also, she was a member of various civic, religious groups and non government organizations who showered her with added good health and prosperity as well as prepared a surprise musical number for her enjoyment!

In the twilight of her years, Tita Felisa basks in the loving companionship of
daughters-in-law Urma B. Chiongbian and Nenita T. Chiongbian, six grandchildren and—hold your breath—14 great grandchildren!

Indeed, this privilege must be due to some of the precepts she lives by. Shall we quote a few lines: “The secret of life is to dare…the beauty of life is to give...the joy of life is to love.”

That’s her secret to living and loving at 90!

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Rhode Island, New York has been home to balikbayan Cebuana Theresian, Agnes Sotto-Bernardo for some time now. Recently, widowed, Agnes (Nessie, as friends fondly call her) surprised her gang here with a call, “When do I see you guys?" So after several text messages, the gang met for dinner at CYMA Restaurant, where the Greek food is not Greek to me, but savory and healthy!

Nessie still works as a laboratory assistant at a private clinic in New York, and by this time, also enjoys the apostolate of grandchildren!

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Another balikbayan was a Carolinian (USC graduate), California-based Mike Llaban, one of the four very popular and sought-after Llaban brothers of the '60s, who were known for their graciousness, gentlemanliness, good looks and social graces—and oh yes, being terrific on the dance floor!

Have you met the others? Samuel (may he rest in peace), Percival and Joel?

Anyway, his buddies, gals and guys, also lost no time in hosting dinner for him. Look at the photo. See anyone familiar?