IT was a grand celebration for the 90th birthday of Martina “Beling” Go Ching Hai, the grand matriarch of the Go Ching Hai clan. She basked in the love and attention of her family, and the respect and admiration of her friends during her birthday dinner at the Grand Convention Center.
All accounted for were her three children—daughters Paulette Gail and Nellie, and son Edward, and their families.... Paulette and Jasper Tan with daughter Jasmine; Nellie and Antonio Chiu with children Janice, Jillian and Jason; Edward and Eleanor Hayco with Edelaine and Romel, Erika, Evangeline and Domiku, and Evonne.
For entertainment, Edward arranged dance numbers from his Dancesports Team while Nellie coordinated the book launch of “Forward” (Federated Organization of Women Active & Responsive to Development), the pet project of her Mom.
“Forward” is the umbrella organization of women civic groups with the purpose “of developing a community of environment preservation, safeguarding our natural resources, specifically the trees and the forests, and bringing together man and Mother Nature.” It was conceptualized by founders Martina “Beling” Go Ching Hai and Dr. Milagros Espina, both tireless civic leaders. The book is a walk-through of the journey of “Forward” from its conception till today.... how the seeds they planted have now grown into trees and I mean both the seeds of environmental protection which have become a major concern of civic groups, and the plant seedlings which have become full-grown trees.
The book launch was a dream come true for the cheerful Tita Beling who at 90 is still witty, vibrant and committed to environmental issues.