A Once-in-a-lifetime Velada

Our Velada has been over for some time now and yet we can still feel symptoms of withdrawal, hangover, and/or a combination of happiness and depression, two extreme emotions alternating with each other. What's more, just hearing the song "Clarity" or "Treasure" gets us on our feet and sets us to dancing our well-rehearsed choreography.How can just two nights of dancing together, in front of our family, friends, and Assumption community, have such a lasting and powerful effect on us all? Well, there were some who warned us. That the Velada experience is unique, once-in-a-lifetime, and some have even said it can even change your life. For those not from AC, you might be wondering what a Velada is. "Velada" is actually a Spanish term that means "musical evening", "party" or "soiree". For us in the Assumption community, the Velada is what we call our jubilee celebration. It used to be called "Old Girls' Day" but eventually evolved when the program became more of a musical number for all celebrating batches, most especially the "Silvers"- those who graduated 25 years ago.Our batch was blessed to have dedicated and hardworking leaders in Maricar Lopez-Tiangco, our batch head, Bubu Antonio-Andres and Mary Faye Rodriguez- Garcia, among many others who took up different roles all throughout. Since our 10th year anniversary, they were already planning, planning, planning. We had numerous fundraising activities leading up to our big Velada day, so much so that by the time our jubilee year came, we already reached our target/ "quota" amount: our donation which would be turned over to our alma mater, to support Assumption's mission schools. Because of Maricar, Bubu and Mary, we had all these activities well-planned for and implemented since our 15th year get together-- 2004 Badminton Tournament, 2011 Rewind Concert at the Strumm's, 2012 True Faith concert and Auction at the Rockwell Tent. We even had specially produced merchandise that were sold, also to raise additional funds like our AC Nightshirt designed by Mariel Vera Go, pillows, bears and even an Assumption Swatch!So after all the fundraising, conceptualizing and preparation, the big day was set for October 19 and 20 and our chosen theme was Assumpta Infinitas.the theme infinitas:Based on our batch motto, FIAT, which means, "Lord, thy will be done"So did the Velada change my life? After being as active as I could POSSIBLY be (and not even as much as I had WANTED to) in my own Velada, I would shout a big YES to that question!It would be OA to say the changes are as dramatic as other major milestones in our lives, BUT the experience of reconnecting and spending time again with people who I have known since childhood, going through a new experience with them, and with an openness and consciousness of a now 40-something, no longer a teen, brings an overflow of self-realization, sense of inner peace and the most unexpected takeaway is just having so much gratitude in my heart.SELF REALIZATION.Having studied in Assumption since Prep, a good number of my high school batchmates were people I've known almost all my life (as in, since 6 years old!). Besides my siblings, they are women I grew up with, people who knew me at the most innocent (or ignorant), most awkward (or embarrasing) and also the possibly most glorious moments of my youth. They know some of my secrets, my quirks, joys and heartaches, from the trivialities like what my favorite baon was back then to the somewhat deep like who my biggest crush was (deep na yon in high school levelz)! In other words, these people know the "ME" of many many years ago. It made me remember that I was quite shy in high school, that while I had a lot of friends, I would confine myself to small groups or just individuals I trust. So now, even if some friends have come and gone, some bonds were closer before than now, renewing these relationships in this cherished experience of spending time with them while working together towards one goal,having the chance to have fun and fool around like the old times,do A LOT of reminiscing and look back at the years we had together...made me realize just how much I've grown and changed through the years. That even as I've matured, and become more confident and have improved as a person, I am still, in the end, the same person deep down, to my very core, so we can laugh, have fun, and connect as if high school was just yesterday.PEACE. School is a child's second home and teachers, are like a child's parents. The Velada was like going back home-- not only to a place that is comfortable or to people who are familiar, but to my roots. With all the activities that came with the Velada, I realized that my roots, the foundation I had in AC is strong- the solid values within, people who will always have my back, plus a faith in God that I can hold on to no matter where life leads me. This validation gave me a strong sense of peace.Relearning and reciting the teachings of our school foundress and now Saint Marie Eugenie made me reassess and refresh my own life goals.Bubu and Mary turning over our batch gift to the school, a mosaic artwork of the foundress of the Assumption, Saint Marie Eugenie...GRATITUDE. After the finale, my heart overflowed with gratitude. To my school which gifted me with an education that to me is special and distinct. While other schools focus on academic achievement, or would measure success in social, economic or political achievements, my school has always stressed simplicity, constantly putting value on instilling social awareness, social action, meaningful work, using our blessings and talents towards a greater good. Seeing my batchmates and learning what we have all been up to, I know we have been molded well by our beloved AC sisters and teachers. Some were present that day like--Mrs. Reambilloand Sr. CarlaI was also filled with gratitude to my parents for giving me the gift of education, and choosing this school for me. (I, along with 11 other cousins/ sisters all went to AC and I thank my Mom's eldest sister Auntie Daisy for choosing AC for our eldest cousin because everyone else followed suit!)I am grateful for the friendships that I know will surpass time and space. PJ and Pauline, two of my closest friends--My twinny Pauline!Andrea and Tin who eventually became my blockmates in UP (missing Liza B)My bestie cousin Candy who has always been like a sister to me. She didn't join the dances because she had just given birth, but was there to support us all the way!My section 2 classmates who were thereMy sister-in-law Tonette who took such good care of me, brought me dinner every single night, reserved my place when I was absent then didn't get mad when I gave up my spot! Thanks sis!AfterMy old friend Jenny who learned all the steps in maybe 2 days. You still got it Jen!:)Fia, my partner who was also such a great dancer!Simon, who was my angel ride from Greenbelt and also would shout "Step!" to remind me of dance steps!Our patient choreographers, and dance masters like Gia (in lavander) who would give codes to each dance step so that our epidural-laden brains will absorb and remember better. (Punch, punch, away, away....)It was also special having the next generation (our kids) dance and celebrate with us on stage...The kids during practice (my Reese on far right)and just all my batchmates who were so much fun to be around again.Prior to the big nights, we were practicing for months- at first once a week, then twice, then more and more frequently as the Velada weekend neared. The most difficult thing was to be out so frequently on evenings- you know how we as moms need to stay home and be with our children and families. It took a lot of understanding and support from all our hubbies and kids, and because they knew how much it meant to us, they were all supportive till the end.So THANK YOU to my husband Gary and kids for supporting me and gave me the time to be active in the Velada, and came in full force to watch, including my mom in law and even my brother-in-law Bernie from the Statesmy beautiful mothers- mom and mom-in-law and kuya bernieand my "twin sis" Sue Ann who was present! Sue belongs to batch '89 and will have her own Velada next year! photo with reese and her BFF, sue ann's daughter sydneyMy brother Tan was also in the audience with Zoe and Jake but wasnt able to have a photo taken with them.So after all the hard work, non-dancers became dancers for a night. In our shimmer and glitter, our big smiles ("with space!"), calling out steps, singing aloud "You are a piece of me....",I have never (ever!) done a dance performance (ever!) in my life so these photos of myself showing how much I enjoyed onstage, moving my body (!) and having fun is something totally unexpected and just makes me feel blessed and joyful that I was able to do it! So please bear with the many photos of myself because I'm putting them here for posterity!OPENING NUMBER:we..run the world... girls.infinitas in us. forever80ssongs from our teens, nostalgiaPINOYsugod laban walang susukoTHIRD NUMBERthis is the part of me that you'll never ever take away from meFINALEWith the very smooth and cool Carla"Dont stop believing. heaven's got a plan for you...."Feeling like rockstars with all the confetti and lights...Our batch velada was full of meaning for us all, touched us all in different ways. I am forever thankful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and look forward to seeing each other again in another five years.---Our Velada was also featured in Heart-to-Heart Online. Thanks Rica for such a great and touching post. We are blessed to have your sis as our President!:)From Philstar http://www.philstar.com/allure/2013/11/10/1254807/assumpta-infinitas---If you're from a younger batch in AC and you are still contemplating on whether or not to be active in your Velada, watch this great video from Batch '87 (which was headed by my super passionate friend Lala Dy). Be active or you might regret it!Click here to watch!---Thank you to Gary, Pauline, Tricia, Simon for the photos and Rica de Jesus for the videos!