She too could have danced all night, but she chose not to.
She had all the reasons to have a grand birthday celebration with all the glitz and the glamor befitting a personality like her but she opted not to. Oh yes, she's a celebrity in her own right, very influential too and with proven track record of mobilizing thousands of people to join her for a cause or for simply, gathering together out of sheer admiration, loyalty and love.
But at 60 years old, this woman chose to celebrate this new chapter in her life with family members, her children on her side and most especially, all her grandchildren ---all 12 of them!
Some friends were there too, a handful.
Cherry Cobarrubias is no stranger to anything grand. She's also not a stranger to anything subtle and subdued. But now that she's officially on the bracket of a very strong and potent force in our society called Senior Citizen's she looked back at all the 60 years that passed with nothing but gratitude in her heart.
Her message to her family, children, grandchildren and friends gathered to share the moment with her was simple but very very meaningful, encapsulating what life's journey is about.
"Sa inyo mga anak ko, sa inyo mga apo ko, huwag na huwag ninyong kalilimutan na bumuo ng magagandang alaala. Ito ang magtatawid sa inyo sa inyong pagtanda. Kapag inabot ninyo ang idad ko, kapag binalikan ninyo ang nakaraan sa inyong buhay,masusumpungan ninyo ang kakaibang kalakasan sa paggunita sa lahat ng mga bagay na magaganda at masasaya kasama ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay. Magmahalan kayong magkakapatid hanggang sa inyong pagtanda, sa habang panahon ng inyong buhay," in Filipino this is what she said. ("To my children, my grandchildren, do not ever forget to build good memories. These memories will see you through when you grow old. If you reach my age, if you look back at the years that passed you by, you will find a different kind of strength in remembering everything that's beautiful and happy. Love one another until your reach old age, love one another, every day of your lives.")
I could list 60 reasons that make this woman's journey, remarkable and meaningful.
But I will state only one. Her unwavering faith in God's power over her life. "Magtiwala kayo sa Diyos ng walang pag-aalinlangan, ang buhay ninyo ay galing sa KANYA, bakit NIYA kayo pababayaan?" ("Trust in the Lord God with all your heart and with no doubt. Your life came from HIM, why will HE forsake you?"
Cherry Cobarrubia's story is one exceptional journey if only hers will be turned into a book for everyone to read, there's no doubt in my mind that she will inspire others to take life's journey the way she did.
One day, that book will come out.
That's my fervent wish as a friend and as her "inaanak" ("godchild") who is just one of the many lives she touched and inspired.(end)
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