Perlas ng Silangan

       The outpouring of love and affection for her from her spiritual devotees and guests from different sectors of society made the day a memorable affair.  It was a whole day festival of rites, rituals, songs, and dances held at her spiritual enclaves in Natappian East Solana where an asalto of spiritual and religious songs by Christian serenaders greeted the celebrant in the early hours of the special day.  By late morning the celebration was carried over to Buntun, Tuguegarao, Cagayan for a day-long festival of activities that kept everyone in high spirits far into evening. 

       The guests started pouring in at Buntun, in little rivers of humanity, the tide growing bigger as the day progressed; guests, adherents, believers, Rizalistas arrived full force from everywhere.  From the three islands of Luzviminda, the officers of CELYO RIZAL were conspicuous in their all-white attires.  

       At lunch, vegetarian and seafood fares kept coming to everyone’s delight; The magic of vegetarian cookery by Paraiso chefs was savored to the hilt. The program included renderings of songs, dances, even poetry, and many surprise numbers spontaneously delivered.  By mid-afternoon and, surprising most of the guests, the whole studentry of the Natappian Elementary School from Solana arrived with their drum and bugle band, their principal and teachers to greet Reyna Yolanda and serenade her with songs and entertain her and everyone with a pageantry of originally-choreographed dances especially prepared for the occasion.  Pilipino native songs were sung and filled the air all day.   

       The SANGKAPP HUSAY dancers did finely choreographed original numbers, too, that focused on the cultural tradition of the ASEAN countries Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia which were recently visited by the celebrant in the course of her spiritual mission.  The festivities went well into early evening and was capped by the awarding of prizes to the youth winners of a community art contest that highlighted the creative use of indigenous materials.  The art contest concept was sponsored by Reyna Yolanda in line with her life-long support for the Filipino indigene.   It was the 17^th, a special day in February; it was Reyna Yolanda’s birthday.