by Connie C. Triggiano
“All the world’s a stage,” according to William Shakespeare. But contrary to his famous line in Act 2, Scene 7, spoken by Jaques in the play “As You Like It,” all the men and women in Rizal Center’s Lots of Love cultural show on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 were not “merely players who made their exits and entrances.” In fact, the participants embraced the occasion with youthful confidence. They were magnificently splendid cultural performers — and they all “played many parts.”
To the delight of a full-house attendance, the same folks, seniors mostly, who troop to Rizal Center every Wednesday for the last three years for Kapihan (coffee klatch), bingo, and friendship and are spectators to many cultural presentations, were this time the ones who entertained the crowd as they demonstrated artistic abilities and showcased their huge reserve of latent talents.
A Stage Filled with Bayanihan and Kapwa
On that day, Rizal Center was transformed into a stage of laughter, music, storytelling, and heartwarming surprises as seniors took center stage in the aptly named “Lots of Love” Variety Show. Presented in partnership with Theatre for Elderly Action (TEA), the event proved that enthusiasm and creativity know no age limits.
From the opening remarks to the final curtain call, the atmosphere was one of pure delight and self-expression. Friends greeted each other warmly, the usual cliques gathered to cheer on performers, and the audience settled in for a morning that would celebrate not only talent but also the enduring spirit of community, bayanihan (people coming together for a common purpose), and kapwa ( a Filipino value of shared identity and humanity—recognizing that we are connected and that another person’s dignity and well-being matter as much as our own).
The program opened with an introduction to Theatre for Elderly Action (TEA), a group dedicated to providing opportunities for seniors to express themselves through the performing arts. The performances that followed demonstrated exactly why such opportunities matter.
What followed was not a polished professional production, nor was it intended to be. Instead, it was something far more genuine: a homespun showcase of self-confidence, courage, imagination, and joy. Many performers stepped onto the stage with only minimal rehearsals, relying on enthusiasm, camaraderie, and a willingness to have fun. Any forgotten lines, missed cues, or unexpected pauses were met not with embarrassment but with laughter, applause, and loud cheers. The audience understood that the true purpose of the afternoon was not to expect perfection but to belong, draw fun, and hilarious moments from the folksy spunk of its performers.
Poetry, Song, and Cherished Memories
Poetry and storytelling took the spotlight as Jimi Reyes recited his poem, “Sixteen” (immigrants’ experience of working 16 hours a day), drawing listeners into familiar memories and timeless reflections. The audience was then treated to a beautiful Visayan love song, “Usahay ” ( Visayan song about unrequited love, longing, and the bittersweet memories of a past romance), performed by Flora Calas, whose heartfelt rendition transported listeners back to cherished moments of youth and romance. Ellen Balmadrid responded with Kapantay ay Langit, a feel-good romance song.
Crowns, Comedy, and Confidence
The mood quickly shifted from sentimental to hilarious during the Comedy Fashion Show, culled straight from the Miss Universe Pageant, directed by Dorie Alfonso. The participating senior beauties (Esther, Mercy, Pam, Susan, Tippy, and Yoly) representing Hungary, Italy, Japan, China, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States strutted, posed, and entertained with playful confidence, proving that a sense of humor never grows old. The audience erupted in laughter at the performers’ antics and witty improvisations, and funny speeches, creating one of the most memorable segments. This appeared to be the widely anticipated segment as the senior girls embraced the occasion with gusto, proudly sashaying across the stage in elegant gowns, sparkling crowns, and colorful sashes. They posed with grace, waved like seasoned royalty, and delighted the audience with their charm and confidence. In those moments, age proved completely irrelevant. What mattered was the excitement of the performance and the joy of being celebrated.
Adding to the fun was Pedrito Mejorada’s Patawa/Kwento, blending humor and storytelling in ways that drew shrieks and hearty laughter throughout the room. Every irreverent punchline delivered with tender cheekiness seemed to resonate because it came from lived experience and a deep understanding of everyday life.
“O Ilaw”: Remembering the Harana
Music remained at the heart of the celebration. Traditional songs, beloved melodies, and cultural favorites filled the hall as performers shared pieces of Filipino heritage. A moving rendition of the kundiman classic “O Ilaw” by Esther Ogoc and Lalie Obedecin showcased the enduring beauty of Filipino music. This musical ditty is a vintage “harana,” a traditional Filipino courtship serenade in which a young man, often accompanied by friends, sings with guitar accompaniment, beneath a woman’s window at night to express admiration and romantic intentions. The practice is closely associated with older Filipino values of respect, patience, and formal courtship. Rather than directly asking an inamorata out, a suitor would use music and poetry to convey his feelings. The village swains are eventually invited to enter the house, but the lady would be tightly “guarded” by the family’s elderly members.
“Garet”: Finding Connection Far from Home
The audience was equally captivated by scenes from “Garet,” a play by Dr. Rey de la Cruz that highlights the Filipinos’ “homesickness, isolation, disconnection as well as dreams and conflicts” when a group of erstwhile strangers, performed by Cris Peñalosa, Osman Orozco, Joebart Sedonio, and Zeny Hanke, found themselves caring for an ailing Filipino named Garet not related to any of them, in the midst of a brutal winter evening in Chicago. While just an excerpt, the short presentation blended humor, humanity, and theatrical flair, drawing enthusiastic applause.
The Joy of Being Celebrated
Throughout the morning, it became clear that the performers were delightfully oblivious to any concerns about age or appearance. They sang, danced, recited poetry, told stories, pirouetted on stage like svelte beauties, and shared laughter with complete abandon. The focus was not on how they looked but on the pleasure of performing and the connection they created with the audience. Rizal Center echoed with applause, laughter, and cheers as seniors and younger attendees alike shared in the festivities.
Though not the work of seasoned professionals, the event held on to its ramshackle charm. It proved to be a thoroughly delightful experience.
Connie Triggiano is currently Board Secretary of Circa-Pintig, a Chicago community theater organization. She works as Academic and English tutor assisting foreign students to pass IELTS, TOEFL, Celpic, ESL and other English exams to gain admission to universities in English speaking countries. She also trains greencard holders to pass US citizenship exams and interview. She worked for many years as Vice-President of Chicago-based Leo Burnett Advertising in its Manila office where she managed the advertising accounts of the country’s biggest brands: Procter & Gamble, Pepsi Cola International, BPI, Vicks, Wyeth and Cathay Pacific. She edited a travel newspaper in Singapore and taught college freshmen in a local university. Connie graduated with a BA degree, major in English, from the University of San Francisco in California while working as an information officer for a United Way agency. She took up MS in Advertising at the Asian Institute for the Development of Advertising, UST Graduate School.
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