Charo Santos kay Boots Anson-Rodrigo: OMG! This is Mama Mary in person!

King Rodrigo, Boots Anson-Roa-Rodrigo, Charo Santos, Barbie Forteza at Nestor Cuartero

IN FAIRNESS, sa edad na 81, kering-keri pa ring makipaghatawan sa pagsasayaw ang showbiz icon na si Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo.

Nitong nagdaang January 30 ay nag-celebrate nga ng kanyang ika-81 kaarawan si Tita Boots na ginanap sa Kalayaan Hall ng Club Filipino sa Greenhills, San Juan City.

Present sa selebrasyon ang butihin niyang asawang si Atty. Francisko "King" Rodrigo, ang kanyang mga anak at mga apo iba pang kapamilya at mga kaibigan sa entertainment industry.

Kabilang sa mga celebrities na nakisaya sa birthday ni Tita Boots ay ang mga co-stars niya sa latest movie niyang "Until She Remembers" na sina Charo Santos-Concio at Barbie Forteza. Ito'y mula sa direksyon ni Brillante Mendoza.

Kasabay din ng bonggang selebrasyon ay ang launching ng libro ni Tita Boots na may titulong "Grateful" kung saan mababasa ang makulay at inspiring na life story ng award-winning veteran star.

Sinimulan ang programa sa pamamagitan ng pag-aabot ng mga bisita sa birthday celebrator ng white rose na may kabuuang bilang na 81. 

Kabilang sina Barbie, Miss Charo, at ang isa pang veteran actress na si Nova Villa sa mga huling nagbigay ng white rose kay Tita Boots habang nagsasayawan ang lahat sa saliw ng "Dancing Queen."

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A post shared by Charo Santos- Concio (@charosantos)

Naroon din ang AKTOR President na si Iza Calzado kasama sina Maricel Laxa, Isay Alvarez, at Robert Seña.

At siyempre, ang huling nag-abot ng ika-81 na white rose kay Tita Boots ay ang asawa niyang si Atty. King na siya ring publisher ng librong "Grateful." Kasunod nga nito ang pagkanta ng lahat ng "Happy Birthday" sa tono ng folk song na "Paru-parong Bukid."

Kasunod nito, game na game na nakisayaw ang beteranang aktres sa kanyang mga kapamilya at in fairness uli, walang bakas ng pagkapagod at pagkahingal na makikita sa kanya pagkatapos ng kanilang production number.

Sa isang bahagi ng programa, nagbigay naman ng mensahe kay Tita Boots si Miss Charo kung saan inalala niya ang magagandang memories nila bilang magkaibigan.

"Happy birthday, Tita Boots! Thank you very much for the friendship.

"Now let me explain why I call Miss Boots Anson-Roa 'Tita Boots' kahit na 10 years lang po ang difference ng edad namin.

"You know, I first met Tita Boots when I was 17 years old. So she was 27. I'm originally from Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

"And when my family moved to Manila, I was requested to join the pageant Miss Green Race [1974]. This is a project of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos. It was called the Green Revolution.

"Sa mga kabagets natin, siguro you must have heard about it, 'no? So on the night of the finals, all the finalists were asked to stand in line and greet the judges.

"Tita Boots was there. She was with the late Fernando Poe Jr. And when I saw her, I felt like I saw an apparition of Mama Mary.

"Wala pong biro. Talagang nakanganga ako. Sabi ko, 'Oh, my god! This is Mama Mary in person!'

"You know, because her aura was so radiant. Her light was really shining through and she was so pretty and so elegant. And Tita, that image is still here.

"And I'm very proud to say that she was the one who crowned me Miss Green Race," sabi ni Miss Charo kasunod ang palakpakan ng mga bisita.

Certified fan din daw siya ni Tita Boots at napanood daw niya ang mga TV show at pelikula ng kaibigan tulad ng "Wanted: Perfect Mother" (1970), "Santiago" (1970), "Ang Uliran: Imelda" (1970), "Tatay na si Erap" (1972), "Ander Di Saya si Erap" (1973), "Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae" (1975), at ang ipinrodyus ng Star Cinema na "May Minamahal" (1993).

Pagpapatuloy ni Miss Charo, "As an actress, Tita Boots was very professional. She's consistently prepared, disciplined and respectful on the set.

"Never arrogant. Despite her stature, she treats everyone as an equal. Kaya bagay talaga sa kanya na maging pinuno ng Mowelfund (Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc.). Dahil napakalakas po ng empathy niya for other people," sabi pa niya.

"Tita Boots speaks with clarity. With intention. With kindess. She listens deeply and responds with empathy.

"And when facing personal loss, career transitions, or public scrutiny, she carries herself with composure, steady and dignified.

"Really, she's a picture of grace under pressure. And even after decades in the industry, she continues to approach acting with curiosity and respect.

"Proving that growth doesn't stop with age. I think, our recent project, Until She Remembers, is a wish fulfillment for the both of us," aniya pa.

Samantala, nagbahagi rin siya ng ilang detalye tungkol sa pag-manifest nila ni Tita Boots na makagawa ng movie together kung saan gumaganap silang lovers.

"Not as sisters, not as mga tita, but as special friends. Lovers at a time when it was frowned upon by society," ani Miss Charo.

"It's a beautiful story and I hope you get to catch it in the cinemas. It's opening on February 25. It is directed by…talagang nag-plug na ako – Direk Brillante Mendoza.

"To me, the most important quality of Tita Boots is she is a genuine person. She doesn't perform a persona off camera.

"And this authenticity builds trust and leaves a lasting impact," kuwento pa niya.

Bago tuluyang tapusin ang kanyang mensahe, inanyayahan ni Charo ang lahat na tumayo at itaas ang kanilang mga baso, "Tita Boots, thank you very much for all the qualities of a good person that we emulate about you.

"We wish you the best. We wish you much, much happiness! And much, much more love from Tito King and your family.

"And many more wonderful adventures! Thank you very much, Tita Boots. Happy birthday! Cheers!!!"

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