Sun.Star matriarch Severiana Biaño Garcia, better known as Ma’am Ever, was feted with a grand 90th birthday celebration (March 1, 2006) by children Julius and Nelia Neri, Elma and Noppadon Muangkroot, Jesus Jr. and Armi Garcia, Alvin and Ninette Garcia, Zenda and Iman Lat, Joyce and Paquito Dizon, Gina and Caesar Atienza, and Dale and Doreen Garcia at the Arctic Room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Also in attendance were most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren who joined their elders in making the celebration for their beloved Mama Ever a success.

Heading the list of invited guests was His Eminence, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Also present were former governor Pablo and Inday Garcia and daughter Governor Gwen, and relatives from Mandaue, Dumanjug, and Barili, Ma’am Ever’s colleagues in the various civic organizations she was involved in like the Girls Scouts and the Sandigan Foundation (both of which gave her plaques of recognition), the Society of the Crippled Children, the Catholic Women’s League and the parish council, as well as the Inner Wheel Club.

And because she taught at the then Cebu Normal School (now University) and served as its registrar, its president, Ester Velasquez, came to the party with the University Choir to serenade Ma’am Ever. Also serenading her was Dr. Warfe Engracia whom, believe it or not, she joined in the songs she knew!

WITH THE MEMBERS of the Sandigan Foundation where Ever was president for a long time. (from left) Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, adviser; Lita Ortiz, Inday Avila, Bebe Alcoseba, Belen Japzon, Lucy Segura, Linda Pilares and Anita Cabahug Trasmonte.

The short program in the celebrator’s honor included dance numbers from the Cebu Dancesport team, a roaring twenties number from her daughters Nelia, Elma, Zenda, Joyce and Gina, and a taped tribute in verse by granddaughter-in-law Ana Escalante Neri and recited by the great grandchildren, a fitting tribute to a mentor, educator, loving mother and wife (to the late Jesus Garcia Sr.), friend and civic leader who always had “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Surely, she also has a heart large enough to place in each their niche, everyone whom she has loved, mothered, taught and guided, all she has touched in 90 years of a life lived fully and well. May she have many more years of guiding, sharing and loving!

MOTHER AND SON, former Mayor Alvin Garcia leads Mama to centerstage.     MOTHER AND DAUGHTER in resplendent pose, Nelia and Ever

THE GIRL SCOUTS GROUP where Ever was the Cebu Council President and Visayas Regional Chairman.

HIS EMINENCE Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal hands a plaque for Ever from the Sandigan Foundation.

GENERATIONS of the Garcias smile.

ELDEST SON Sonny Garcia, wife Armi and cousin Governor Gwen Garcia.

THE FIVE DAUGHTERS dancing for Mama (from left) Elma, Gina, Nelia, Joyce and Zenda.

THE FAMILY (from left) Armi and Sonny, Doreen and Dale, Gina and Caesar, Zenda and Iman, Julius and Nelia, Paquito and Joyce, Elma and Nop and Ninette and Alvin.

JOINING IN Dr. Iman Lat, Dr, Warfe Engracia, Elma, Zenda and Joyce lead Ma'am Ever in singing "Kamingaw sa Payag."   FORMER GOVERNOR Pablo Garcia, brother-in-law of the celebrant.