Roselyn I. Alovera: With passion for dance and life
In solitude, Roselyn always acknowledge how
blessed she is for living her life fully in God’s grace
Roselyn Pador Isada Alovera doesn't at all look her 62-year-old self. When I first saw her at the "Love to Dance" competition held early this year, I was surprised that she competed in the Senior Citizens Category. She looked so young for her age. After all, her beauty and charm are coupled with the qualities of youth --- flawless skin, grace, agility and style.
Dancing had always been in her system. She's a passionate dancer and always aspires to learn new steps. She started dancing in her elementary days. In high school, she was one of the folk dancers who represented the Province of Aklan in the Western Visayas Athletic Meet in Bacolod City . The dance was "Habanera Botolena." In college, she's a member of the dance troupe under Luisa Parcon at the Iloilo Normal School where she graduated in 1964 and awarded "Best in Folk Dancing."
Ballroom dancing became her passion sometime in the 1980s. It gave her the euphoria and added bounce to her existence. Her love of music, she said, is more intense when dancing.
Apart from dancing, her hobbies include traveling to different countries, surfing the Internet and reading.
Roselyn and her children, all successful
Get to know more about her in this interview.
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): What's your favorite dance and steps. Why?
Roselyn I. Alovera (RIA): I love rhumba the most. The dance is so sensual. Its wide variety of tempos and the distinctive hip movement of rhumba called the "Cuban Motion" is so sexy. Latin American dances have this effect to most. It expresses one's sultry mood and passion in life. My favorite dance steps are rhumba box steps, change weights and hip movements . It's the most important element of rhumba. The hip motions and footworks seem to blend with the rhythm of the music. I instinctively feel being part of it all that dancing the steps is just a matter of course.
KMV: Who is your regular dance instructor?
RIA: Excino Diaz, a PE teacher at the Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion (CPC). He moonlights as a dance instructor and he's been my partner for almost 10 years now. He is accessible and always gives me his undivided attention. He is also open to suggestions and makes sure that the dance steps are suitable for my age that I can dance with ease and comfort.
Roselyn is a partygoer
KMV: How often do you dance?
RIA: I dance whenever I have the chance. I have a busy schedule but I see to it that I manage to dance at least twice a week. When I am home, I go to MVW in Roxas City . In Iloilo City , I go to Hotel del Rio and Cleopatra's Barge of Amigo Terrace Hotel to meet up with regulars there. When I am in Manila , I usually go to the Heritage Hotel, In The Mood or Bykes.
KMV: What would you like to see in the Iloilo ballroom dancing scene?
RIA: I like to see more elders dominating the floor dancing with dignity, pride, comfort, ease, grace and happy expressions on their faces. Dancing is a healthy form of living. Age is not a hindrance at all. If you think that dancing is tiring, hard and exhausting, then you will have to settle being old before your time.
Roselyn shows off her fit form in a blue gown
KMV: Moving on to fashion, are you particular about what you wear?
RIA: Yes. Like most women, I take extra effort in what I wear. Good clothes have a lasting effect and people will always remember how good you look at all times. I wear the proper clothes at the proper occasion. I am stickler to good fashion sense. When I dress, I do it for comfort and ease. I'm particular in the style, color and brand. The weather or climate is also a big factor in making me decide what style of dress or clothing I should wear.
KMV: If you're not partying, what's your usual get-up?
RIA: When at home or when I go to the beach, I wear shorts and T-shirts or matching tops. When I go out to the usual places like the malls, I wear casual jeans and blouse matched with loafers or sandals for my footwear and I carry matching bags.
KMV: Are you particular about brands? What brands do you prefer?
RIA: Yes. Each brand carries with it a distinctiveness that makes me feel special in a way. I particularly like the bags of our Filipino bag designer, Bea Valdez that goes with the label of "Bella." Her evening bag are must-haves and command $2,000 at the very least in America . Luckily, I was able to grab one when I was there at a much discounted price that time. From my travels abroad, I was able to collect authentic Louis Vuitton bags, Gucci handbags and purses, Nine West, Celine shoes, D&G Dolce & Gabbana pumps or sandals, Calvin Klein very high heels, DKNY purse, Cole Haan wallet and Kenneth Cole sandals. I was able to buy these items at discounted prices and some were gifts from friends and relatives.
Grace and passion at a younger age
KMV: Do you do ukay-ukay?
RIA: Yes. Some haberdasheries I got were from ukay-ukays. I was able to find an almost new Chanel bag when I was brought by my daughters to an outlet of ukay-ukay in Manila .
KMV: What items can we find in your bag?
RIA: Nothing of interest. The usual things that woman put in their bags --- hairbrush, wet ones, hand gel, Mac lipstick, Mac pressed powder, wallet, coin purse, cell phone, ball pen, fan, some medicines, candies, glasses, handkerchief and rosary.
KMV: Moving on to beauty, health and fitness. What's your beauty secret?
RIA: Clean living, healthy food habits, happy disposition in life and a lot of vitamins and green tea. I think young, so I feel young. I also start my day by thanking God for all the graces bestowed on me. My faith in Him and not having negative attitude contribute a lot in what you call my beauty secret.
KMV: How do you keep yourself healthy and fit?
RIA: I exercise for an hour daily. Health does not come by accident. It comes with a healthy perception and discipline. Ballroom dancing is also a good form of sweating out the body's toxins. I believe in the saying that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
KMV: Moving on to more personal matters, at what age did you become a widow? How was life like after that?
RIA: I was widowed when I was 37 years old, in 1983. My eldest daughter was in 3rd year high school and the youngest was only three years old that time. When my husband was living, our life was almost perfect. We had a close-knit family. He was a good provider and saw to it that we got what was needed. Sometimes, when he felt celebrating, he lavished us with things that we never expected. When he died due to a rare kind of cancer, things abruptly changed for us. Everything depended on my own ability to provide the kind of life my kids were accustomed of. For months and months I panicked but with God's grace, I managed to put everything in order.
I brought up my kids by myself. I was always absent from work because of school responsibilities. Three years later, I applied for early retirement so I could devote my time in raising my children. God has been helpful. If I needed something, the help just came. My family including my in-laws was very supportive. My ambition was to give each one of my children a good life and a bright future. Now they are successful and living their own lives. The eldest, Edrose Mae is an International Flight Attendant of PAL, the second, Edzel is Senior Director of Equifax Information Technology based in Georgia, the third, Edlynn migrated to Australia together with her husband and two kids, and is presently in Data Information, SALMAI Corp. in Melbourne, Australia and the youngest, Rozelle is in Mongolia and coming home this May. She's the System's Consultant of TATA Consultancy Services, Manila Dev. Center in Ayala, Makati .
KMV: Now that your children have their own lives, you're pretty much alone?
RIA: Yes. In life, when the children are all grown up, you will end up living alone. A maid accompanies me at home. But every night, my children and I would have a call conference.
KMV: What's keeping you busy?
RIA: I'm an active member of the Rotary Club of Metro Roxas Central. We have many activities and now our focus is on giving prosthetics to amputees. Under the "Project Lakat II", we have given 40 prosthetics already and will give 40 more. This club has more women members and we are all into ballroom dancing.
KMV: What's the best lesson you have learned in your life?
RIA: I learned that living as a true Christian and raising your kids to be better persons and always mindful of other peoples' concerns never fails to put a smile in your face each night before you sleep in preparation for another day. Success means something different to each one of us, but it comes to those who are willing to work hard and who continue to be dedicated to making their dreams come true. I am not afraid to grow old. In solitude, I always acknowledge how blessed I am for living my life fully in God's grace. I accept myself for what I am now. Regrets have no place in my heart. I always tell myself I can do better next time.