Who’s a celebrity? Or what is a celebrity? Maybe everyone, at least those who celebrate history.

And so the exhibit continues, and many thank those who asked for an extension. We’ve had loads of eager visitors since as many have requested appointments through the foundation’s channels and requests conveyed to family and staff.

One day we get the glitter and grit of stalwarts we’ve come to know in journalism. It was the second time for Ces Drilon, and a first for Pinky Webb and Yvette Novenario, the latter currently the general manager of TicketWorld. Their guide was the exhibit’s curator, Karmina Constantino-Torres.

The women, busy ones each, come together periodically to break bread, to share insights and questions, celebrations of common people overcoming steep odds or leaders actually leading, as well as sadnesses encountered or anticipated as they witness governance fail or fall apart, and laughter, a lot of laughter, as citizens of a country still struggling to find its footing after all the decades of tripping and tripping. They’ve seen much of what life has to offer, and they know they’ve only met a fraction of what’s out there, and so they celebrate one another, most of all. And the exhibit named after a generational Filipina, a generational intellect named Letizia Roxas Constantino. And in the common words used by Ces, Pinky, Yvette, and yes, Karmina, they were moved.

We received good friends, colleagues, and new acquaintances as well when folks from Action for Economic Reforms (AER) came over to see what a lot of people have been talking about. Founded in 1996, Team AER brought their own glitter and grit as the young ones were accompanied by their head, Men Sta. Ana, who has seen the exhibit twice now, and veteran development advocate Jeck Cantos.

They discovered Letizia up close and personal, as the spoken words of her grand- and great grandchildren echoed throughout the gallery accompanied by the music of the pianist and writer herself, recorded on CD by her grandson, DENR Undersecretary CP David. The clothes she wore, her advice on love and careers, and of course, her observations about the politics and economics employed or ignored by a country whose successive governments have zigzagged through fortune and towards small and big disasters, slouching in its trust of doctrines while the economy frayed, and its people queued up in pursuit of their future–in other shores.

We’ve had a lot historians visiting the gallery. Weeks ago, it was the second time for Prof. Bernard Karganilla, who dropped by once more to enjoy the exhibit, this time without crowds, and he was joined by a young friend who the foundation will work with more closely in the later months this year – Lakan Uhay Alegre, who is helping manage the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society and whose post-graduate work on social studies deserves a lot of people’s attention.

It’s always insightful when one is with Prof. Karganilla, and from their visit we hatched plans to launch the coming special 50th anniversary hardbound edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited in Manila as well as Tacloban.

We certainly enjoyed the company of Tony and Nanette Fernandez, when the former, who used to play the piano, chose to see the exhibit as part of his birthday celebration in June. They were once with the UN Regional Development group based in Nagoya. Tony’s father used to walk with Letizia and Nanette’s mum knew her as well.

Celebrities—those who celebrate memory and our country’s past—we are surrounded by them, and maybe, hopefully, we become lifelong celebrators of history, too.