Sunshine Place celebrates 10 years ‘THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN’

This September, Sunshine Place celebrates 10 years of joy, creativity and, well, sunshine in the lives of its members. As part of the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation, it has become a place for discovering hidden talents, sharing memories and making friends for seniors and their families and friends.

Tess Castaneda, 74, calls it her happy place.

“By joining various activities like dancing, workouts, art classes and more, I had the opportunity to lead an active lifestyle for the overall wellness of mind, body and soul. I also was able to socialize with members and gain new friends.”

Here members and instructors share with us their stories of sunshine.

Art is for all ages

Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo says the Sunshine Place came to her at just the right time. She had just turned 70, and after a fast-paced life in the diplomatic circle as the wife of a former ambassador, she “was looking for a place where I could search for whatever creative talent” she may have.

This woman of style found it in the Sunshine Place which was “delightfully so close to my residence,” and would take her granddaughters to her painting classes. Ella, who was then six years old, showed much interest and excelled in it. Today, Lala, as she is called, and Ella share many creative moments painting together.

As a bank executive and later executive director of SM Foundation, Linda Atayde says she “grew up believing I had no artistic bone in my body.” That was until she enrolled at the Sunshine Place’s Ikebana Flower arrangement class. That led to many other creative pursuits including writing memoir and short story writing.

During the pandemic, she, along with other classmates, managed to stay happy, healthy and optimistic with “online classes in dancing, studying French and Spanish, Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises.” Today, her granddaughter Mandy joins her in the Sunshine Place’s art classes. “We cannot overemphasize the benefits we gained from our active participation in the activities of the Sunshine Place,” she says.

The write stuff

Many members were also surprised to find their voice in writing workshops at the Sunshine Place, especially those conducted by Oscar Penaranda and Dr. Joem Antonio.

Antonio, who has won eight Don Carlos Palanca awards for plays and short stories, says “it has been a great pleasure to conduct workshops in Sunshine Place. There is something about the venue that draws very interesting people in.”

In the times that he has given workshops there, he has met “grandmothers, doctors, fellow artists and many others who arrived initially just to learn to write stories; one of them, I ended up collaborating in different book projects.” In all those workshops, Sunshine Place “has always felt hospitable and conducive to writing. It is, as its name does suggest, a place of sunshine in the city.”

Although he is based abroad, writer and educator Penaranda, who has taught, influenced and inspired several generations of Filipinos in the US and Canada, still finds time to visit Sunshine Place for workshops from time to time.

“I cannot speak for my students how they were changed by taking their writing classes at Sunshine,” he says. But from what he hears from them, “the sessions helped them discover themselves in multiple levels, helped them be clear, conscious and succinct, and precise in their writing, helped them in their outlook and discovery of a meaningful existence. Two years ago, he worked together with them to put together a book, Reflections in Light and Shadow, An Anthology of Short Memoirs.

Chit Mijares Chua, who has taken writing workshops under Penaranda and Barbara Gonzales, says she likes the quiet joy and lightness of Sunshine Place. “Confidence, productive me-time, courage to step out of the box, peace, gaining a friend or two. Sunshine Place gives me those,” she says.

The healing power of music

Music therapy instructor Czarina Cruel says that the Sunshine Place has been her second home for one and a half years, and “I am having the time of my life.” She says music therapy “is a journey of a thousand steps, faces, experiences and realizations in this corner of the sky with a burst of music, laughter and, yes, SUNSHINE.”

One of her students, Harvey Chua, says that Sunshine Place brings the sunshine in her life especially since her husband’s passing six years ago. Here, she meets up with friends and gets involved in activities to make her life more enjoyable.

Gracious living

Sunshine Place also highlights gracious living with its Ikebana and Porcelain Painting classes.

“Teaching Ikebana at Sunshine Place has been very fulfilling and has given me a lot of joy,” says instructor Marc Tomas. “Seeing young and most especially not so young members pick up a new skill and hobby and seeing their excitement every time they come to my class gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Cynthia Huessaff, one of his students, says she enjoys every Sogetsu Ikebana class where “I meet new interesting ladies and our Sensie Marc has helped us improve our talent in flower arrangements.”

Porcelain painting instructor Mee Lee Casey says it’s not only about learning a new skill, but “we enjoy the friendship and gathering and occasionally be able to unload or frustrations and worries.

Tess Colayco, who has been in the class from day one agrees, “When I think of Sunshine Place, my heart skips, twirls and dances with joy!” she shares. “It’s my ikigai place, a wonderful corner this side of heaven where I meet the nicest people, learn porcelain painting and decoupage, exercise my limbs (and mind) with fellow lolas.”

Dancing their heart away

Members can also enjoy dancing, meditation, fitness and therapy classes at Sunshine Place.

As members of the Dekada Class, Bella Pilapil, 71; Marilou “Balot” Prudente, 57; Maria Corazon Mendoza, 71; Cecille Ventura, 50; and Rey Legarda, 57, say they can’t imagine life without Sunshine Place, finding it conducive to learning, sharing wisdom and experiences, and further growth especially after retirement. After classes, there are lunches and mahjong sessions “to relax and exercise our brains.”

Danny Vinculado, who has been a dance instructor at Sunshine Place for the past 10 years, says his favorite memory would be the time they prepare dance numbers for their Christmas, Valentine’s and anniversary parties where “it’s so rewarding to see my students having fun.”

One of his students, Erlinda Velasco, has so much fun attending his tap dance classes at 95. “I don’t know how long I’ll be able to do this, but as long as I can follow on my feet and they don’t throw me out, I’ll keep trying. It keeps me young at 95!”

Another student, Cherry Co, says she is now living her dream to become a Tap Dancer at 53 at Sunshine Place. She also brings her mother, Enrica Babao, 84, to the senior hub three times a week. Although her mom’s age and health issues have been challenging for Co, Babao has been active in dance, salsa, chair dance, music classes and brain enhancement classes. “Mommy was really enjoying, “she says. “Sunshine gave my mother continuity even if she is a senior. There is life and happiness being part of the Sunshine Place family.”

Sunshine Place is located at 56 Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel Air, Makati City.