Friends and Frienship 3rd Series - Lita Ramos

E-TALK FROM EBB: I enjoyed doing this post because I admired Lita Ramos ever since I met her in high school. I was one of her admirers back then. I admired her Filipina beauty and not a "mestiza" type of complexion. I could never forget her expressive eyes and winning smile. Although I haven't seen her since high school, I am happy to know her life through Sari. Sari's frienship with Lita is very inspiring. No one is more qualified to write Lita's bio but her. Sari e-mailed me this...."I would like to include the HS, 1984 and now pictures para makita ang progression ng aging process. In my eyes she still looks pretty - doing better than some of us. "

Carmelita Ramos Katigbak, now Lita Ramos (DOB 11-17-1943) was one of those whose beauty was most admired in HS along with her cousins Hortense Ramos and Betsy Romualdez. She was unaffected then and remains unaffected till now. We used to see Lita practice on campus, where she amassed many “tanga-hanga” by her beauty and graceful dance. Lita and Hana were exceptional dancers, thus chosen to join the first international tour of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe to the Brussels World’s Fair in 1959. Lita was one of the stars and rose to stardom from Slave to Princess in the Singkil dance, a half-time finale in the Bayanihan presentation. Lita also had the lead role in the grand finale, Tinikling.

Lita was at my 18th birthday party and at our town’s Club dance in 1962. Lita could have been the “first daughter-in-law”. Arthur Macapagal, son of then president, was Lita’s date. Around 1964, Lita transferred to UP, was college scholar and completed an AA degree. Not long after, Lita married her lucky beau, Teodoro (Dory) Katigbak in 1965. They produced 4 offspring – Pia, Rissa, Cecile and Giles, who in turn gave them 6 grandchildren. Lita could have remained a home-bound Mom, but did not. She had a business career – started as a sub-contractor for making baby clothes for export by an international clothing company; she later set up and managed Nicolai Stoodley, a clothing store for men and women; and then decided to venture into travel business and managed Jet Tours Travel agency, a joint undertaking with a Japanese firm. It was at that time when Lita was diagnosed with breast cancer and brought closure to her business ventures. Lita survived her breast cancer and is proud to say she is a 28 year cancer survivor.
MONACO (Left photo) VENICE (Right photo)

I was away and living in the US those years, thus had lost touch of Lita till Fall 1984. I found her when she was undergoing treatment in NYC in 1984. It was a timely “discovery” because Lita was recuperating and needed TLC –tender loving care. That was what Fe Ilagan, Lani V Enriquez and I gave her – we all stayed in my West Orange, NJ pad. We went shopping, apple picking, visited Nueva Ecijan friends of Fe, etc. It was during one of those visits that I found out Lita’s Mom was the Belle of the Ball in Gapan (Duke’s Club) & San Antonio, NE. – We believe we were partly responsible for Lita’s recovery – she went home nearly as good as her old self.

Lita is a good mother to her kids. This deep affection is best illustrated in the recent medical affliction of her oldest daughter, Pia. Lita never left Pia’s side through-out the course of treatment. Lita is an exceptional mother, cousin and friend. She would give her time and energy to any family and friend in need. She cared for Betsy, her cousin, who had a debilitating brain tumor during Betsy’s last years in life. Lita volunteered to take care of another cousin, Hortense, here in the U.S. She gave time to Soroptomist upon Fe’s urging. It is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the needy and underprivileged. She serves as an officer of PWUAA to be supportive of classmates and friends. - Ms Mad Maxx, as Lani & Fe call her, would even find time to take you anywhere you wish to be including the challenging shopping area (168) in Divisoria. I feel very blessed and privileged to be considered a friend of Lita - a kind, very special and selfless person.

PURI'S PERSPECTIVE ON LITA: Lita Ramos is as special to me as she is to Sari and others. she is just a special person. We were classmates from JASMS thru High School with Hana and Cherrie and we travelled together in the 1961 and 1964 world tours and other short tours with the Bayanihan. We are like sisters. We grew up together from kindergarten to Lolahood.She and Cheche are the Ninangs of my firstborn Yvonne. When she's in SFO or San Jose, she and her family stays with me and likewise, whenever I'm in Manila, she's there wherever I am. Loves to drive me around incl Rue de la Div (Divisoria) even though I have access to drivers. She's one of the kindest and tenderest people I know with no enemies. Free spirited, w/ joie de la vivre outlook, she enjoys and savors each moment of each day. Every eligible bachelors were after her. she had a wide variety to pick from. From the richest to the handsomest to the kindest. She had all the options for her picking. Lita is as beautiful inside as she is beautiful outside. A book you can judge by its cover. She is loved by all.