Ruth Prudente and 'joie de vivre'

Last Saturday, we said goodbye to a friend - not through the usual wake but through a birthday celebration of her life.

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This was her dying wish when she passed on Oct. 12, 28 days before she became a centenarian. Thus, daughters Felice and Karen gathered some friends, relatives, admirers and fellow workers who came in bright festive colors - yellow, orange, and mostly red, her favorite color as it signified joy and courage.

The celebration was held at the Prudente Hall (named after her) of the Kapatiran Kaunlaran Foundation Inc. (KKFI) which was founded in 1950 to meet challenges of helping the poor, primarily young children and women, based on the belief that the early development of young children and the transformation of society should begin with the inculcation of values in young children.

The goal of empowering women at the same time was central in KKFI's mission. The first physical location was within Manila but had later expanded to Quezon City, Pasay, Malabon, Navotas and Bulacan. Through values training, provision of seminar and dormitory facilities, and several nonformal education activities, the program had expanded to include identified needs of the community.