By: Manuel Ferdinand Ramirez de Erio

Busy wife, Mrs. Judith “Babie” Cajes, of second district congressman Roberto “Ondoy” Cajes prepares for the fiesta celebration of Tagbilaran city with an array of sumptuous and healthful desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth of her fiesta guests.

History can attest to the friendly and warm hospitality of the Boholanos. The Blood Compact between Boholano chieftain Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi is probably the first recorded account to demonstrate the friendly and hospitable nature of the Boholanos.

The historic treaty of friendship between Bohol and the country of Spain beckoned the Boholano culture to evolve and transcend from a pagan culture to a Christianized society. Thus, the seeding of Christianity caused stone churches to rise and the celebration of fiestas to begin.

Fiesta celebrations are not just sustaining social activities to survive the culture, but more significantly, it is a festival of desirable Boholano qualities that made this particular unique and charming from the island. April 29, 2006 , the anti-vesperas (two days before the feast day of a patron saint) of the Tagbilaran City fiesta, enliv visits the Tagbilaran residence of second district congressman Roberto C. Cajes in San Jose Street , Cogon this city.

The lady of the house, Mrs. Judith “Babie” Cajes, who is widely appreciated for her warm and accommodating personality welcome enliv staff to their home. Just like any typical Boholano home preparing for the fiesta celebration, the Cajes residence is no exception to the sight of busy people running errands, changing of tapestries, and of course, banging and clanging that marked the busiest days of the kitchen. Like any other wife and mother who leads the preparation of the fiesta, Babie spends time to check the menu, attend to immediate concerns relevant to the fiesta, and of course, welcome their guests with her warm and charming accommodation.

The anti-vesperas though still two days before the day of the fiesta, is a busy day especially for the Cajes residence. Yet, amidst the busy preparation, Babie does her role effectively and carries out her responsibility in the home with efficiency and poise, even under pressure. With her warm, charming and hospitable qualities, Judith “Babie” Cajes is an epitome of a true Boholana. Her energy and enthusiasm to welcome people to her home is her humble expression of gratitude for the blessings and protection that the Almighty had given her family all these years.

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