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HomeOpinionIt’s sweet 16 for Julianna

It’s sweet 16 for Julianna

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina–‘What can make me feel this way?’ or so went the lyrics to that old classic ‘My Girl’ and what makes Ronald Wayne Byerly happy is him dancing with his daughter Julianna on her recent 16th birthday party.
The proud father was with family and friends as well as Julianna’s classmates when he danced with her to celebrate her birthday in advance at the Wyndham Garden Hotel at Greensboro.
What also makes Ronald happy is that Julianna’s ‘magical’ connection in the Philippines, specifically her connection to grandmother or ‘lola’ which he shared during the party.
Julianna was born in Pagadian City in the southern part of the Philippines.  Ron was still in the US and was a week late when his wife gave birth to Julianna. Ronald told the attendees that it  was his mother-in-law Purita Gonzales Ramos who was at the hospital to see his wife and baby Julianna.
“ Mama Purita “ as he fondly mentioned her during the party, planted the seeds that bloomed into a love for music and dance to Julianna by dancing with the baby.  She had, in effect, given Julianna her first music and dance lessons. Grandma Purita rocked Julianna to sleep and Julianna spent 10 months in the Philippines before moving to the US.
“Singing karaoke was a big part of Mama Purita’s life in the Philippines,” Ronald said and years later, Julianna is one of the Junior Theater Festival All-Stars since January this year in Atlanta, Georgia along with other students of High Point Community Theatre. The  Community Theatre of Greensboro was also named to the Junior Theater Festival All Stars.
The JTF All Stars is a leading educational theater company while the JTFA is the world’s largest festival of musical theater for young students. Aside from singing and dancing Julianna is also into ballet,  gymnastics, swimming and soccer.
“As a child, Julianna enjoyed jumping on the couch while singing and dancing to the Micky Mouse Clubhouse, Wiggles and now the Jonas Brothers,” Ronald said.  The proud dad thanked Ms. Sunny Lee who he said played a big role as a mentor to Julianna. His wife Jannette spent time with Julianna looking for that red full length gown that she wore during the party.
Julianna is a junior at Southwest Guilford High School and a member of the High Point Community Theater.  A little flashback: Janette described her daughter Julianna as a ‘good child, not a cry baby and very sweet.’  She said Julianna was easy to put to sleep and can sleep almost anywhere.  Julianna learned to walk when she was 10 months old, has a hearty laugh and yes, a love for music and dance that she got from ‘Mama Purita.’
Julianna was also quite persistent. Ronald recalled that when she was three and a half years old she and the family vacationed in Cebu City and she wanted to go to the fastfood outlet Jollibee even when it was late at night. ‘When she saw a picture of Jesus on the wall, she prayed that she can go to Jollibee and eventually we relented and went to Jollibee,’ he said.
A year later, Julianna prayed for a sibling and it came true, Ronald said. During the party, Ronald advised Julianna never to give up on praying and to work hard at whatever she sets her mind to.
Julianna’s party was a blast with sumptuous food, music, dancing and great company. Elder brother Rodney and younger sister Bella’s presence along with cousins Jaden and Shawn Kremer made it even more special.  The party was emceed by Beth Perez Kremer and Grace Krow.
With the Junior Theater Festival just a few months away—January 2020 to be exact–Julianna is ever so ready to make her mark.

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