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Cherissa Rodriguez-Chastain

My dearest Mama

My Beloved Papa

Welcome to my Homepage! My name is Cherissa but have been called different names through the years (Cher, Cherry, Chit, Chinggay, Cherie, Cherisse). I decided to build this homepage to find old friends and relatives and also meet some new ones. But, most of all to stay in touch, with my family in Manila. I will be putting old photos from way back when, so it will be fun for my relatives and friends!

I was born in Manila and grew up in Manila and Quezon City. My father (deceased), Capt. Mariano Rodriguez (Tisoy or Rod to his colleagues) - a very decorated and multi-awarded detective with Manila's Finest - a product of San Beda College, was from Marinduque, Manila and Bacolod. My mother is Julie Yabut-Rodriguez ( a BSE graduate from National Teachers College and Philippine Women's College)) from Tarlac and Vigan. There are five of us in our family: Sonny (with 3 boys: SJ, JC, Renzo and 1 girl: Michelle); Menchu (3 boys: Richie, Charlie, Myko and 1 girl: Celine); Marito (4 boys: Bong (D)Miguel, Mark, Julio and 3 girls: Joanna, Jam, Toni); and, Mona (Maia and Djanggo).

Cher at 5 Years Old

FEU Folkdance Group

I studied at Holy Ghost College (elementary) and Stella Maris College (high school). I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree (Major in English and Minor in Spanish) from Far Eastern University - on a 4-year Full Scholarship in Dance - where I was member of the Folkdance Troupe, Modern Jazz Group and the Varsity Cheerleaders.

My husband, Robert, and I have been married for 31 years. Our family consists of 2 girls: Elaine and Kellie (both married); and, 1 boy, Jay. We have 1 granddaughter (Kayla) and 4 grandsons (Zachary, Patrick, Casey and Joseph). Robert (or Bob or Bobby as some call him) has been teaching &coaching
high school baseball and basketball for the past 28 years. He is presently at New Lima High School (18 years), where he has brought his team to the State Tournament (only 8 out of about 120 schools make it) 6 times.

I am a people person who is used to the limelight, but unlike me, the rest of the family is very private and don't want their pictures posted on the internet. But, I will try to sneak in some photos every now and then :-)

I love to dance and sing. I started ballet lessons at age 4 and went on to jazz and hula - and have not stopped dancing since then! At age 15, Menchu and I began dancing on TV with Julie Borromeo Dance Group.
From there, we joined Araneta Coliseum's dance troupe (with Cora Inigo) where we opened for international stars like the Zombies, Freddie and the Dreamers, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Kathyrn Grayson and Timi Yuro, among others. We became known as the Rodriguez Sisters , 3 to 6 nights a week on TV - as choreographers for many major TV shows in the Philippines like Superstar, Guy and Pip, Victor Wood, Vilma Santos, and many of Pepe Pimentel's TV and roadshows, among others. We also joined the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company for a while (and were principal dancers in that short stint) but decided to go back to FEU Folkdance Troupe, where we received Full Scholarships. We were also members and lead dancers of the Polynesian Cultural Dance Company of the Philippines.

I have been teaching Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hula since I arrived in the States. To keep abreast with the latest in dance education, I have taken lesson and workshops with dance masters in America like Jo Rowan (Ballet), Luigi (Jazz), Al Gilbert (Tap) and many Master Kumu Hulas from Polynesian Cultural Center and other halaus. As Artistic Director-Choreographer of 3 dance groups - PACIFICA Philippine Dance Company; PACIFICA Polynesian
Revue; and OKLAHOMA BELLES (country, jazz, tap and vocal group) - I try to impart whatever talent and knowledge God has given me... in promoting our cultural heritage and, training others to be better performers. We perform around surrounding states, and, as far as Virginia and California. I also do dance workshops for different Philippine organizations - teach and perform folkdances, hula and jazz.

For over 20 years, I have been very active in pageantry as teacher, emcee, judge, vocal/dance/interview/modeling coach, producer, director and choreographer. I was involved in 12 different American beauty pageant systems where several of my students have won state and national titles and many more won in the top three and top talent categories. Also choreographer for Miss Philippine Centennial-USA in Las Vegas and was named Official Chaperon of the USA delegates to the Miss Philippine Centennial International in Manila. This culminated in being hired as national director-choreographer of the Las Vegas-based Mrs. Philippines-USA pageants. Since 1996, I have also been active with Miss Philippines-Texas and Miss Asian-American pageants in the different capacities mentioned above.

Mrs. Imelda Marcos crowning Cher, Miss Marinduque (brother Marito, crown bearer)

Please check out My favorite Links for more photos. Thank you for visiting my homepage. Please sign my guestbook - all good comments are greatly appreciated. Again, thank you for stopping by and hope you enjoy your visit!

My nieces & nephews who are members of MUS'KA musical group
and who also appeared in the movie MGA MUNTING TINIG