Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - More than 300 Becas Vallarta (America-Mexico Foundation) scholarship students gathered with the all volunteer cadre of the foundation to celebrate an eclectic Mexican Posada on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the beautiful Los Mangos Library.

The traditional procession of Mary and Joseph, accompanied in song by President Mariel de Fregoso and the talented group of Los Bambinos started the proceedings. The event then turned to robust gaiety to the stirring music of the Los Bambinos while blindfolded becado after becado tested his or her skill at swatting the beautifully constructed piñatas, artfully manipulated by Becas member Cheo Rangel.

The piñatas bounced up, down, and around as blindfolded girls and boys swung their sticks trying to send showers of candy raining down for the onlookers to pounce upon. Scraped knees and a few sore heads seemed worth it as becados scrambled on the grass picking up the spilled treasures.

When every Piñata was emptied, Director of Desarrollo Social, Adrian Mendez assisted by Presidents Mariel and Carlos Fregoso and member Ana Caty Fenyvessi presented Certificates of High Achievement, signed by Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz to 116 students for having a maintained a 9.5 (or above) grade point average.

There were 48 students from junior high, 45 from senior high and 23 from university. And a total of 10 of our students maintained a perfect 10! These certificates were presented to the honor students to great applause from their peers and the committee. We salute all of them for their hard work and dedication to their studies!

During the festivities Becas members filled beautiful Christmas boxes with cookies and candy for each becado, set up the soft drinks, donated by Coca Cola, prepared to serve the delicious tamales made by member Sergio Valle and donated by member Judy de Galeana and arranged a pear, apple and piece of sugar cane for each becado.

Los Bambinos entertained and enticed some becados and some Becas members to get up and dance to their lively songs. Los Bambinos have long been supporters of Becas Vallarta, donating a portion of their CD sales, playing for the Becas Balls and these Posadas. Carlos, the eldest spoke briefly to the students telling them that he, Lazzaro and Immer were all graduates of CUC where many of them are students and congratulated them on their hard work. (Los Bambinos present a fabulous show every Tuesday at The Palm on Olas Altas at 7 pm. Tickets are available at losbambinos.vallarta(at)gmail.com.)

Then came the awaited moment: the call "Tamales are served!" The always polite young people lined up in an orderly fashion to get their tamales, soft drink, fruit and gift box. Then they spread out over the spacious lawn of Los Mangos to enjoy the food, drink and each other.

What a beautiful scene to see those handsome young people whose lives don’t often include such largesse, enjoying the day of conviviality and fun. And how gratifying that when it was over they all pitched in, unasked, to gather the trash, fold the chairs and tables and in no time the grounds and the porch were back to normal.

I only wish each of you could have witnessed this beautiful day of love and friendship that joined us North Americans from Mexico, Canada and the United States along with a smattering of Europeans. Tentative Spanish and English did not always breach the language barrier, but the hugs and traditional cheek kisses that were exchanged did. Nothing can exceed the glow I felt as strapping young university men and tiny junior high girls took my hand, gave me a hug and a kiss and whispered "Muchisimas Gracias" to me. This is as good as it gets!