SUAF Christmas and Installation Day
(The untold Story Behind the Scenes)
The SUAF fellowship gathering to celebrate Christmas of 2008 was extraordinary and memorable in so many ways. As an articulate Sillimanite said, "It was a blast". To be sure, the SUAF year end fellowship had its share of striving hence the success achieved was that much sweeter.
Prelude
The event became unique with the decision to hold Installation of Officers concurrent with the Christmas Party. This seemed to be the appropriate action considering the economic conditions of our time.
Planning of the Christmas Party and Installation of Officers got off to a magnificent start soon after Priscilla Gallardo-Madrid and Ligaya Magbanua-Simpkins were chosen to tale the lead. Everything seemed to be under control when unforeseen events began to unfold
The Challenges
Sillimanite Dorothy Lim had to have an emergency operation. Members rallied to offer encouragement and prayer for her recovery.
Our President Isaias Paniamogan's surgery was scheduled on a conflicting date and had to follow doctors orders and refrain from taking an active role in the planning.
Furthermore, circumstances beyond control mandated that both Ligaya and Priscilla would not have the opportunity to have hands-on management of their plans.
But if one has TRUST and FAITH one can believe that there is a silver lining to every cloud that may come one's way.
In the true spirit of TEAMWORK, Fely Tan-Narvaez, Laarni Catague-Gularek and Alma Pinili Lavergne stepped forward to execute the plans and make the changes in response to dynamic conditions as well as introduce their own personal touches to create a fantastic program deserving of praise. Mary Olivar-Garrido, in her capacity as the acting president, left nothing amiss in the Installation process. It was a treat to see the preparation come together as a result of teamwork among all participants. Preparing the venue, food, program and entertainment was a lot of hard work with a fair amount of fun.
The Long Awaited Day
The day of the Christmas party began with the sun making an appearance following the gift of rain to a dry San Diego. At the appointed time, folks showed up and all lent a helping hand with the last minute finishing touches.
Emcee Laarni Catague Gularek opened the program in front of 60+ alumni, friends and guests which filled the community room in the Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library to capacity. The program and installation ran at its best like clockwork.
The incoming officers took their oath of office led by Pastor Bert Del Castillo. The Pastor gave an inspiring message defining the meaning of leadership and teamwork. All would agree that what took place was a manifestation of his message. In the words of Gerry de la Paz, who had witnessed countless of installation of officers as a founding member of the Fil-Am Cultural Group of San Diego, "It was the most impressive and meaningful installation of officers I had seen."
Grace Villanueva-Tan set up the luncheon buffet, and as expected, was superb. Filipino food included the traditional "lechon", the popular "lumpia", the famous "chocolate dish" (dinuguan), "pinapa-itan", fried chicken, mongo bean dish with coconut milk,baked salmon, garlic chicken, pasta, etc lovingly prepared for the gastronomic pleasures of all who wished to partake. The Vegans had the fixings for the salads. Another table carried the offerings for dessert. Everyone had several helping of bibingka, cookies, flans, cakes, fresh fruits, puto, etc.
A member whose name begins with the letter J, volunteered to sample the goodies being set up on the dessert table. After working diligently at the task, he did manage to offer his approval with a hearty thumbs up.
Musical Moment
As a change of pace, the SUAF Carolers were asked to perform their repertoire of Christmas carols. Led by Miriam Tan-Cole, the group just completed a caroling schedule designed to spread joy for the season. They proudly showed off the "patented Tanolivf musical device"
By way of introduction, the device began as an idea to bring a nostalgic Filipino feel to caroling. After deciding to design a replica of this device, John drew an elaborate illustration with specificities only an engineer could make. After which a rare piece of wood was shaped in to a letter Y.
To Fely fell the task of gathering bottle caps. This proved to be the most difficult task in as much as no Sillimanite was known to be a patron of establishments that had a stock of bottle caps. Searching for used bottle caps was not easy, according to Fely. She asked a bar of a nearby "gaming" establishment twice, asked a restaurant once, and approached a liquor store only to be lectured that they do not open beer bottles there. The hard work put into finding these caps can be heard in the extra ring the device makes.
Grace collected all the material in time to "order" Nate to work his construction magic.Thus bottle caps were artistically shaped and skillfully strung in to the Y frame.
The final step was to have our Music Director calibrate and fine tune the device to produce the desired nostalgic sounds.
To complete the effort, the musical device was named after the construction workers (Nate Tan and John Olivar) with the F ending to append a semblance of class.
Thus the Tanolivf musical device.
P.S. (Actually the device is a take off from the work of Filipino grade school carolers. Lacking musical instruments, they flattened soda bottle caps, punched a hole in the center with a nail, and strung the result on a wire or stick. The device was shaken in time with a tune, such a Jungle Bell , to serve as the musical accompaniment in Christmas caroling)
Christmas Belles
The surprise "feel good moment" of the party was the initiative of Amelia Hernandez-Buluran. Amelia, as chairman of the SUAF Board of Directors, presented special scholastic grants to Amanda, (daughter of Allen and Precila Garrido) and Margaux (daughter of Dale and Chona Fe Maribao)
Members who were present early in the life of the SUAF may remember that Amanda and Margaux were the featured entertainers at the installation of officers in 1995. At that time Amelia passed on the responsibility of president of the SUAF to Susan Monte de Ramos-Soldwisch.
Amanda and Margaux, who were about to enter kindergarten at the time, sang the Silliman Cheers song to the delight of members and guests. It was most appropriate that Amanda and Margaux would be recognized for continued support of our organization's activities now that they are entering their freshman year at the California State University San Marcos and California State University Riverside respectively.
Got Games?
For those who may have more than their normal share of calories for the day, Precila Fabugais-Garrido encouraged participation in games.
Precila called upon the kids to participate in a game of musical chairs. After several rounds of screaming and laughter, Bryer emerged as the winner. Adults also had their own version of musical chairs. To say that adults had more fun than the kids would be an understatement. The musical chair queen was Vanessa Puniak.
Adults played a balancing game that involved dancing around an ever reducing newspaper page, and amid sequels and laughter, JB and Alma Pinili-Lavergne proved to be the most coordinated.
Married couples only was the requirement for the last game. Everyone wildly cheered the participants in their attempt to have a golf ball traverse exotic territory. Words can only fail to do justice in trying to describe the game and thus it will not be attempted. Suffice to say that Clavel and Llyod Limpiado had the most fun and heightened excitement. Unfortunately, the combination was not a formula for victory. However everyone did wish them "Better luck next time, again !!"
Postlude
Closing time of the venue brought all festivities to a close. Once again everyone pitched in to take down the decorations, put the chairs and tables away, and even mop the floor so that all was as empty and clean as when SUAF had first occupied the place.
With a strong sense of nostalgia, everyone headed back to their own busy world with resolve to be back again next year for a fun filled day of Silliman camaraderie.