Abuja, Nigeria: OFWS Celebrations of Eid Al Fitr, etc

The First PPA Outing under the auspices of the New Set of Officers

The celebration of Eid al Fitr was much welcomed by OFWS. Aside from the fact that it made four days break, OFWS all joined with The Philippine Embassy to celebrate with Muslim brothers. The Pusong Pinoy Association comprehensively prepared for the celebrations. First was the venue. With such postcard-perfect view, OFWS were in for a treat. Usuma Dam is one of the very popular venues for revelers. 


But it was not merely for leisure. PPA President, Eugene John Hernandez of Julius Berger Nig. Plc, a leading German-based company has outlined the agenda for the day. 

And who could upstaged Dennis Banasihan, a PE/PSHE/Biology/dep. House Parent teacher of Regent Secondary School as the Master of Ceremonies? 


This is a day of accomplishments:  

a.      successful and fruitful completion of forty days (40) fasting (end of Ramadan), 

b.      Overseas Absentees Voting Registration May 2013 election, 

c.       presentation of the Philippine House Bill No. 4408 - an Act creating the Department of 

Overseas Workers rationalizing the organization and functions of government agencies related 

to overseas employment and for other purposes, 

d.      a clarion call for the typhoon-ravaged victims via the Philippine Red Cross,

e.      presentation of the new PPA 2012-2013 membership ID card, 

f.        formation of  the Sports Teams for the upcoming Sports Festival,

g.   birthday greetings to the August celebrants 

AND…

h.      most of all this particular outing clearly demonstrated the lyrics of a childhood song …’ for your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends…the more we get together, together….the happier are we!’

And how was this achieved? Each person present picked a small strip of plastic from a cut-out bottom plastic bottle. The color of the strip represents the team the person belongs to – Blue, Green, Red and Yellow Teams.  The officers were duly ‘distributed’ to different teams.

Everyone pooled resources - financial, moral and physical support. Each one merrily brought whatever they can share with everybody. Each one lent a hand for whatever task was there.

Just a clear indication of future events - of what this young set of officers can do for the community – vibrant, full of zest, with very progressive ideas encompassing every stratum of the community they serve. 

To them – MABUHAY!

Below are some of the pictures reflecting the very uproarious celebration:

...such lovely and idyllic panorama...

...the tranquil beauty of Usuma Dam

...the balikatan spirit of OFWS: kaibigan sagot kita!

...as OFWS and guests arrived...

OFWS signed the log book ; PPA officers James, Gel, Mercy, John, Sheen, Sherwin (not in picture Andrea, Secretary)

Dennis Banasihan, the Master of Ceremonies; Agenda as presented by PPA President John Hernandez; Philippine Ambassador Nestor Padalhin giving a short address to the community.

Friends some old faces, some fresh faces like Katreena Richele Lumba and Nerisa Borja

...time for friends to relax and pose

Rex, Donna, Mark, Gel, Ernel, Lito, Cecile, Celine, Tickboy, John, Lee and another fresh face (meaning hindi alam ang pangalan!)

Families: kids enjoy as much as their parents...here's Thalie with her son and husband Ibrahim...

Blue Team

Yellow Team

Green Team

Red Team

ang Palaro: QUIZ (may balak mangopya si Doods); banana-biting-eyes-covered game; and the very hilarious 'Simon says'-like game: that's Joy, Rami, Efren, John with the eventual winner Rami -that's multi-tasking game!

...the fastest straw-planter!...

...may balak mangdaya si Noel...ayun kasunod ni Ina...

...array of food - hilig ng Pinoy - magluto!

...who's dieting???...(sa tagalog - guni-guni lang 'yon)

...the vast and varied 'appetites' of Pinoy

Mah jongg, Tong-its, Poker and Scrabble :Pinoy popular pastime

...at ang paligsahan sa larangan ng pag-awit: daaaaaaah B L U E Team - si Katz; si Elsie naaaaaannnngggg Y E L L O W Team; ssssiiiiiii Katreena ng G R E E N Team; at siiiiii Sheen nannnnngggg R E D Team...! ang nagwagi sa napakahigpit na paligsahang ito ay.......siiii ELSIE ng Y E L L O W W W WW  Team! ang nagwaging Queen of Karaoke sa Usuma Dam....

...si Joy, si Gel, si Miguel (si Miguel nga ba?), si Densyu at si Mcdo...ang nagwagi sa paligsahang ito ay siiii GEL ng RED Team - King of Karaoke

...the August Birthday celebrants; cheered by everyone; and the local staff who also helped and contributed in their own way to the success of the event!