Isang Araw ng Linggo sa Buhay ng mga OFWS sa Abuja...

AN OFW BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Benny Cruz is the latest addition to the growing number of Filipino employees in Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company. His actual birthday is January 7.  

Having spent his first Christmas season in the company here in Abuja, Nigeria, he made sure that his birthday will be celebrated amongst friends and colleagues – that is when everybody had returned from the holiday break.

As he would have it, this is not only for his birthday but a thanksgiving for all the blessings (regardless of the fact that he lost his son just before coming to work with the company) he received and will still receive.

So on this Sunday February 2, he had his day.

And why is it being posted just now? Kasi ngayon lang naubos ang lechon!

...BENNY - the celebrant

...as food arrived...

Friends....from Benny's Fortune's days and Tirso, Sean, Andrea,Gina Mike and James

...asking for blessings before meals....

...a rowdy birthday greetings....

...as friends with their usual banters...Romeo 'Jun' Torres - the butt of the joke now...there's Tickboy, Willy, Rex, Wilmar, and Rami gleefully teasing JT.

...much to JT's chagrin all he can do is to squeeze lime - pampaalis ng taba sa lasa ng lechon....

...John just sharing their ordeals in the hands of their daughter's nanny at home....

...Teofie, Angie and Ampy, James, Rose, Ottie and Dzet seriously scrutinizing the guests

Angie, Rose, Willy and Vangie (after heavy meal)

...could have been in any locality in the Philippines, no be so? Lito, Willy and Tickboy....

OFWs Cast Votes in Abuja Nigeria

OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING in Nigeria

Philippine Embassy

No. 2 Kainji Street, Corner Lake Chad Crescent

Maitama District, Abuja, Nigeria

The month-long OAV exercise started last month April 13, 2013. As the Philippine embassy opened its door for the voters at 8:00 in the morning, OFW Grace Abrazado cast the first vote followed by Edelito Sumiwan and Haznor Mangondaya.

...the first 3 voters: Haznor Mangondaya, Grace Abrazado and  Edelito Sumiwan

OAV Focal Person Nadjefah A. Mangondaya, Attache Trade and Economic/ Information Officer of the embassy in Abuja Nigeria, exerted efforts to reach the voters. She invited voters to come even on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

OAV Focal Person, Mrs. Nadjefah A. Mangondaya

Some hitches encountered:

·                  - Some previously registered voters’ names did not appear in the master list sent by  

          COMELEC (may have failed twice to vote in the national elections)  

·                  -Some registered voters’ ballots did not arrive

·                  - Some ballots arrived for absent seamen  

To make use of the ballots for absent seamen, Mrs. Mangondaya requested for guidelines from the  COMELEC Chairman for Committee on Overseas Voting Lucenito Tagle which issued COV Guideline No. 2013-06. It resulted with Circular MIS 133-2013 resolving the above issues:

     OAVoters can use the ballots (and vote personally) intended for absent   seafarers as long as there is a valid ID or passport for verification in the COMELEC’s certified list of voters.

Notwithstanding Mrs. Mangondaya’s aggressive and tireless campaign to exercise the right to vote, the mission registered from Nigeria and other countries of jurisdiction 1,321 voters and 903 who failed to vote twice, only 184 were actually able to cast their votes breakdown of which is as follows:

·        44 from Ghana

·        1   from Ivory coast

·        139 from Nigeria

Reason: most of the registered OFW voters are no longer in Nigeria and other countries of jurisdiction.

The 2013 National Elections ended on May 13, 2013 at 12:00 noon (Nigeria time).

Nigeria OAV result: 

The first three (3) leading senatorial candidates are: 

Escudero, Legarda and Cayetano, A.

The first three (3) leading Party List:

-         OFW Family Club

-         Alyansa ng OFW Party

-         Migrante

Mrs. Mangondaya had been praised by voters for her very satisfactory and accommodating countenance during the whole exercise. 

Pusong Pinoy Association President John Hernandez dropping his ballot at the designated ballot box.  Behind waiting for his turn is Nonito Barraquias

OFWS: Family Day celebrated in Abuja Nigeria

A PPA-sponsored Family Day

On Easter Sunday,  OFWs in Abuja Nigeria celebrated the Family Day held at the Horse and Country Club, Jabi.

Events like this one at least make friends and families gather and enjoy even for a day -  a clean, wholesome fun.  This event was sponsored by Pusong Pinoy Association.  President John Hernandez and PRO Gel Llames are on leave.  The very active exco members prepared this event led by Sheen, the Vice Prez and all the other officers - Sherwin, James, Mercy, Andrea (who has just arrived from her holidays).  

As always Dennis Banasihan provided the amusement and entertainment.

Pictures below showed the active participation of friends and family members:

Trading Post: be it Pinoy breakfast, Pinoy popular condiments, or dry goods...they're here!

...kwentuhan habang nag-aalmusal...in a very relaxed na kapaligiran....

...ano ang saya ng Pinoy gatherings kung hindi makakapag-scrabble si Lolit?  With another scrabble afficionado - Lito.

...just plain enjoying the moment...Angie, James, clifford, Lot-lot, Janice, Mayette among others...

The first game: Egg Bashing (Basagan ng Itlog)

Each fresh egg was put inside a transparent plastic bag with water. This bag was tied tightly with a long string which was then tied to the waist of the contestants – a pair. The egg was positioned in front of each pair and had to be bashed by dangling and hitting without the aid of hands.  It was done by just  the movement from the waist.

Pairs getting ready for.....BASAGAN NG ITLOG....produced by Densyu of Regent International School

Serious contestants...making sure the eggs are bashed!

Wilmar keenly watching how the eggs are bashed! Walang dayaan...

Champions in the making....ng basagan ng itlog!!!

...amidst the laughter and walang katapusang kantyawan....MCDOO and partner won the much contested  BASAGAN NG ITLOG. Marisa and Alan, ayun hinihingal pa!

The second game: MULTI-TASKING GAME - Densyu says -  version of Simon Says

He called the macho guys. As they came forward the instruction was given. Densyu calls an act to be done and while doing the first action, the second order has to be done and while doing the first and second, the third is done and so on… 

 TJ emerged as the best in multi-tasking followed by Noel and then Tirso.

Macho men preparing for the game...

the guys...combing while fanning while walking....

...and doing all those actions...including kicking a ball while going to market and back and sitting in a chair....

TJ of Churchgate - champion in  multi-tasking!!!

The third game: The Longest Line the group can produce. These are from items the contestants had or carried with them.  

Lining up for another of Densyu's mystery games...

...carefully listening to the instructions....

Ready...set....go.....

The members of the group scrambled to produce more  items to add to the length of their line....

and more and more items were produced to lengthen their lines....

...and to help their team to win...Clifford, Sean and Konrad stripped and added their shirts to the line!  Ayan ang mga tunay na macho! Much to the amusement of Lot-lot and the spectators...

Janice and Angie; Tickboy, Sherwin, Noel, Eslao; Alan and Konnie; Nadj, Angie, Clifford, Densyu, Vangie, Fely and Marlyn; Mcdoo providing the intermission  behind Mercy...

TJ, Konnie, Tirso and Rickson; Nadj's kids, Densyu and  Angie; Andrea, Sean

Emie, Melanie, Mayette, Lot-lot, Zaida, Nadj, Mercy, Andrea, Maris, Elaine 

Sheen, Mercy, Fely; Marlyn, Nadj and kid; Elsie, Jo and Rose

just pleased to be here...

...after a hard day's work - rewards!!!

winding up...

...ang pagsasara ng 'talipapa...'

Abuja Baranggay Cinema Part 2

PPA Abuja Drive-In Movie

Isa na namang matagumpay na pagtitipon ng mga OFWS ang ginanap sa bakuran ng embahada ng Pilipinas nuong nakaraang Sabado ng gabi – ika- labimpito ng Nobyembre sa ganap na ika-pito ng gabi. Ito ay ang pagpapalabas ng  pelikulang Tagalog na kinasasabikan din namang mapanuod ng mga manggagawa dito sa Abuja.

At dobol program pa sa halagang N500 lamang. Ang pagkain ay itinitinda din ng samahang Pusong Pinoy. Nakalulugod pagmasdan ang mga masasayang pagtitipong ito ng mga OFWS. At higit na nakatutuwa ang pagtutulungan ng mga pinuno ng Pusong-Pinoy na alam na alam ang dapat gawin mula sa pag hahanda ng lugar hanggang sa pagtatapos.  
At tulad ng dati ang samahang Pusong Pinoy na pinamumunuan ni John Hernandez katuwang ang mga opisyales na sina Sheen, Andrea, Sherwin, James, Mercy at Gel  ay muling ipinakita na sa pagtutulong-tulong at mabuting pakikisama nagkakaroon ng pagkakaisa - at pagsasaya para sa lahat.

...drive-in movie - back in town!

Makikita sa larawan sina Sherwin, John, Gel, Efren at si Rex na inaayos ang projector para sa magandang pagpapalabas ng pelikula.

...operators making sure there's no hitch...

...Birthday ni Densyu...

At naging mabili naman ang paninda ng mga pamunuan ng samahang Pinoy. Si Mercy at si Dennis ang naatasang taga-benta ng mga pagkain.

...filling the tank for a long haul - two movies kaya!...Mercy and Ernel; Maebs, Rex; Jabar, Espy

...Ness, Nonits, Otie, Rami; Lee, Vernie; Marlyn, Jun among others in preparation for the films

...Showing: Asiong Salonga: intently watching for any 'aberya' in the sound or in the picture...Sherwin and Gel and Rex, Maebs

Ang palabas:  Multi-awarded film Asiong Salonga doubled with a Vilma Santos starrer The Healing. May mga biruan at kantyawan pa habang ipinalalabas ang Asiong Salonga lalo na ang pagiging ‘tsik boy’ ni Asiong.

...ang mga OFWS na maligayang nanunuod: sina  Janice, Clifford, Espy, Jun, Amy, Monet atbp...

Marlyn, Jun Robles, Emma, Rose, Lita, Evelyn, Paula, Rickson and Emie

At habang isinasalang ang pangalawang pelikula – isa munang patalastas! Ayan buong pagmamalaking inilalahad ni Dennis, ni Mercy at ni Sheen ang popcorn …'POP CORN POP CORN POP CORN mabibili sa halagang N500 lamang! Magsibili na kayo at baka kayo'y maubusan. Iisa na lamang ito!

Dennis, Mercy and Sheen; Rex, Sherwin and John; habang  nag-uusap sa telepono ang mag-pinsang si Maebs at si Gel (ayun sila magkatabi sa upuan!)

Emma, Rose and Lita; James, Evelyn; Jun, Amy....

And as the lights went out…

Nakakatuwang makita ang agarang pagtulong ng mga pamunuan at ng kanilang mga kaibigan sa pagliligpit upang lahat ay sabay-sabay na makauwi.

...nililinis ang mga basurang nakakalat...

Ano ang masasabi ninyo sa palabas?

Iisa ang kasagutan ng mga nanuod: 

'Maganda.' 

'Okey na Okey.' (kahit si Efren eh umalis nuong horror na ang palabas!)

Maligayang lumalabas ng 'sinehan' ang mga nanuod: Okey ang palabas! Maris with Clifford; Ef and Ness and Rami; Otie

...naghihintay pa ng mga sundo...medyo nakatulog ang mga drivers...

...pinag - uusapan pa ang pelikula: si Sheda at si Sean ...ooooppps na-hacked ang retrato ni Andrea - nakasama ata sa pelikulang The Healing; si Densyu, si Maris at si TJ

...clearing the table - LAHAT! walang natira maski magtanong pa kay Sheen at kay Mercy....

...tulong-tulong pa rin sa pagliligpit: si TJ na panay ang porma, si Alan, si Sherwin, si Rex, si John, si Vernie, si Sheen at si Doods

...masaya pa rin kahit pagod. Iyan ang balikatan at pagsasamahan - walang iwanan! nasa larawan si Gel, John, Rex, Marissa; Alan, Dennis, Marissa, TJ, Sherwin, Mercy at Vernie.