Birthdays and a Send-Off

Birthdays

Another year, another time, so much to thank for – family, health, every breath that one takes. That makes birthdays so important – to be celebrated. Getting older is about getting to live closer to one’s own truth.

Last Sunday, August 21, at Dantata and Sawoe Life Camp, here in Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria, (where the Philippine government imposed a travel ban with reasons and logic beyond comprehension), another of the many celebrations (again) took place.

Two events in fact.

Birthday and Send-off.

Mabelle and Mercy (Katz was absent) celebrated life. In a land where we labour away from home to provide for the family we love, this kind of event is always celebrated with friends – new and newly-acquired – the more the merrier – ‘for your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends…’

Among us  OFWS, a celebration like this one is always a combined/shared work – from the heart: and the result is always a shared contentment – savored with relish.

Gratitude is the Heart's Memory

And a send-off for Nestor Dador, Consular Assistant and Record Officer  of The Philippine Embassy, a well-loved friend has finished his tenure. Those wonderful years he spent with us will always be remembered. He is a friend and we are grateful for his friendship as well.

Pictures tell more.

...the birthday cake for KATZ, Mercy and Mabelle

...'sunny and bright and vibrant cake' for sunny and bright and vibrant celebrants...

Birthday celebrant Mabelle Chen

...at naging advertiser pa ng hard drinks ang dalawang August 'birthdayees' Mercy and Mabelle

...it's also a send-off (hindi send-away!)for Nestor of the Philippine Embassy, here shown with Fa (Thai) and JT and Willy

Eric, Gilbert, Aldrin and Estan

Jr...the anticipation of a treat only a child can have; father and daughter; Erwin, a little bit late...

Buboy with beer and Emmel; John and Sherwin; and Mcdoo; Eric and Chie

Estan preparing for the sisig...napaka resourceful - multi - tasking ang kudkuran ng nyog!

...the making of SISIG as only JT can: dami nga lang super-alalay sa pag-luto at may extra pang muse nila - si Boom (Thai)

...the SISIG terminators...

...awang-awa si Estan sa kanyang ginawa at nagawa...

..a souvenir foto: Nestor, Donald, John, Willy (ang haba naman ng kamay ni Nestor, abot hanggang kay Fa, ano ga Willy?), Fa, Estan, Boom, Amb. Padalhin

Aldo:'...i'm dreaming of ...THAT whole head...'

...no event will be complete without our much-loved sisters, custodians of our faith 'asan si Sr. Marylou...?

...prayers before meals (sana po masarap ang pagkain saka 'wag kaming ma kolesterol sa taba ng baboy na bigay ni Mabelle)

...mula puso po ang aming dasal...

...at ang sari-saring pagkain na niluto ng bawa't isa - ayan binantayan ni Angie

...Lunch time...

Lunch time: inside and outside (parang ang laki ng bahay, 'no?)

sila sister kasama si Angie;...si Maebs at si Janette, nakadale na ng 'sang pinggang kanin..' kahit parang ang hinhin ng pag subo!

...during prayers Maebs and Janette, pause ang kanilang pag subo; outside si Gilbert, Willy, Emmel and John; inside ulit si Otie, Donna and Lucy

Mrs. Padalhin; Willy and Otie; Lucy and mom Annie and Khaye

Aldrin, Emmel, Gilbert, Eric, Buboy - aba eh White Team mandin sila ah...

Three's company: baket ang saya ni JT? pinalitan na nya ang kanyang 'daddy' biglang naging 'mommy' nya si Annie. Lito 'agreed'...; Sr. Mary Grace, Lucy and Annie; Jt, Janette, Maris, Maebs and Bernie

Sabe ni Reez,: 'tama na tama na...nabibingi na 'ko.'

...tuwang-tuwa wari ko sila dahil final leave na si Nestor? Ma mi miss ka namin lalo na ni JT!!!Efren, Mercy, Mabelle, Benjie, Khaye, Willy and Otie

Vangie, Sisters Efling, Aurelia and Mary Grace with Nestor

Sr. Efling, Mabelle, Sr. Aurelia, Vangie, Sr. MaryGrace

Family affair take 2: Sr. Efling, Majo and Ross and kids Jr and Reez, Eric and Chie, Aldrin and Buboy

...and our VIP, si Jr - enjoy sya!