Von Voyage, Ric...

Von Voyage, Ric

Ricardo Punsalan accumulated friends in his 8 years of stay in Nigeria, the most part being here in Abuja.

And as new faces come, they too became his friends. 

The knowledge of him moving out of the country galvanized the OFWS of The Migrants (Ang Buhay ng Overseas Workers) into action. A send-off is definitely in order.  Though it’s a weekday, friends started to make preparations on Monday evening after work. Sherwin had the chickens ready for roasting. Ditto with Lito, and as he said…for a friend, it’s a pleasure.

On Tuesday immediately the clock struck 6:00, we’re all on our way home. Lito’s skill in culinary art was manifested solidly – cook four types of dishes in 2 hours plus rice!  Sherwin and Mcdoo collected the only ordered meal from the clubhouse – Fried rice with prawns.

And friends came with drinks as well.

A celebration like this makes this more special – because we all know that we’ll all eventually go home or go to another place as in the case of Ric.  After circling the globe as an OFW, he now chose a post so close to home – Singapore. And his family is happier.

Ric will definitely be missed – at The Nunciature where we all attend every Saturday, birthday celebrations in their house at Gwarinpa and at Dantata and Sawoe, charity works – gift-giving to the needy.

Here’s us wishing you a whole new adventure with more blessings on your way.

Von Voyage, Fellow Migrant.

Ric Punsalan - the Honoree

'yan ang mga manyaklara effeks-

Gilbert with Lito's concoction

Ric with tsiks: Maris, Vans, Merz, Tess

Prayer before meals led by Nonits

Isang mula sa pusong pasasalamat ni Ric...

Coordinated attack...

Maebs and Doods, Annie and Sherwin, Mercy and Tess - before meals

Friends, friends, friends - Rex, Estan, Lito, Ric, Renz, Willy and Nonits; with Maebs

Willy, Sherwin, Annie, Nonits; Gel, Sheda, Doods,Maris and Maebs...rest muna

Vangie, Ampy and Annie

Ampy, Willy; Lito, Gilbert, Mcdoo and Sherwin

Pinaliliit lang ho ang mga tyan....

I scream frenzy...

Doods...konti lang, pleeezzz?

Merz, Gilbert, Tess and Willy; Ampy, Maris, Lito Ric and Vangie

Ric; Willy and JT

Ric with Lito and Vangie; Ampy and Annie and Donald

Ric sharing lighter moments with Merz,Willy, Mcdoo, Nonits, Otie, and Tess

Lito: ...mga ka tribu...me pasok bukas...mag pabalot na ng pang almusal ke Mareng Otie...

da backstory: ...aay di hayan...sa dami ng huhugasang mga pinggan...kipit na sa pagpipigil - mga marekoy, takbo na sa banyo!!!

Spot the difference 'yan...humahabol si Otie...mga 'camera shy' kase lahat..'candid' ang mga shots

Spot the difference din...ayunn, nakasingit si Annie...

JUNE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

JUNE CELEBRANTS

MALIGAYANG KAARAWAN

SA MGA 

JUNE BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS

As had become a tradition, OFWS (Abuja) of The Migrants (Ang Buhay ng Overseas Worker) June birthday celebrants gathered once more for joint celebrations.

June is mid-year. It has also become a celebration of sort – farewell to the first half of the year and welcome to the last half. This occasion, however, was mixed with saddened hearts due to the death of the mother of Noel Agcaoili and the father of John Hernandez in this very month of June.

Still we are grateful for all the blessings bestowed upon us. We are all far away from home, from the family we love. What better way to celebrate ones natal day than to be with friends close and dear to our hearts? That’s Heaven’s way of compensating for the sacrifices we offer to our loved ones left at home.

This time, too, we had “Lechon’ crispy and very delectable – so mouth-watering that even those with NO-GO signs pinched and munched happily.

Ambassador Padalhin with wife Anicia brought ‘kakanin.’  And the celebrants each prepared their own specialty. There’s sio mai Efren cooked; Rami’s afritada; Otie’s pansit with crab meat; Maris’ cassava cake.  There’s roasted chicken, Bicol Express, ‘pakbet’ to balance the meat and ice cream and much more (abot sa hapunan for the ‘swimmers’ at lampas pa!). There’s the bottles and bottles and bottles (in cute quarter gallons) of wine (dala ni Willy – parang ayaw uminom ng tubig) and soft drinks, too.

And of course, Rosa Ilic, a genuine ‘Filipina’ with son Branco  happily joined in the celebrations.

To our June Birthday celebrants – Nestor Dador, Rami Barraquias, Nino Herrera, Bernie Mercado, John Hernandez, Renz Mercado, Lito Nucum, Alyssa Bugayong:

Here’s our wish for all of you:  live long, live strong, and live happy!

MABUHAY!

Ang Lechon (photogenic naman)...BOW

Ang Lechon...Before...During...During...and During

Ang Lechon...Aldo: 'kahit ako pandakekok lang, hinding-hindi ko ipagpapalit ang sarili ko sa 'yo, sori ha?'

DEMO ON HOW TO CUT LECHON by Nonits: Una, magsindi ka ng sigarilyo. Sipating maige ang subject. Parang feasibility study baga. Dutdutin ng kutsilyo habang kinukunan ni Sherwin ng ebidensya. Kumuha ng mas malaking pang opera. Dutduting muli ang covering.

DEMO PART 2: Kurutin ang kaprasong covering...ahh ooops 'andito na si kumander...mali daw.

DEMO PART 3: ...at habang pinagpuputol-putol ang mga bahagi...tinitikman na...ayan nakikurot na rin si Sister. Ikaw na Donald.

Branko: 'That roasted pig didn't have a chance, did it?'

The jury: deliberating  on the pros and cons of... L E C H O N!!!

ROSA, A FILIPINO THROUGH AND THROUGH: Birthday cake for June celebrants

Rosa: 'Angie, do you think I can still stuff some more in here?'  Maris: 'I think I'll just cross my arms over, no ebidensya!'  JT: 'Tama ka dyan.' Sister Marilou: 'It's okay naman. Wouldn't hurt.' Ampy and Nino: 'Halata bang naubos natin?'

Sister Marilou prays over the food and for the June celebrants: Lito, Rami, Bernie, Nestor, Nino. (Not in picture: Renz, John, Alyssa)

Portions of the array of food

Rosa with Bernie, Lito, Ampy (for Alyssa), Nino

Time out from Lechon: kanin at mga ulam naman, syempre pinoy, 'no!

Medyo na late si Mayet, Melanie at Lani. Saka si Con-Gen habang rest na rin si Mrs. Padalhin at ang Maris

Amb. Nestor Padalhin slowing down watching diet. Sister Eflaida: parehas din 'yan. di na magbabago ang timbang ko. Angie and Khaye: Rest muna tayo bago tayo kumuha ulit.'  Branko and Rosa. Efren: 'bahala kayo diyan, basta eat ako!' Rest din si Ampy, Rosa and Angie.

Bernie, Medel, Doods and Sherwin; Amb. Padalhin, Mayet, Rosa and Lani; Branko and Rosa, Angie, Tess and Khaye; Willie, Ampy and Angie; Bernie, Medel, Teofie and Fely; Efren, Gel and Annie

Wilmar and Gina Dadia; Lani and Mayet; Sheda and Doods; Renz -June celebrant and Maebs;

Fely, Con-Gen Alex, Rami-June celebrant, Teofie

Sister MaryGrace, Branko, Fely, Sheda, Donald

Aldo: 'hmmmm - gotta taste this...sila lang ba?'

Mrs. Stefanie Biermann and Teofie; Mga mare Maris and Fely; Vangie and Sr. Efling

...at binalikan Ang Lechon...Maris: 'Slaw..yon o, konti lang.' Nonits: 'eh baket ka naman naka ganyan?' JT: 'papogi syempri!'

Would any of our events be complete without our favorite and beloved sisters? Nah! Wag munang hanapin si Sister Efling me inaayos pa sa loob. In picture: Stefanie, Willy, Sr. Marilou, Sr. Mary Grace, Sr. Aurea, Efren, Nonits and Rami with Amb. Padalhin. Si Gel naman palibhasa nahuli ayun naninimot na laang at kinukwentuhan  kung gaano kalutong ang balat. Si Renz, si JT, si Efren, si Tikboy.

Wilmar, Lito, Gilbert and Gina and with Benjie

Niel and Nino Herrera (nahuli si Erwin); Rami and JT; Nick; JT, Bert, Nestor and Estan (pa pogi effect 'yan)

Nick, Rami -June celeb, Rex; Cecilia, Nino, Ric and Willy; Nonits, Sherwin, Rex and Cecilia

Hmmmmmmm - posing naman ang Sr. Efling

kahit huli ...hayan...meron pa rin!!!

Busog na po...

...DA NEWLY DISCOVERED SINGING SENSATIONS: SINGING-TEAM ---MCDOOOO AND LANI!!! while singing 'Endless Love'