CTFLC Christmas Celebration 2016

 It was the most awaited time of the year where moments were drowned with laughter and eternally frozen in photographs.  It was time for CTFLC Christmas Celebration 2016.

Last December 10, 2016, the CTFLC organization gathered together at the residence of Dr. Estela Matriano, Member of the Board and Executive Director, World Council for Curriculum and Instruction. With Ms. Carole Caparros as the hosts, they gladly opened her home to Kapamilyang CTFLC: members and their families.

At exactly 12:00 PM, our feet carried us to the warm kitchen where Ms. Carole Caparros was busy putting the final touches of our Filipino inspired feast. It was a moment where it felt like we were in the Philippines.  Initially, Dr. Matriano shared a story about the essence of Christmas and Mr. Salvador Idos, a retired Filipino Language Teacher from Morse High School and Member of the Board, led the thanksgiving prayer.  Then, we started the feast. The table was covered with sumptuous food such as vegetable lumpia with pungent garlic vinegar, grilled pompano fish, crunchy lumpiang shanghai, pork barbecue, all-time favorite honey-glazed ham, etc.  On the counter, sweet desserts such as cake, baklava, a tray of Filipino dessert with sapin-sapin, puto-bumbong, cassava cake, a tray of fruits, etc., awaited us.  

After a fulfilling lunch,  we had a short meeting regarding the celebration of Rizal Day on December 30, 2016.  Also, Mr. Tony Olaes, CEO of The Filipino School, shared his appreciation towards the contribution of CTFLC in the San Diego Filipino Community Survey project.

Finally, CTFLC elected our set of officers for 2017-2019 namely: 

• President – Ms. Myrna Ablana, Filipino Language and English Teacher at Challenger Elementary (Middle? ) School
• President-Elect – Mrs. Maria Fontimayor, Academic Coordinator and Filipino Teacher at Naval Special Warfare Foreign Language  Program
• Secretary – Mrs. Salvacion De Vera, Filipino Languagre Teacher at Montgomery High School
• Treasurer – Ms. Carole Caparros, Incumbent Treasurer and Executive Assistant of the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction.
• Public Relations Office – Mr. Rey Idos, Eastlake Math and FilipinoTeacher

They were sworn into office by Dr. Matriano.

Then, the atmosphere was filled with Christmas songs when Mr. Salvador Idos headed the Battle of Christmas Carols where each group would sing against each other a song without repetition.   Team B won and they received cash prize.  Later, the entire group sang Christmas carols contributing to the festive mood.

Laughter and screaming brought the house down during the Brown Carabao Exchange Gift (a.k.a White Elephant) headed by Ms. Virginia Ferrer. To add twist to the simple exchange gift, participants were able to choose from the opened gifts aside from the wrapped ones.  The item was considered unavailable when the third person chose it.  Each one understood that there would be no hurt feelings; it was just for sheer enjoyment.

Members departed with sheer joy in their hearts and with additional moment to treasure.

Maligayang Pasko sa lahat!!!!