MERRY
CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!
It’s
still that season, so it’s not yet too late for a greeting. :) How have you celebrated Christmas? I celebrated mine through a series of
Christmas parties which started as early as the 13th of December.
I’d
say Friendsgiving 2015 is the closest college reunion to my heart to date, as
this is the final leg of the major events Justine and I organized for our
college bestfriends this year. We put in so much time and effort planning and
preparing because of two things – because our friends deserve nothing but the
best time and because we really wanted to end our duties as organizers with a
bang. And based on the attendees’ reactions, I’d say we were able to deliver!
Woohoo!
The
attendance was record-breaking yet again. Aside from the 16 of us classmates present,
Kreng’s family, Masa and a bunch of kidssss were also there! It was a total
riot inside the bar!
One
couldn’t go to our party energy-less and unprepared because everyone would be
shouting, slamming, beating, and laughing at each other because that was just
how we were last Friendsgiving, like how we would always be whenever we
celebrate. Basically, all we ever did was play games, exchange gifts, make fun
of each other in between munching on a lot of food and photographing every
scene. I couldn’t have asked for a better get-together!
This
particular Friendsgiving was also special because we were not just celebrating our
friendship but also the coming of the new addition in our growing Abakom family
– Baby Amber, Kreng’s little angel.
We
surprised Kreng with a few gifts for the baby, some heartwarming messages, the
presence of her family, and our all out support. She was in tears, and so were
most of us! She’s due to give birth next week, and we are excited and nervous
at the same time! We only wish for her safe delivery and Amber’s good health
when we welcome the baby.
The
surprise didn’t stop there just yet, as we also got our November and December
celebrators, Liezette and Kreng (again hihi), a little special cake. Belated
happy birthday, guys! See, it was three celebrations in one, so much fun.
I
will definitely miss being a planner. It definitely hadn’t been easy, but it
was all a labor of love, all worth it. In spite of all kinds of problems
arising, it had still been fun and rewarding. Also, after everything that we
had done, I was able to take home with me some lessons and hacks that I may
also apply in life’s other aspects.
One
highlight of this celebration was our take-home souvenir. We used the photos
from our could-have-been college coffee table book and turned them into a
collage instead. The result was very much appreciated by everyone.
Here
are a few thank-you messages to particular people: a) to Sarah and her
relatives for being kind enough to provide us with materials and a venue, b) to
Ate Bhec and the rest of the Maligaya Family for helping us with Kreng’s baby
shower, c) to Ago for working on the souvenir, d) to Jerome and Paul for being
the helpful extra planners we needed, e) to our friends for being the foolproof,
cooperative and fun people they’ve always been, and f) to Jusz for being an
ever so game, understanding, and patient co-planner (we made it out alive, can
I get an amen?! hahaha!).
To
the organizers for 2016, Marfi and Sarah, good luck and make the most of it! We
are just here in case you’ll need a hand or two. :)
Photos
by Rendell Barrera and yours truly!