This year’s Christmas party also provide an exciting day out for the children, as it involved a jeepney ride to the village of Abian where the Parish of St Joseph was celebrating its 25th anniversary. Celebrating mass at St Josephs, Monsignor Vic Tugadi gave a moving homily for the children and their carers. Children with disabilities, he said, awaken in us all kindness and compassion and the parents of those children deserve support for they have the most difficult task to do.

After the mass, the children, with the help of their siblings drew lovely Christmas scenes and encouraged by Florencia wrote letters to the many kind people who support the work of the project. They also enjoyed face painting, parlour games, singing and dancing. The children without speech and without hearing provided action songs interpreted by their teacher Violy. It was a joy to hear Jake and Elsa, the two blind children playing the keyboards to entertain everyone with their music. The highlight of the day however was when Mr Viloria, Auditor and Advisor arrived in his Santa costume carrying a sack full of presents for the children, who could not resist touching his white beard.

A Christmas message was read by Eloisa, daughter of the Bambang Chairperson, who was away in California with her husband visiting her children there. A visitor from Canada, Mrs Fely Booth, congratulated the hard working committee and promised support for the project. Florencia thanked the Village Captain and other local officers for their presence and the parishioners of Abian for including the children in their celebrations. It was a memorable Christmas for all who participated and most of all was a day full of fun for the children.