Birthday Bash of the Year

Birthday Bash of the Year

The biggest birthday party of the year has to be the November celebration – not just for the number of birthday celebrants, but for the celebrity status factor, at least within CCFT. This month, Executive Director Michelle Abayari, CCFT Coron International School Principal Lilia Chavez, Head Teacher Elvin Resco, and Teacher Ryan Calupas celebrated with four girls from the Children’s Home – Livinia, Ara, Joanna Marie, and Sandara, plus three Facility Department staff – Tito Ben, Tito Leo, and Tito Ernesto.

This second Saturday, November 15, the CCFT-CIS teachers decked the Children’s Home lobby with hanging paper clowns, colorful ribbons, and balloons. After a short prayer, all eleven birthday celebrants were called to sit up front to listen to a rendition of the traditional Happy Birthday song and receive a gift.

Coaxed by the children’s enthusiastic clapping, Tito Peter, Tito Arvin and Tito Marvin of the Facility Department serenaded the audience with Stephen Speaks’ Passenger Seat: Tito Arvin on guitar, Tito Marvin tapping on a hand drum, and a blushing Tito Peter on vocals. After overcoming the initial surprise – “He can really sing!” – The audience began cheering them on and teasing the blushing vocalist by coming up to with offerings of flowers, Christmas wreaths, and a hula hoop around his neck.

Tatay Jong and Tita Cora of the Children’s Home next stepped up with an on-the-spot swing number to the delight of everyone. Soon, half of the CCFT population was up dancing along with the pair and it was quite some time before the games could begin.

or the next hour everyone scrambled over who would get to join the games – balloon-blowing, hula hoop twirling, and pop-the-balloon relay (where some children refused to pop their balloons because they wanted to take them home)

Each CCFT department had a special number for the party, their token for the eleven special people turning a year older in November. The International School presentation had everyone all but rolling on the floor laughing. It was a spoof of the memorable International Day talent show: Teacher Andrew wiggling his hips out of time to Miss Guam’s Pearly Shells, Teacher Franz reciting a muddled version of Mr. Spain’s poem, La Cogida y La Muerte (more popularly known to the amused children as A Las Cinco de la Tarde), the stocky Teacher Rey swaying to a Colombian beat, and Teacher Miyet bouncing merrily to a traditional Finnish song.

The day ended with everyone dancing the Froggy Dance, a cute Japanese pop song with an instructional video – not once, but at least thrice, to repeated prodding of “Again! Again!” by the children. It was a birthday to be remembered and treasured by all who were present.