Good morning everyone! Yesterday was our second Daupan family reunion (Alfredo daupan & Lucia Pal-a)... it was held here in Brent School again just like last year...
Unfortunately, it was only Mama Talin and Auntie Sipin who were there as our elders - plus papa Tamking of course, who actually is the only living male ancestor that we have (i.e., from this family)... only after lunch when we were already having the closing program that Auntie Felina and Yapeng and her daughter-in-law (yes, Yapeng has already a daughter-in-law) and four grandchildren, came... great that they were able to come...
Just like last year, Auntie Sipin and her family were the first to arrived... and again her plea when we ended the reunion was for everyone to be early and on time...
We started with a prayer and then some singing and dancing before we had lunch... I wanted the young people to come earlier so that we can have basketball or any games... but they all came late... the littel children had their time though in the children's grounds - with the swing, slide, monkey bars, etc...
each brought something to eat which in the end was more than enough for everyone... with the left-overs shared by those who wanted to get some for dinner...After lunch we continued with some singing and dancing... with Rufin "Bangibang" - the 2 year old son of Johnson...
as the most active in dancing... for as long as there was music, he was there in the middle swinging his hands, hips and his head and a thumping of his feet... kudos also to a lot of children who were there in the dance floor - this is something that those of you who were not physically present missed...
We ended with a round prayer with everyone in a circle - Papa Tamking began the prayers and then by the rest... prayers were for our family members who were not there - those in Australia (Manang Consing, Manang Tessie, Johnson and their families)... in the USA (Manong Joey & family)... in Hongkong (Jessica, Nelly, etc)... in Saipan (Irene & family)... overseas workers... those in Manila (Manang Begot & family)... in Bicol (Edring & family)... La Union and Baguio (Manang Connie, Romeo, Lilian, Christopher, Cindy, Jimmy, etc.) who because of reasons where not able to make it... we prayed for those not well - particularly Fely (and we were indeed glad that Ceasar, Aldwin and Reijin were there!)...
auntie Dangonay and Auntie Bagayo, both of whom are now limited in their physical movement because of age... for our plans this year... for those graduating either in high school or college, like the son of manang Begot- now 4th year high school, (forgot his name???), the younger brother of Jessa (I thought Jessa was younger than her brother - to her delight of course)... Czar- now 12th grade here... Paulyn - now 4th year high school... Pureza, from her Nursing course... 
after the prayers, which I ended with a reading of Colossians 3:12-17 and the Lord's Prayer, we then exchanged gifts... for those who brought any gifts...
The decision that was made after all these was that we will have our 3rd reunion on December 27, 2007... the venue will be in Poblacion, San Gabriel... Jerry volunteered to host it this time... he made it clear that he will take care of food and everyone else however will take care of their own fare going there...
made clear also that future hosting may not be like this... I was just thinking of the hosts in the future who might be concerned about providing "food" whenever we gather... We make Jerry's invitation an exception because he volunteered to take care of the food (just like last year with Manong Joey's generosity)... this is not also to prevent anyone to bring any food that he or she would like to share... that is still a welcome from anyone...
Meanwhile, God bless everyone...
RICHARD
