By Meriam Amy, CPUAAGTA Chapter President

Celebrating the season of gratitude and joy together – attendees of the 2024 CPUAAGTA Thanksgiving and Christmas Party gather for a photo opportunity.

Part 1: Dinner – Fellowship Around the Table

Feeding 120 people on a limited budget, requires creative and collaborative catering. All done by our very own alumni. Bin Xu made the barbeque pork and soya sauce marinated chicken. RJ Garcia the owner of Home of Empanada catered the fried rice and stir- fried harvest vegetables. I like baking and venturing out healthy recipe. Baked some cookies and purchased cake and dessert squares. I created a salad recipe to make use of the produce from our church members. Many asked for the recipe, I guess it tasted good. “October Harvest Salad” combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas ingredients. Please see recipe attached below.

Our hosts for the evening, Dora and Jesse Peñacerrada, arrived in Canada on December 24, 2023, with their two sons, Alejandro and Enrique. The couple came with a passion for performing arts. Both took a major role on the production of Hopevale’s Mission and Martyrs in 2005 as Dr. and Mrs. Rose.

We also welcomed four first-time attenders and eight December Birthday celebrants with a vanilla and chocolate cake as part of our dessert.

Part 2: The Message – A Time to Listen

Rod Gonzales gave an update of the global reunion in 2025. Followed by an inspiring testimony of Thanksgiving from Rosalie Nuñez-Ching. Rev. Dr. Nestor Abdon concluded the second part with a message on advent. what it means to prepare and wait for Christmas. He holds a Bachelor of Theology from CPU. A Doctor of Public Administration from U.P. and recently completed a Doctor of Intercultural Studies/ Missiology from Western Seminary, Oregon. His doctoral dissertation had been converted into a book, “Intersection of Migration and Mission.”

Part 3: Active Participation – A Time for Action

A simple activity of singing the 12 days of Christmas, transformed the audience as choreographers and animators for those who can draw. Each table were asked to draw a picture of the gifts received from their true love. Table 2 had the best drawing of two turtledoves, by Rodney Gicana. Table 5 was so animated that the five golden rings was well choreograph. Table 1 was right on with their timing and always ready on que. Carel and Lisha Gicana led that table with mostly young boys who wanted to sit with them.

The Dance Instruction was so much fun. Jennifer Obregon Deligiannis started us with the jazz and pop moves, Gilbert Jamolo with modern dance and line dancing. Bong Gonzales introduced salsa and rumba. The three instructors are going to be at the gala night on global reunion. Don’t miss this fun.

Thank you, Norma VanDusen, soliciting gifts for the raffle. I heard that some received unique and interesting gifts.

The last part of the program is the group photo. This year, the promotional team produced another short video to promote the global reunion in 2025. Thank you CPUAA Greater Toronto Chapter. That was fun and memorable. See you on July 10-13, 2025. The time is here and register now. Let the central spirit soar. LET’S GO GLOBAL!

October Harvest Salad (Recipe by Meriam Amy):

Ingredients:

2 cups	cubed red apples
2 cups	cubed cucumber
1 cup	dried cranberries
½ cup	pecan nuts. Chopped in small pieces baked in the oven for 8 minutes at 350
½ cup	feta cheese
½ cup	bacon bits
½ cup	red or green onions

The beets are optional. I used it because I have produced that was given to me. I know that beets are loaded with nitrates and other nutrients that are good to lower the bad cholesterol.

Dressing:

1/2 cup	sour cream or Greek yogurt
1/2 cup	mayonnaise
2 tablespoons	white sugar
2 tablespoons	Apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons	Olive oil
2 tablespoons	Poppy seeds

Process:

1 cup cubed beets. Boil beets whole for 10-15 minutes, this makes it easy to peel. Then slice it into cubes. Bake in the oven with two tablespoons of oil, seasoned with salt and pepper for 15 minutes at 350. These can be substituted to other vegetables. Like sweet potatoes pepper squash or butternut squash. Prepare the same way as beets.