By Meriam Garrido Amy, BSN RN MPH, and CPUAAGTA: Press Relation Officer

Centralians from Toronto had their first face to face gathering since the pandemic started.

Central Philippine University Alumni Association of Greater Toronto Area (CPUAAGTA) hosted its Thanksgiving and Christmas Party on November 13, 2021 at The Kalayaan Center in Mississauga Ontario, Canada.

This alumni event is the first face to face one in the last 18 months. It was attended by a diverse generation of alumni family and friends spanning from 7-month-old to 84 years old. Dr. Faith Gicana oversaw the program and did a great job as an emcee. Norma VanDusen, president of the chapter, opened the evening with a warm welcome and updates of the various activities of the greater Toronto area chapter.

Before I gave the inspirational message on “Navigating Thanksgiving/Christmas Amidst global pandemic”, Dr. Christine Pearl Daquiado, the chapter’s auditor, introduced me. It was a humbling experience to deliver the heart and reason why we need to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas amidst pandemic crises. The gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. It is through that forgiveness that God sent His son to us as a special gift. Jesus’ birth gave us hope, love, peace, and joy. A challenge that without forgiveness there is no Christmas. Thanksgiving and Christmas are best celebrated if we let go of our emotional grudge. Forgiveness is a special gift we can give to ourselves and others. It is emptying our hearts with bitterness to make room for healing, freedom, happiness, and peace. A call to give a special gift this Christmas that does not require wrapping. Gift of time to help those in need.

The various speakers during the CPUAAGTA Thanksgiving and Christmas Party.

The Bahandi singers featured two pieces that they had been working on as a collaborative project with singers from Kenya and composer Ryan Cayabyab “Munting Sanggol.” It was such a delight to hear them again. The president of CPU Federation of Overseas Alumni Association (CPUFOAA) Rodrigo Gonzales gave an update and the challenges of finding a global reunion host. The Toronto Chapter originally planned to host 2022 event and later postponed it to 2023. It was cancelled due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. There is still an ongoing discussion on this, and the President of FOAA will have more information after their December meeting.

The second part of the program was the dinner reception. It was a feast. The lechon donated by Garry VanDusen sealed our taste buds for an authentic Filipino dining experience. The room was full of excitement and energy as the evening progressed. The games were fun, engaging, and suitable for all ages. The Traditionalist on table 4 and the Millennials on table 9 got really animated. Both groups received the first prize.

A random survey was conducted after the event, and respondents indicated among the highlights was the face-to-face encounter, reconnecting with friends, family, and fellow alumni. It was good to meet the six first-time alumni attendees. Family and guests caught the spirit of the Centralian Connection. The Central Spirit is almost as contagious as the Covid-19 virus. The bond shared by the alumni that evening migrated beyond Toronto. Some posted pictures on social media and reported that they might organize their own CPU alumni group in their area.

The planning and preparation for this event were daunting. There are strict guidelines and protocols that we needed to follow. As officers of Toronto Chapter, we put our heads, hearts, and hands together. Every detail and specks were covered. These are challenging times, but the team pulled together. Everything about this gathering is different but the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas was truly reflected on last Saturday’s event.

Congratulations CPUAAGTA for a successful and enchanted evening. We hope to see you all next year. Indeed, the Central Spirit is a highly contagious virus.