Lauan Family Day 2008
Kevin dela Cruz| Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:46:28 AM | 
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It was indeed a "perfect" Christmas in Lauan as the fellows along with their family members celebrated the annual Lauan Christmas Family Day. It all started with a Mass in the oratory with Father Ted as the celebrant. In his homily, Fr. Ted invited us with the whole Catholic Church to rejoice for the Lord is near, for God will be born as man on Christmas day! And what better way to celebrate this joy than to celebrate it with the families of Lauan fellows?
It was followed by a simple presentation with Varsolo Sunio as the host. First, the families were oriented to Lauan, its profile and history. Now on its 36th year, Lauan is a center for professional development and Christian formation. Its history is very much connected with the history of Opus Dei in the Philippines, started by three Harvard-educated Filipinos - Dr. Jess Estanislao, Dr. Bernardo Villegas, and Dr. Placido Mapa. Their work is inspired by the teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, on seeking holiness in daily life. After a brief note on Lauan, the family members viewed the highlights of the activities that Lauan had engaged in the past year through an audio-visual presentation. Albert Ong and Kevin dela Cruz then serenaded the families with songs reminiscent to the emotion and the reason for the season. The songs were "A Perfect Christmas" by Jose Mari Chan and "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder.
After the presentation, the affair became more intimate and delightful when everyone gathered together for a sumptuous lunch consisting of various servings of food from each family. During this time, the families had the opportunity to know each other and the Lauan staff. The occasion also served as the time to rekindle past experiences as a Lauanista. Apparently, Mr. Parrenas, one of the parents in the event, said that "he was very active in Lauan during his college years" and that "it's nice to be back". Also, the camera never failed to capture the pictures, both candid and proud, of the families, the staff and the fellows.
As Burton Hills said, "the best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." Truly, this event is the best of all that made Lauan's Christmas special. The families brought with them home the memory of togetherness, of the Nativity.
A memorable Christmas to all the families!
