COAns celebrated Christmas 2007 in a spirit of abundance and thanksgiving as
blessings and rich legacies flowed during the year like the steady stream of the
river into the ocean.
COA Chairman Guillermo N. Carague set the tone for the holidays as he called
for COAns to thank the Lord for a banner year. "Isang pasasalamat sa walang
sawang pag-abot ng mga biyaya sa ating lahat mula sa Poong Maykapal. Pasasalamat
sa bawat pagsubog na sabay-sabay nating nalampasan dala n gating pagkakaisa at
pagtutulungan. At isang taos pusong pasasalamat sa pagkakataong makasama at
mapaglingkuran kayong lahat sa loob ng pitong taon," the Chairman said.
Mr. Carague also shared that this event is even more significant for him as
it is the last Christmas he will be spending with COAns as Chairman, leaving a
legacy of outstanding contribution to the Commission.
Commissioner Reynaldo A. Villar, for his part, encouraged COAns to work
together: "Magsamasama tayo sa pasalamat at dasal na sana’y mapanatili natin
ang pagkakaisa’t pagmamahal dulot ng pagkilala at pagtanggap sa isa’t isa tungo
sa matapat na paglilingkod alang-alang sa makahulugang pagdiriwang ng pasko."
An invitation to share life’s blessing with the less fortunate, on the other
hand, was Commissioner Juanito G. Espino’s message to COAns. "Magiging ganap
lamang an gating pagdiriwang kung tayo ay magiging mapagbigay sa pagdamay at
pagtulong sa iba, lalo na sa mga kapus-palad nating kababayan. Pinatutunayan ng
ating malakas na pananalig sa Diyos at kakayahan ng ating paglilingkod na kaya
nating makamit ang tagumpay na ating kailangan sa patuloy na masiglang serbisyo
publiko," he said.
Guided by the theme "Pagdiriwang: Handog Pasasalamat," COAns showed
their gratitude for a year marked by achievements and development for the
Commission and the nation in general through religious services (Catholic,
Christian and Muslim) on the morning of December 19, 2007.
The simultaneous religious services were followed by Christmas greetings to
the Commission Proper (CP) and the official Christmas lunch and party for each
COA office. The day was capped by a raffle and Pamaskong Tugtugan at Awitan
courtesy of the PhilGASEA.
The essence of generosity pervaded earlier with the Pamaskong Handog
for low-salaried COA employees in cooperation with the Lingap ng COA Family
Foundation on December 18, 2007. The employees with the senior officials enjoyed
a sumptuous lunch that followed. The day ended with a row of carolers and well
wishers serenading the CP and other top officials.
The week-long Christmas celebration began with a Christmas Party for the
children of COA employees held at the COA Day Care in cooperation with the
Gender and Development on December 14, 2007. A golf tournament and bingo socials
were also held for the occasion.
