Guafely Joy! - Our School's Beachside Christmas Celebration! 🎄🎁💚

The air filled with cheers and laughter, jolly music in the background, the soft touch of white sand on our toes, and the sea breeze gently caressing our faces collectively created a blissful atmosphere for our Christmas Party for teachers for this year 2023.

Everyone was ecstatic to finally gather for our Christmas Party this year. Same with last year, we also held it on the beach so everyone could relish the joy of swimming and playing after the party, especially since most of our teachers always bring their family with them (every time we have a party). And this is what made this party incredible - teachers can bring their loved ones for them to enjoy the party too! With this, our Christmas Party is not only a party for the faculty but also a celebration of camaraderie and an extension for our professional family.

I arrived at the beach around 10:00 o'clock, there was no pressure to get to the venue earlier. I felt at ease knowing I had no responsibilities *nothing to prepare *, so I just planned to enjoy the party and participate in all the games and win all the prizes! (if I could) and cap it off with a leisurely stroll on the beach and immersing myself in its beauty.

_{Photo Grabbed from IIS Facebook Page}

However, to my surprise, I was the emcee of the event! I grabbed the program to check if it was true, and yes I was really the host! haha. What a twist!

Christmas Party - Kick Off!

While waiting for all the teachers to gather at the venue (everyone was busy practicing for the Daygon Contest), Maam Judith entertained everyone first with a song with her delightful voice.

Without any further, we started the program with a prayer, followed by acknowledgment of the participant and a warm-up activity to set the mood and the energy of the people. Everyone was beaming with joy embracing the festivities wholeheartedly.😍

We were just starting but I could feel that this beachside Christmas celebration would become a vibrant and engaging experience for us all.

Games

As the host, I couldn't participate in the games, but I felt like I was also participating, I was laughing hard which took my energy too! The games were all for fun, and everyone was just very competitive! The beach transformed into a lively playground for both games and the shared joy of our Christmas Celebration!

Warming Up!

The game everyone was having so much fun which also hype the Christmas Party was the popping of the balloons! Each teacher had a balloon tied on their foot, the goal was simple yet thrilling - pop other's balloons while safeguarding your own.

Everyone was enthusiastically engaged in this playful chaos.The faces of the teachers showing their sheer determination to win this game were what made me laugh so hard. Haha!

Another fun game was the lava walk, where teachers needed to tiptoe on the paper while pretending the ground was lava. There was also a sack race but not the sack race that we used to do. In this game, teachers have to race while they are inside the sacks almost sitting. Haha! In the end, teachers realized how hard the life of the pig is, they felt like they were pigs during the game. lol!

After all the lively games, the stage was set for the Performace Competition, wherein two groups coming from the elementary department and the other two from the high school competed. In the end, it's the Elementary teachers won, securing their points to win this year, because last year's champion was the secondary department. The whole presentation was very entertaining.

Everyone then shared the food which was a bountiful feast for everybody! I forgot to take photos here, I was very hungry that I could eat a whole horse. Haha!

The secluded and simply stunning venue: Guafely!

Unlike the previous venues we have, this year we had it laid back and secluded. The venue for this Christmas party is the lovely Guafely Beach Resort.

Guafely Becah Resort is nestled in the beautiful serene corners of San Remegio. If not for our Christmas Party, I wouldn't have known that this simple and beautiful beach existed. The beach added an unexpected charm to our celebration.

The beach is not as fully developed compared to the beach resorts of San Remegio. It has only a handful of amenities like cottages and bathrooms and the rest is the unspoiled beauty of nature. And this is what I love about this place. Guafely is simple and alluring with its natural beauty.

The beach's pristine white sand, its swaying coconut trees, other green vegetation, and the cottages made of wood made the place authentic and refreshing.

I took a quick stroll in the venue to indulge myself in it and see more of its beauty and I was simply amazed at the stunning beauty this beach has offered. I'm thinking of bringing my family here soon for a family beach day.

I love my manito yes I do!

After the games and the quick stroll, it was time for the much anticipated manito-Manita exchange. Before we gave our gifts, we first sang a song I Love My Manito/a, then each person described his/her manito/a, and lastly said our heartfelt wishes for them. Finally, we revealed who our Manito/a is and then gave our gifts to them!

The manita-manito exchange for me is the essence of Christmas Celebration. It feels great to give gifts to others and be the Santa to grant their wishes. While I was anxious as to my Manito would like the presents I prepared for him, I was more than happy seeing his genuine happiness, he didn't just like them, but he loved the presents I had for him!

It was a memorable beachside Christmas Celebration filled with warmth and joy.

Thank you so much for reading! I wish you all safe and well always.

Don't forget to smile often.😍🤗😚