Christmas is a time to be merry. It’s a time when families and friends host parties to celebrate the season. This year, the IDEA family also gathered to celebrate all the people who keep our organization flourishing.
The IDEA family kicked off the holiday season with a Christmas Party on December 17 at the Dao Diamond Hotel, one of IDEA’s Employment and Income Generating Projects. More than 300 attended the party including family members of IDEA employees who were encouraged to come. IDEA founder, Dennis Drake, welcomed everyone at the start of the program. A trio of singers headed by our IDEA President, Marilou Drake, set the mood of the party as they sang “O Holy Night.”
Everyone shared the excitement of sharing joy. All the kids eagerly lined up as Marilou and staff handed out gifts. The children happily opened the bags filled with toys, accessories and food. They also enjoyed exchanging their gifts and easily made friends with each other.
As fun as the gift exchange was, the highlight of night was easily the “IDEA’s Got Talent” competition. Everyone was entertained and wowed to see each department proudly showing their talents. Each group worked hard to prepare their presentation. The Bohol Deaf Academy (BDA) teachers and staff stole the show and won the competition with a unanimous decision from our three judges, teachers for the Deaf in elementary. The judges gave second place to the group from IDEA Café and Pension House for their incredible role-play of the birth of Jesus and dance performance. Finally, The unique Pentatonix-inspired performance from the IDEA office staff earned third place (Pentatonix is a five-member American A Capella group from Arlington, Texas). Although not everyone won, all the performances were adored and their craft greatly appreciated.
During all the excitement of the talent show, there was also a raffle. Everyone was hoping to win one of 300 prizes. The minor prizes included clothes, footwear, kitchenware, and toys. A lucky few went home with a steel cabinet, high chair, bunk bed, single bed, washing machine, or refrigerator. After each draw a joyful, “Yehey! That’s me!” was heard.
“Thank you IDEA and thank you, Lord, for our many blessings! This is really useful for us. I’m so glad that I attended the party,” said teacher Nicel while looking through the steel locker she had won.
We owe a big thanks to the donors who shared their blessings to make our annual celebration a success. Everyone truly had a joyful time and savored the time together. Everyone felt at home in the IDEA family.
