OG 2012 NEWS 3

OG Issue 3/page 1

Inside: 2 A Whole Lotta Singing, A Whole Carolling

5 Speakers in OG

Theme: Christmas for One and All

Sunday, December 23, 2012 2pm*Blockhouse Bay Community Centre

OG Issue 3/page 2

WHOLE LOTTA SINGING, WHOLE LOTTA CAROLLING

In OG: Open Gathering on December 23, 2012 there will be a whole lot of

singing, a whole lot of carolling. This makes this year’s event of giving,

sharing and caring warmer as everyone can lend their voices to fill

Blockhouse Bay Community Centre with the sound of Christmas.

Mel B Libre, founder of OG, said, “The true spirit of Christmas is togetherness, and what better way to

demonstrate this than through community singing. Add to that the giving of gifts, the sharing of food

and the caring words of inspiring speakers. And don’t forget the games. Everybody should have a

wonderful time.”

Among the songs lined up are: “Silent Night”, “O Holy Night”, “Joy to the World” and the most

popular Filipino carol, “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit/Kasadya ning Taknaa”. Child stage actress Isabela

Caballero who played the role of “Tam” in Miss Saigon in Auckland and Jeydi Parado who acted as the little prince in the KBNZ Sinulog 2012 presentation will sing “My Favourite Things” from “The Sound

of Music”. The official anthem of OG, “Happy Birthday Jesus” will be performed when the specially-

baked cake for the baby Jesus is offered.

The number of new migrants and refugees who have registered has risen to 30, while gifts have

continued to be delivered to the chief Santa, Rosendo Menchavez. The organisers are continuing in

their campaign for more people to join.

New migrants and refugees are requested to call Debbie at (09) 813 1616. Gift donors may email: [email protected] for pickup.

OG Issue 3/page 3

OG Issue 3/page 4

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES

To celebrate the Christmas season, you can make a difference in people’s lives, if you really want to.

OG: Open Gathering allows you to open the door of your heart to new migrants, brethren who come to a new place with a few acquaintances,

without family, and maybe without a job for the moment.

Here are a few guidelines:

Identify a new migrant. The person setting next to you may have arrived of late in New Zealand. Get to know a bit of the individual, and tell

him about what he/she will be doing during Christmas.

Invite the migrant. If you can’t invite him/her to your home, there is a venue where you can make him/her at home as well in OG: Open

Gathering. This year, it is on Sunday, December 23, 2012 starting at 2pm. Of course, you need to get his/her contact number.

Fetch the invitee. The migrant may want to go, but he/she doesn’t have a vehicle nor is he/she familiar with the roads. Tell him/her that you will

fetch him/her on that day.

Wrap a gift. The essence of Christmas is giving. Look for an item that is useful to new

migrants, like canned goods, utensils, shirts, etc, and wrap it. Your gift will be

distributed among invitees to OG. If you can, wrap as well a toy for the kids.

Cook a dish. Wouldn’t it be great if you cooked your favourite dish or dessert and

share these with your brethren during OG? In addition to filling the hearts of invitees,

you will fill their stomachs as well.

Tell your friends about OG. You can tell your friends about the Open Gathering; and

ask them to do the tasks listed above as well. They’ll be thankful that you did.

OG Issue 3/page 5

SPEAKERS IN OG 2012

New migrants and refugees struggle when they settle in a new country. They

have to adjust to a different culture. They have to find a decent job to sustain

the needs of their families. They have to start from scratch in mostly everything

including housing and education.

What is good in New Zealand is that there is no shortage of institutions that give assistance to

new migrants and refugees. Doing its share is OG: Open Gathering as it invites new migrants

and refugees to partake of food, to receive gifts and to be entertained. It, also, makes it a point

to have speakers deliver inspiring talks.

According to Debbie Libre, OG Project Coordinator, this year OG will have lawyer Paulo

Garcia and accountant Jojo Taghoy as speakers.

OG Coordinator Debbie Libre with Consul General Garcia

Garcia, Philippine Consul General in Auckland will give the welcome remarks. He has been active as a resource

person in migrant meetings and workshops tackling issues such as laws affecting migrants, migrants’ rights and

challenges of migrant families and children.

Taghoy(at right), a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines and an active member of the Couples for Christ,

went through hardships when he arrived under the Work-to-Residence Scheme and his experiences should

inspire new migrants and refugees.

OG Issue 3/page 6

YOU CAN BE AS TALL AS SANTA

Invite a new migrant,

bring food stuff and gifts –

as we sing Christmas carols

and play games

OG Open Gathering

Christmas for One and All Sunday, December 23, 2012 2pm*Blockhouse Bay Community Centre*Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay