Mardi Gras Event 2024 (Pista Sa Nayon)

FFRGOC has a yearly fund raising event to support our seminarians become priests. Please refer to the Section about our Seminarian Scholarship Program.

This year, we used the Mardi Gras, instead of Pista sa Nayon, theme and was so successful most of the guests dressed up in formal attire plus use of masks and beads just like the Mardi Gras in New Orleans although more casual on the streets of New Orleans.

I have travelled to New Orleans a lot for business of a drilling company and have seen the actual Mardi Gras event.

Mardi Gras means “laissez les bon temps rouler” in Cajun French or "let the good times roll" in English.

Quoting Mardi Gras's blessing published online "We thank you for the abundance of gifts you shower upon us. We thank you especially for one another. As we give you thanks, we are mindful of those who have so much less than we do."

This quote rhymes with our mission and goals as a non-profit organization.

In preparation for the event, under the able leadership of Helen Alonso and with Chat Agbayani, Director of Social Services as the overall chairwoman who created committees to work on the different areas who followed through and supported the preparation of the stage and decor on the tables, the registration and raffle tickets sales and collection and getting sponsors for the event.

It is best to remember a successful event by using appropriate pictures and right words to describe the past event on our website.

The Team that worked hard.

Preparation of stage by Glenn , Dean and Marlon

The cover of our Event Program

Our Program for the evening

Raffle Prices, DJ and Decoration Sponsors we thank you !

Thanks to all our sponsors who used their business or personal names with logo if applicable as a

backdrop of our photo booth.

The Room fully decorated and ready for everyone to have a memorable and fun evening.

So professionally done including the table settings

Rene, husband of our Treasurer Sol Sollorano helping out on the selling of raffle ticket to a well dressed attendee.

Benita, Lorraine and Fely selling and collecting raffle tickets

The Registration table with Sol, Amie, Zeny and Rica who were happy to assist all attendees

Our Chairperson, Chat Agbayani and her Co Chair Mary Ann Puzon all dressed up with Fely and other friends.

Attendees wearing beautiful Mardi Gras attires and masks

Picture perfect among friends with Vita and Lourdes

Picked her out of our many attendees as one of the best dressed for the occasion

Another beautiful picture with our Madam President Helen Alonzo

More attendees with Father Vu

Debbie Gonzales, former FFRGOC President with her husband Ely, Father Vu and the Dimayugas and Ernie and other members of her area

The "crowd" having a good time during the night

Our President Helen with Father Vu and a friend

Glenn and Mary Ann Puzon with Father Nuval

Our famous choir who sang Bayang Hinirang to start the event

Our Madam President Helen Alonso welcoming everyone

FFRGOC Spiritual Director Father Caboboy led everyone to pray before dinner

One of our yummy dinner choices -salmon

Our Prime Rib as a choice , one of the best served in an hotel settings and comparable to famous prime rib restaurant

Ready to dance led by our emcee, Walter Bayubay

Now our Board Officers were ready too with Lorraine Betts, our Secretary catching the moment with her iphone camera.

The man behind the music that made everyone dance, DJ Jun Alcantara

This is Larry, the Choir Director of FFRGOC choir who works very hard for us to have beautiful music in different languages in our events

More dancing during the night

Raffle Tickets Winners announced by Lorraine and Walter, emcees

Announcements of Raffle Winners

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The following pictures are fun pictures worth remembering

Is he trying to be a Pope? lol

Love how Boots dressed up and reminds me of how ladies dressed up as part of the street Mardi Gras!

. Husband, Marlon and Wife , Chat really dressed up to the hilt and looks like celebrities!

A fun picture with Father Nuval and Dina Tennant

Don't know her but we had a fun picture!

Boots, our auditor, with Abbey from JAR who she solicited as very good sponsor

Ruby Morallos. Southwest Area1 Chairperson enjoying the night with her better half

Love this couple who used to be very active and glad to see them in our events, the Isoms!

A couple I treasure the friendship, Walter and Aye Bayubay and Mama Masing

Debbie with husband Ely, who look so great together

The beauties of the South, Chat, Mary Ann and Fely

Last but not least, our very own celebrity Lorraine Betts who looks so beautiful!

Our event ended up based on the feedback one of the best event we had . Our team becomes more seasoned, learned, and improved our past mistakes and we thank all of you who supported our organization FFRGOC in this once a year fund raising event to educate men to be priests and also help the needy locally at Orange County Mission.

Special thank you to Bradley Zint , Assistant Director of Communications of the Diocese of Orange Communications Team and its members for the email sent to the different parishes regarding this event based on our immediate press release we sent to them. Thank you for your support to our organization.

Thanks for working hard with us and at the same time enjoy our lives together and praying to Jesus through Mary. Till next blog !