Rondalla Rocks - Rocking Eve 2014

Where is everyone? Oh right...they're behind me dancing. 

Posing after dancing and playing games for several hours

Hey PinoyJeep Bloggers,

Every year, Iskwelahang Pilipino hosts a Christmas party including performances by all grade levels and the rondalla, a yankee swap, and of course, lots-n-lotsa food. Unfortunately, due to the storm the night before, it was cancelled...Nonetheless, due to a little love'n care from Tita Janeth, we got our party.

IP parents and students posing for a picture with the Castro family

On Sunday, December 29th, Tita Janeth (mother of Janrey) and her family hosted a party to celebrate the IP Rondalla Tour, since we didn't have the opportunity to hold the event earlier. While the party started off with only a few people trickling in (we're supposed to start at 6:00 p.m., but hint, hint...Filipino time), by around 7 o'clock, the dance floor was crowded with kids and parents dancing to Shakira, Nikki Minaj, Katy Perry and a whole bunch of new and old artists. Even the Lantin's, our friends from Virginia who brought their daughter for graduate school in Boston, took some time off to join our party.

Tita Janeth (center) with other IP parents enjoying the party

The future of IP Rondalla rests in these brave men...who are apparently pointing at something in the ceiling.

If you've ever heard of "Just Dance," a game for the Wii that lets you copy the dancer's moves on the screen so you too can dance like Psy. If you haven't, I highly recommend renting it. Oh my! We all got a good workout from this game. Even the parents had fun gettin' jiggy with it. Of course, there's also the traditional Filipino line dance routine mixed with Zumba. We were all sweating.

Happy Birthday from the IP Rondalla members!

Besides all of the dancing, did I mention the food? There was a flotilla of food ranging from boxes and boxes of pizza, macaroni and pasta together with your traditional menudo, Christmas ham, pancit, lumpia, "Filipino spaghetti" and arroz caldo. The desserts were divine. There were French macaroons, dark and white chocolate fondue, cassava, ubi cake, and puto. Of course, as tradition dictates, we took a few left-over dishes home afterwards. We also celebrated Bo and Emma's birthday with two delicious ice cream cakes! Happy Birthday, girls!

Getting ready for the pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters game. 

Nathan adds a twist to the "Pepsi and Coke" game

After several rounds of dancing, we took intermittent breaks to check our raffle tickets and to play a few parlor games. The raffle items were pretty typical and atypical, meaning we had prizes like chocolate, perfume, a Pepsi water jug and make-up kit, but also cooking mittens, pancit noodles, packs of Mama Sita and Banana ketchup, and even a laser hair remover! We all know who wanted that hair remover...and who staked the Pepsi water jug.

Group picture with the parents! Say "Cheese"!

Then, we played a few games like "Pepsi and Coke" in which pairs have to run to one side of the room and one has to sit on the other partner's lap before everyone else. We also played musical chairs (I got kicked out on the third to last round) and the pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters game, which involves moving your hips around depending on which coin the leader calls.

The night ended close to 11pm, yet all of us were still in the mood for more dancing, eating, raffles and games. We all had the experience of our lives. Honestly, what I think this was the best Filipino party all year, and we were definitely sad that it would be our last meeting as an IP family before the start of the new year.

On our three-hour drive home to Connecticut where I currently live, all my family talked about was how great the night's party went. We arrived home close to 2:30 in the morning sleepy and exhausted but in good spirits.

Next time, let's go camping!
Thank you Tita Janeth. This was AWESOME!

Smile, everyone! Didn't you just have the time of your life? I sure did! 

Sierra Jamir