We are pleased to announce that everything needed for a successful, albeit basic and simple, reunion ball has been accomplished. In fact, we have now met our MINIMUM expectations. Here is our schedule:
April 29, 2011 – Homecoming Grand Ball at the historical Manila Hotel - We will have a basic event, with ceremonies limited to one and one-half hours during dinner. Our goal is to have the maximum amount of time for the attendees to socialize with each other; both during the 2 hour reception before the program starts, and again after the brief ceremonies and dinner are over. And of course, lots of time to dance is built into the event.
May 3, 2011 – Balikbayan Cultural Night in the Aparri Gymnasium – In addition to enjoying the program our town mates will put on for us, we will be participating by entering 2 numbers into the program.
May 4, 2011 – Picnic on the Beach in Aparri – Let’s all get dark in the brilliant tropical sun of our beautiful beaches. Although the beach picnic will basically be a “pot-luck,” the association has budgeted funds to cover drinks and miscellaneous sundries (paper plates, flatware, decorations, etc.), and maybe some special viands for the picnic.
WE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO THE HOTEL FOR WHAT WE KNOW IN ADVANCE. SO IF YOU DON’T COMMIT TO US AND AT LEAST MAKE A RESERVATION, YOU AND YOUR GUESTS WILL RUN THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND!!!!
THE DEADLINE FOR PURCHASING TICKETS AND/OR RESERVING TICKETS IS APRIL 12, 2011.
US Tickets are white and are $ 100 each and include participation in all of our Reunion Events in both Manila and Aparri. Philippine Tickets are red and are PhP2500 each but are only for the Homecoming Ball at the Manila Hotel.
ALL PAYMENTS MADE “AT THE DOOR” FOR RESERVED TICKETS MUST BE IN CASH. PESOS FOR red TICKETS, USD FOR white TICKETS.
General Information and Progress Report
Aparri International, Inc. was founded for the purpose of promoting unity and camaraderie amongst Aparrianos around the world and to use this camaraderie for the benefit of our beloved hometown. So we have reunions and other fund-raising events to raise money for projects that will be useful to our hometown. We have two active projects right now: a medical mission in Aparri in November 2012 and the creation of a self-sustaining cultural center in Aparri as soon as possible. To make these projects happen, we need to raise funds.
Our US ticket sales (we believe we have 100 sold!) our Philippines ticket sales to date (we also believe we have 100 sold), and the souvenir ad sales have raised enough funds already for us to break even as of today. This means that our reunion will be a qualified success. Additional sales, especially of Philippine tickets, will give us additional funds to be used for our projects. So for us to be really successful in raising funds, we need 2 things to happen: First, we need more US and Canadian Aparrianos to join us in this reunion and buy US tickets. Second, we really need to ensure that more Aparrianos in the Philippines attend the events and buy Philippines tickets.
If you are an Aparriano in the US or Canada who has not yet purchased tickets but are planning to attend, please send us an email and let us know your plans. If you can purchase your tickets and pay for them by the April 12, 2011 deadline, that will be wonderful. But if all you can do is to confirm to us that you will be there, we can still reserve tickets for you to purchase at the door. However, we need your confirmation in order to be able to do this. Similarly, if you cannot attend yourself, consider having a relative in Aparri attend on your behalf. If you can confirm that your relatives will attend, we can reserve tickets for your relatives at the door. The most important thing for us at this point is to know who will be attending the grand ball. We will only make a commitment to the hotel for the number of attendees who give us confirmations!
We also understand that the Manila Hotel can handle more than our current minimum projection of 200 persons. We have room for more, but only if we know in advance.
The last thing we want is for the Association to pay for something that we won’t use.
Our Philippines committee has done a great job so far, and we can only hope that they can get even more tickets sold, and especially hope that they can get an accurate count of the confirmed number of attendees from the Philippines. We need your help too – make up your minds to join us and let us know you will be there, and, get your friends and relatives in the Philippines to join us as well.
Here’s one final caution for those of you who are thinking of just showing up without tickets or reservations. Once we have made the commitment to the hotel for the number of attendees, we will only have a very small margin to sell tickets at the door to un-reserved walk-ins. If we commit to 200 attendees, we will only be able to accommodate 10 persons without reservations. If we commit to 400 attendees, we will only be able to accommodate 20 persons without reservations. Don’t risk being turned away. Contact us and let us know your plans.
If you are currently in the US or Canada, please send your inquiries about purchasing tickets or your reservations for tickets, to Tarrie Co at mailto:tarrie_co@yahoo.com as soon as you are done reading this,
If you are currently a resident of the Philippines, contact any of the following persons to purchase or reserve tickets:
Contact Person............Cell No...................Email
Terestita M Leabres.......0917-812-9294.......titaleabres@yahoo.com
Rema T Manzano...........0929-790-6888
Jane V Lingan................0927-601-2141
Naty Cueto
Nora Paggabao
Atty. Boysie Manzano
SEE YOU IN MANILA AND IN APARRI!!!
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