THE GOURD FESTIVAL
-June 27, 2009
Laarni Catague-Gularek announced at the Business Meeting of June 20 that she developed Information Hunt – A click game to promote and familiarize SUAF members with their upgraded web site.
The game consisted of answering questions about information that is found on the site. Whoever comes up with the most correct answers wins a free ticket to the International Gourd Festival.
And the Winner was…..Alma Pinili Lavergne.
On a beautiful Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, a number of adventurous members gathered and traveled to the farthest corner of Fallbrook and down into the bowels of the deepest canyon to visit the Welbourn Gourd Farm where the Festival was held.
Making the trip were, prize winner Alma Lavergne, Nate and Grace Tan, Laarni, Frank and Sean Gularek, Joel and Stacy Simpkins, John Olivar, and SUAF President Miriam Cole.
Joining the early group were Dinah Penaflorida and grandchildren Matthew and Meagan Lotto, Manny and Fely Narvaez, and Allen, Amanda and Chalmer Garrido.
The Festival displayed exquisite works of art, excellent craftsmanship, and outstanding creativity. It was amazing what can be done to and with fruit that is associated with the dinner table.
There were craft demonstrations that not only piqued member’s attention and curiosity but also inspired Miriam and Sean to try their hand at “Gourding” and came away with a nicely made, painted, and decorated gourd that was dubbed a “humming bird’s luxury condominium” by envious companions.
Of course being Sillimanites with a few minutes of exposure to the art of “gourding”, many participated as judges in the “Best of Show” contest of art and craftsmanship in gourds.
With so many Sillimanites in the neighborhood, Joel and Ligaya Simpkins invited everyone to their home to share tales of the festival, Silliman and a myriad of topics all characterized by fun and laughter.
As expected of such occasions, there was food galore and a-plenty shared by all. There was wonderful salads, lechon (including the pig’s head, much to Joel Simpkins’ bewilderment), spaghetti, fish, sausage, rice, pie and ice cream and the now unfamiliar “pinasugbo”, also known as the banana brittle.
To try and burn off the overabundance of calorie intake, Sean Gularek led the group in a password game. The fun derived from the activity was proportional to the decibel level of laughter. The loudest noise generated by the strangest answer by a team member and the correct answer from the opposing team member.
Joel took everyone to a lovely backyard where he introduced everyone to the game of Blongo. Everyone rose to the challenge to exhibit “mastery” of their new found skill.
All had so much fun, again measured by the noise level, that it was most charitable of neighbors not to have called in the noise abatement arm of the law.
As the sun threatened to sink below the horizon, responsibility for the daily routines of life beckoned and all had to call an end to such a wonderful day.
Members thanked Ligaya and Joel for their hospitality and soon took off for their homes.
A memorable day was had by all and all hoped that next time a get together takes place that the opportunity to bond as Sillimanites will be further enhanced by the presence of those that could not make it this time around.
— By: John Olivar
