PH Embassies, Consulates Stage Filipino Christmas Abroad

With the aim of spreading joy, hope, and the spirit of the holiday season amidst the pandemic, Philippine embassies and consulates across the globe brought Filipino Christmas to Filipino communities abroad by hosting virtual programs and outreach activities.

First row, left photo: Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Christopher B. Montero and Embassy personnel with all the performers during the “Paskong Pinoy sa Pasuguan 2020: Sama-sama Tayo Mag-karoling!” on 19 December 2020 at the Philippine Chancery. (Brunei PE photo); First row, center photo: The Parol (Christmas lantern) hung at the Embassy’s Main Lobby stairway, shines brightly during the program. (Brunei PE photo); Second row, left photo: Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. Ms. Stephanie Alexis Cruz receives a bouquet of roses from the children of St. Mary’s home upon arrival at the orphanage. (Yangon PE photo); Second row, right photo: Group photo with Fr. Reginald Baconin, O.P. and Amb. Confiado, after the Mass. (Cairo PE photo)

Several embassies and consulate held virtual Christmas concerts such as the Embassy in Brunei, which featured a Parol lighting ceremony and a musical extravaganza of Christmas carols; the Embassy in Berlin’s “Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko”, which featured Berlin-based Filipino tenor Eladio Pamaran and Paris-based pianist John Florencio; the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, which produced by an online concert featuring National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, surprise performances from top Kapamilya Artists, among others, broadcasted at the Filipino Channel (TFC); and the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt’s virtual Christmas presentation entitled “Pamaskong Alay”, which featured Viva Voce Voice Lab, Jose Mari Chan and Ricky Davao. More on these virtual concerts on: https://bit.ly/2WCJf1J.

In Dubai, the Consulate General released a Christmas video greeting featuring the original song composition of two Dubai-based artists, Mr. Exequiel Nuñez Jr, winner of the Consulate’s Dubai Dubai Musikahan 2018, and The Voice Philippines Finalist Josh Labing-isa, which prays for forgiveness and healing this Christmas. Watch the video here: https://bit.ly/38wkXfc.

First row, left photo: Ja’Lynn, Viakyia, and Imaiya are the winners of the parol-making activity facilitated by the Philippine Embassy under the Embassy Adoption Program with Excel Academy. (Washington PE photo); First row, right photo: The students proudly show their parols during the second meeting of the Embassy Adoption Program with Excel Academy on 15 December 2020. (Washington PE photo); Second row, left photo: Philippine Consul Grace Anne G. Bulos (second to the left), Pastor Jerry Saludez (far right), and other Consulate officials with Filipino fishermen of Pier 17, Honolulu Harbor. (Honolulu PCG photo); Second row, right photo: Consul Bulos distributes Consul Joselito G. Jimeno’s gift of assorted cookies and coffee. (Honolulu PCG photo); Third row photos: The traditions and celebrations of Paskong Pilipino that are missed by Filipinos in Canada. (Photos courtesy of PIDC)

In Myanmar, the Embassy visited St. Mary’s Home, and modified its annual gift-giving program to focus on providing for the hygiene needs of the children in the orphanage, and to spread awareness on Gender-based violence. More on this story: https://bit.ly/34UDYar.

In Egypt, the Embassy in Cairo hosted the second of the devotional nine-day Simbang Gabi or “Novena Masses” series. More on this story: https://bit.ly/3rn9dnV.

In Honolulu, the Consulate General visited the fishermen at Piers 17 and 36 of the Honolulu Harbor and gave them and their families over 100 tins of assorted biscuits and coffee sachets and nine balikbayan boxes of pre-loved clothes, toys, shoes, accessories, and children’s books. More on this story: https://bit.ly/38whXPY.

Left photo: “Pinoy Pasko, Proud Ako” official poster. (Photo courtesy of TFC); Upper right photo: The Philippine Heritage Band (PHB) during the 2020 Toronto Santa Claus Parade filmed at Canada’s Wonderland Theme Park. (Photo courtesy of PHB); Lower right photo: Dubai-based Filipino singer Alvin Pancito during his performance in Paskong Pinoy 2020. (Abu Dhabi PE photo)

In Canada, the Consulate General in Toronto joined Philippine Independence Day Council’s (PIDC) MabuhayPhilippines Festival 2 “PASKOHAN”, which recognized the many significant contributions the Filipino community has made to the country. The Philippine Heritage Band was also featured during the 2020 Toronto Santa Claus Parade filmed at Canada’s Wonderland Theme Park. While Embassy in Canberra hosted a Filipino Christmas Dinner. More on these features at: https://bit.ly/2KvhS7d and https://bit.ly/3hbU4Bf.

In Washington, D.C., the Embassy through Sentro Rizal Washington DC, once again partnered with DC Public School’s (DCPS) Excel Academy for the 2020-2021 Embassy Adoption Program (EAP) school year, where 6^thGraders Created Filipino ‘Parols’ and hosted a virtual event entitled “Christmas Celebrations Around the World”. More on this: https://bit.ly/3mDyrLe.

The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi launched “Paskong Pinoy 2020” with a catchy Christmas carol familiar to Filipinos with timely reminders to keep oneself and the people around them safe during the pandemic. The event also featured Dubai-based Filipino singer Alvin Pancito. Watch livestream here: https://bit.ly/3mImh3P.

In Italy, Consulate General in Milan hosted an online event featuring the first of the Christmas Novena Masses/Simbang Gabi and the launch of COVID-19 An Anthology of Poems of Filipinos in Northern Italy. The Anthology, published on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan (3 April 1995), is a compilation of kababayans’ poems submitted in June 2020 for a poetry-writing contest, with the theme “Ang Buhay ng Pilipino sa Ibang Bansa sa Panahon ng Pandemya.” More on this story: https://bit.ly/3ay4MRj.

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