"Pasko sa Canberra” Ushers in Christmas Season in Aus’ Capital

Performers at Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) engage the audience with lively music and dances on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds. (Canberra PE photo)

CANBERRA 16 December 2019 — More than 2,000 people enjoyed the festivities in Pasko sa Canberra 2019 (Christmas in Canberra) on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds. 

The Filipino Christmas Festival, annually on the first Sunday of December, is jointly organized by the Filipino Community Council of the ACT (FCCACT), the peak body of Filipino community organizations in Australia’s capital city, and the Philippine Embassy in Canberra. The FCCACT is led by its president, Maria Doronila. 

Pasko sa Canberra is shares Filipino Christmas traditions with the Canberra community through food stalls with authentic Filipino cuisine, tourism promotion activities, Christmas carols, Santa gift-giving for kids, a raffle draw, performances, and its very first parol-making contest. Two lucky raffle draw winners brought home the grand prizes of two roundtrip tickets to and from Sydney and Manila sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air. 

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, said “Pasko sa Canberra is particularly special for me first because it is the biggest gathering of the Filipino community in Canberra. Nobody celebrates Christmas as Filipinos do, and this important occasion surely draws all of us together, year after year, to share our Christmas traditions with our Canberra community.”

Member of Parliament David Smith, Member of the Legislative Assembly Alistair Coe, members of the diplomatic corps, Carmen Garcia, President of the Filipino Community Councils of Australia, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, Philippine Honorary Consul to Western Australia Michael Gillis and Filipino leaders from New South Wales attended the event to show support for the community in Canberra. END

Students of the Filipino Language School in Canberra perform a traditional Filipino dance during Pasko sa Canberra on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds. (Canberra PE photo)

Santa Claus brings treats for children at Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds. (Canberra PE photo)

Upper and lower photos: Christmas carols instil a festive mood among guests at the Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds. (Canberra PE photo)

Special guests include Member of Parliament David Smith, Philippine Honorary Consul to Perth Michael Gillis, and officials and personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney. (Canberra PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.philembassy.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustralia/.