ALC PH Shares Christmas Joy with Underprivileged Children
ASEAN Ladies' Circle (ALC) Philippines Patron Madame Maria Victoria H. Jose (center, seated, in blue) with the Patrons of ASEAN's member countries (spouses of ASEAN Ambassadors in Kuala Lumpur), officials from the Association of Spouses of Heads of Missions in Malaysia (SOHOM), and ALC members at the “Light a Star, Help Someone in Need this Christmas” fund-raising event on 04 December 2019. (Kuala Lumpur PE photo)
MALAYSIA 10 December 2019 –– Underprivileged children in Malaysia experienced the warmth of Filipino generosity and caring through the ASEAN Ladies’ Circle (ALC) Philippines’ inaugural “Light a Star, Help Someone in Need this Christmas” fund-raising project on 04 December 2019 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
The “Light a Star, Help Someone in Need this Christmas” was an initiative of ALC Philippines under the leadership of Madame Maria Victoria H. Jose, who serves as Patron of ALC Philippines as the spouse of Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose.
As early as August 2019, Madame Jose led the 72-strong members of ALC Philippines, composed of female personnel of the Embassy of the Philippines and Filipina expatriates, in handcrafting over 200 Filipino Christmas lanterns or parol through a series of workshops conducted at the Embassy premises.
A total of 124 members of the ASEAN Ladies Circle Kuala Lumpur, composed of women from ten Southeast Asian diplomatic missions and their respective expatriate communities, witnessed the unveiling of the Christmas lanterns where they learned about the cultural significance of the parol in the Philippines, as well as the charitable objective of the event.
Madame Jose, in her welcome remarks, explained, “Christmas is very much about giving. Instead of us exchanging gifts this Christmas, our ladies from ALC Philippines decided to give their time and effort, and even resources, to make “parols”… I am happy to announce that the funds that will be raised from the parol sales will be awarded to the Global Street Mission’s (GSM) Mikhalai School of Destiny, whose activities are directed towards the marginalized and underprivileged children”.
The Mikhalai School of Destiny (MSOD) is an organization under the GSM network of non-government organizations which aims to uplift street children by providing them homes and education. The MSOD currently has 35 children aged six to 18 years old under its care, most of whom are undocumented and abandoned.
The program featured a mini-concert of English and Filipino Christmas carols from the Philippine Embassy Choir, cultural dance performances from the Filipino community organization Philippine Ladies of Kuala Lumpur (PLKL), and a series of songs from the children under the care of MSOD.
On 09 December 2019, the proceeds from the sales of the parols from the “Light a Star, Help Someone in Need this Christmas” project of ALC Philippines were turned over to Principal and Founder of the Mikhalai School of Destiny Mikhalai Steve, as well as School Administrator Steve Singam. During the simple handover ceremony, Mme. Jose was joined by Alternate Patron of ALC Philippines Consul Rachel Oronce, Country Representative of ALC Philippines Edna Patauina, Treasurer of ALC Amelyn Julio-Obong, ALC President and Patron of ALC Vietnam Mme. Pham Thi Hong Lien, and Patron of ALC Brunei Datin Mariani Bongsu, who are all members of the ALC Executive Committee. The Mikhalai School’s children witnessed the handover and expressed their gratitude through song and dance performances. END
(Left to right) Patron of ALC Brunei Datin Mariani Bongsu, President of the Association of Spouses of Heads of Missions in Malaysia Madame Triana Nechytaylo, Patron of ALC Lao PDR Madame Soutchay Soukhaseum, and Patron of ALC Indonesia Madame Iesien Rusdi Kirana peruse the Christmas lanterns hand-made by ALC Philippines members. (Kuala Lumpur PE photo)
The ASEAN Ladies’Circle (ALC) Philippines afternoon tea event showcase a mini-concert from the Philippine Embassy Choir led by Madame Maria Victoria Jose (top left photo), the Filipino cultural dances Pandanggo Rinconada and Subli performed by the Philippine Ladies of Kuala Lumpur (PLKL) (top right photo) and a performance from the Mikhalai School of Destiny’s children (bottom left photo). Afterwards, the members of ALC peruse and purchase Christmas lanterns handmade by ALC Philippines members (bottom right photo). (Kuala Lumpur PE photo)
Madame Maria Victoria Jose turns over the proceeds of the “Light a Star, Help Someone in Need this Christmas” project to Ms. Mikhalai Steve and Mr. Steve Singam (left photo) in a simple handover ceremony witnessed by Datin Mariani Bongsu, Madame Pham Thi Hong Lien, executive committee members of ALC Philippines, and the children of the Mikhalai School of Destiny (right photo). (Kuala Lumpur PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.kualalumpurpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassykl.org.my or https://www.facebook.com/PHinMalaysia/.