10 December 2014 – The Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen held on November 28 its annual Lantern Lighting-cum-caroling with the Filipino Community to usher the Christmas season this year in Xiamen. The event forms part of the cultural diplomacy thrusts of the Consulate General for 2014.

The evening’s program was preceded by the lighting of lanterns installed indoors, in a mini-gallery, and in the balconies and verandas within the Consulate General’s premises. The lanterns were given by the City of San Fernando, Pampanga to the Consulate General to promote Philippine Christmas traditions in Xiamen.

Philippine Consul General Julius Ceasar A. Flores expressed appreciation to the local government of the City of San Fernando, under the leadership of Mayor Edwin Santiago, for donating the lanterns to the Consulate General. The undersigned also acknowledged the City of San Fernando as a valuable partner of the Consulate General in promoting the Philippines in Xiamen, including the pioneering participation in Xiamen’s lantern festival held from February to March this year.

The program’s caroling portion consisted of medleys of well-loved Christmas songs from the Consulate General officers and staff, the Filipinos Association in Xiamen (FAX), and the teachers of the Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS).

The Consulate General also donated to the Diocese of the City of Xiamen two lanterns which were received by Bishop Joseph Cai himself. These “parols” adorn the Xiamen Cathedral as well as the Christ the King Church on Gulangyu Island, mainstreaming the lanterns to the members of the Catholic community, their friends and tourists as well. END