08 January 2015 – Philippine Ambassador Alex Lamadrid, together with the other officers of the Philippine Embassy in Abuja,Nigeria met with the Filipino community in Lome, Togo, on December 19, 2014 for a Christmas celebration. The Embassy exercises jurisdiction over Togo.

Rev. Fr. Jan Thomas Limchua, a Filipino priest from Cebu and Charge d’Affaires, a.i. and Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See, concelebrated Mass at the Chapel of the Monastery of Holy Spirit in Lome. The Monastery is home to the cloistered contemplative Sisters of Adoration, also more popularly known as the “Pink Sisters” and 10 of whom are Filipinas. Ambassador Lamadrid, Assistance-to-Nationals officer-in-charge Raymund Ondiano, Communications Assistant Clifford Legal and other Filipinos joined Togolese parishioners in the Mass.

In the evening of December 19, the relatively small Filipino community composed of the Pink Sisters and other Filipinos, Rev. Fr. Jan Thomas Limchua and the Philippine Embassy officers gathered at the activity hall of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit for an evening of camaraderie, music and Filipino food including delectable lechon, puto maya, siopao, and other Philippine delicacies. The Superior of the Pink Sisters, Sr. Mary Charity, welcomed everybody to the celebration. Fr. Jan Limchua offered the benediction and shared his thoughts on the significance of Christmas, while Ambassador Lamadrid delivered brief remarks expressing his gratitude to the Pink Sisters for their gracious hospitality as well as spiritual support to the Filipino community. The evening was enlivened by the community’s singing of Christmas carols, with the Pink Sisters rendering special numbers including Filipino songs such as “Tanging Yaman,” to the delight of the members of the Filipino community. The evening was highlighted by karaoke singing which was enjoyed by all. END