The Festival started with the First Sunday of Advent Holy Mass at the ancient church of Collège du Sacré-Coeur, which was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Francis Koussaifi O.F.M. Cap. (St. Francis Church, Hamra), Rev. Fr. Theo Vlugt S.J. (St. Elie Church, Antelias), Rev. Fr. Agustin Advincula C.M. (Miraculous Medal Church, Sassine), Rev. Fr. Mark George (St. Joseph Church, Tabaris), and Rev. Fr. Elie Daou (Patriarchal Vicariate of Sarba). The Mass, which also featured the traditional lighting of the First Sunday of Advent candle, was attended not only by members of the Filipino community but also by the La Sallian Brothers and Administrators of the three La Sallian schools in Lebanon.

At noontime, the Festival attendees were directed to the Filipino Christmas Food Tasting, located at the sports grounds of the Sacré-Coeur College, to be treated to an array of traditional Filipino Christmas foods such as Pansit Bihon, Palabok, Chicken Embutido, Chicken Lollipop, Carbonara, Chicken Adobo, Beef Menudo, Chicken Empanada, Pure Foods Fiesta Ham, the equally popular desserts Bibingka, Leche Flan, Philippine-style Fruit Salad and the refreshing drink Sago’t Gulaman, all of which were served free of charge.

In the afternoon, the Festival Christmas Caroling commenced, with Dr. Walid Moussallem,President of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, as the Guest of Honor.

In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, expressed her deep appreciation to Dr. Moussallem for attending in behalf of the Minister of Culture and to the Embassy’s partners and collaborators – Collège du Sacré-Coeur, Collège Des Frères Mont La Salle and Collège Notre-Dame Des Frères, as well as the leaders and members of the different Filipino community organizations in Lebanon. She also warmly thanked the Festival sponsors – the BoB Finance/Western Union represented by Mr. Ziad Rouhanna, Head of Marketing and Sales, as well as Etihad Airways represented by Mr. Amine Najjar, Head of Marketing and Sales.

In his Keynote Message, Dr. Walid Moussallem conveyed his appreciation for the opportunity to represent the Minister of Culture for two consecutive years and to experience another excellent example of Philippines-Lebanon collaboration. He cited in particular the successful Piano Quintet Concert organized by the Embassy in collaboration with the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music on 24 November 2015 at the Pierre Abou Khater Auditorium of the Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, featuring the multi-awarded Filipino pianist Dr. Abelardo G. Galang II performing with the Art On String Quartet, noting that “Excited and blessed, it was a remarkable moment that we want to repeat, because we want to continue to celebrate the incredible talent that exists in the Philippines”. Dr. Moussallem added that “none of us know what lies ahead, but I know as a musician that music gives hope, because it brings us together and we need each other, especially now more than ever”.

Under the direction of the Embassy’s Welfare Officer Ms. Imelda Gatinao, the Filipino Community Choir sang Original Pilipino Music (OPM) compositions: “Noche Buena” by Felipe de Leon, “Pasko sa Nayon” by Philip Maninang and “A Wish on Christmas Night” by Jose Mari Chan, as well as a Lebanese song entitled, “ Miladak ya Rabbi”.

The combined choirs of Collége des Fréres Mont La Salle and Collége Notre Dame des Fréres performed an English song entitled “Joy to the World”, an Arabic song entitled “Moulouk Imajous” and a French song entitled “La plus belle nuit”, under the direction of their respective Choir Directors, Mr. Pierre Sammia for Mont La Salle and Mr. Dany Khoury for Notre Dame.

The Filipino Community Choir and the La Sallian choirs then performed together for the finale, singing “Silent Night” in Tagalog, English, French and Arabic.

The Lebanese and Filipino audience showed their deep appreciation by their thunderous applause after each song, particularly those performed by the Filipino Community Choir and the finale song “Silent Night”. During the intermission, a video of Dr. Abelardo Galang II greeting his Kababayans in Lebanon and then performing the iconic Filipino Christmas song entitled “Pasko na Sinta ko” was also shown. Another brief video on the performance by Dr. Galang and the Art On String Quartet of the “Piano Quintet in F minor Opus 34” by German composer Johannes Brahms was widely applauded as well.

Around 1,500 people attended the Philippine Christmas Festival, including the families of the Lebanese choir members, the administrators and officials of the various La Sallian schools in Lebanon, Embassy friends and collaborators, and the leaders and members of the Filipino community in Lebanon.

Among the dignitaries and guests gracing the occasion were the La Sallian Brothers and School Administrators: Bro. Fadi Sfeir (Visiteur du District Proche-Orient), Bro. Emile Akiki (Coordinator for the La Sallian Schools in Lebanon); Bro. Habib Zraibi (Immediate Past Coordinator for the La Sallian Schools in Lebanon); Bro. Arsénio Carpintero, Bro. Jean Herault, Bro. Louis Mjalli, Bro. Malak Samuel, Bro. Ildefonse Khoury, Bro. Alexandro Perez, Bro. Angel Lopez, Bro. Sami Hatem; Mr. Georges Ghanem, Principal/Director-Collège du Sacré-Coeur; Mr. Richard Fares, Principal/Director-Collège Notre Dame Des Frères, Collège; Mr. Edouard Spanioli, Principal/Director of Collège Des Frères Mont La Salle; and Mme. Désirée Ghanem, Head of the Kindergarten School of Mont La Salle. Mme. Mireille Ghanem, English teacher at the Mont La Salle, delivered a message in behalf of the La Sallian schools.

The mass celebrants – Fr. Theo Vlugt, Fr. Mark George, Fr. Elie Daou and Fr. Francis Koussaifi --- watched the caroling and were later on joined by spiritual adviser Fr. Martin McDermott, parish priest of the St. Joseph Church in Tabaris and Coordinator for the Afro-Asian Migrant Centre in Lebanon.

The event ended with a raffle draw for 10 lucky winners of 100$ each courtesy of BoB Finance/Western Union and 2 airline tickets to the Philippines sponsored by Etihad Airways.

The 2015 Philippine Christmas Festival once again featured the world-renowned Pampanga parols donated by the City Government of San Fernando headed by the Honorable Mayor Edwin Santiago, which captured the admiration of the Lebanese community. A giant banner featuring Christmas scenes in the Philippines was also a favorite photo spot for the Filipinos and locals alike. Director Georges Ghanem installed a giant Christmas tree on the school grounds, much to the delight of the attendees.

The Philippine Embassy is proud to locate the Festival at the historic Collège du Sacré-Cœur de Gemmayzé founded in 1894 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools that landed in Lebanon on 10 May 1890. Steeped in antiquity, it provided a special and unique setting for this second Philippines-Lebanon cultural collaboration that aims to promote deeper cultural understanding and mutual appreciation between the Philippines and Lebanon, enhance trade and tourism links and raise the profile of the Filipinos living and working in their host community. END