CANBERRA, Australia – Around 2,000 people flocked to the Philippine Embassy grounds on 02 December 2018 to join the Pasko sa Canberra 2018 (Christmas in Canberra) festivities. Pasko sa Canberra, an annual tradition in Australia’s capital city in the past 15 years, 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.

Rondanihan, a Canberra-based rondalla group, opened the Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) festivities with a rendition of well-loved Filipino Christmas songs.

Pasko sa Canberra is a Filipino festival which 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 and many performances. The festival also featured the second Canberra’s Got Talent, a talent competition featuring promising performers from the Australian Capital Territory.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, said that the festival is her first official engagement as Ambassador. She said that the Filipino community in Australia at about 300,00 strong is an important partner of the Philippine government in enhancing the Philippines-Australia Comprehensive Partnership. She recognized the significant contributions of Filipinos to the economic, social and development fabric of Australian society. She shared the importance of the Christmas season for Filipinos as a celebration of faith and thanksgiving.

The Pasko sa Canberra is held every year on the first Sunday of December in Canberra.

More than 2,000 people from the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding areas take part in Pasko sa Canberra 2018 on 02 December 2018 at the Philippine Embassy in Canberra.

H.E. Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega delivers her message during Pasko sa Canberra 2018, her first official engagement as Philippine Ambassador to Australia on 02 December 2018 at the Philippine Embassy in Canberra.

The photo wall of the Philippines Department of Tourism was a hit among the many guests at the Pasko sa Canberra event at the Philippine Embassy grounds on 02 December 2018.

Senator David Smith (center) of the Australian Parliament joined Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega (left) and the Filipino community in the Pasko sa Canberra on 02 December 2018 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Guests fall in line to enjoy famous Filipino dessert halo-halo at the Pasko sa Canberra on 02 December at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Pasko sa Canberra held on 02 December 2018 at the Philippine Embassy grounds featured a demonstration of Arnis, Filipino martial arts.