PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

Filipino Way of Celebrating Christmas Introduced to Year 3 Students in Canberra primary school

Top Left: Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega introduced the Giant Lantern Festival in Pampanga.
Top Right: Year 3 students Grace Speirs and Chuol Chuol thanked the Ambassador for her visit.
Bottom: Students actively engaged the Ambassador during her visit.

19 November 2021, CANBERRA – To support St Thomas Aquinas Primary School in Canberra in its project of introducing festivals around the world to its grade school students, Philippine Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega visited the school and talked about the world’s longest celebration of Christmas that can only be found in the Philippines. Over 50 students gathered to listen to the Ambassador’s presentation.

Ambassador De La Vega shared with the students the concepts of Simbang Gabi (Midnight Mass), Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Feast), and Karoling (Christmas Caroling). The Ambassador also featured well-loved Filipino Christmas staples such as Lechon (roast suckling pig) and rice cakes Bibingka and Puto Bumbong. Her presentation was capped off with the Fiesta Filipinas video of the Giant Lantern Festival in Pampanga, the Christmas capital of the Philippines. The students actively engaged the Ambassador as they asked questions about the Philippines. END

Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Ms. Leah Taylor, welcomed Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega