Performers at Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) engage the audience with lively music and dances on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

CANBERRA, Australia (03 December 2019) – More than 2,000 people enjoyed the festivities in Pasko sa Canberra 2019 (Christmas in Canberra) on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds. The Filipino Christmas Festival is held annually and 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. The FCCACT is led by its President, Ms. Maria Doronila.

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, many performances, and it’s very first parol-making contest. Two lucky raffle draw winners brought home the grand prizes of two (2) Roundtrip Sydney-Manila tickets sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air.

H.E. Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, said “Pasko sa Canberra is particularly special for me first because it is the biggest gathering of the Filipino community in Canberra. Nobody celebrates Christmas like Filipinos do and this important occasion surely draws all of us together, year after year, to share our Christmas traditions with our Canberra community.”

Mr. David Smith MP, Mr. Alistair Coe MLA, members of the diplomatic corps, Ms. Carmen Garcia, President of the Filipino Community Councils of Australia, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, Philippine Honorary Consul to Western Australia Mr. Michael Gillis and Filipino leaders from New South Wales attended the event to show support for the community in Canberra.

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

Leaders of Filipino community organizations under the Filipino Community Council of the ACT with H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Ms. Carmen Garcia, President of the Filipino Community Councils of Australia, Mr. David Smith MP and his wife Mrs. Liesl Smith at the official program of Pasko sa Canberra on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy.

Santa Claus brings treats for children at Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Students of the Filipino Language School in Canberra perform a traditional Filipino dance during Pasko sa Canberra on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

H.E. Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, congratulates one of the winners of a roundtrip ticket Sydney-Manila sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air.

The Octave Band energizes the crowd with popular Filipino pop songs during Pasko sa Canberra on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Pasko sa Canberra held on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds featured traditional Filipino dances by Filipino community organizations in Canberra.

Christmas carols instil a festive mood among guests at the Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Guests enjoy a variety of authentic Filipino dishes at Pasko sa Canberra on 01 December 2019 at the Philippine Embassy in Canberra.

Special guests included Mr. David Smith MP, Philippine Honorary Consul to Perth Michael Gillis, and officials and personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney.