FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN WELLINGTON CELEBRATES PASKO: THE FILIPINO CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
20 December 2013 - The sights and sounds of a festive Filipino Christmas season filled the halls of the Sacred Heart College Performing Arts Centre in Lower Hutt when the annual Pasko: The Filipino Christmas Festival was celebrated by the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand and the Filipino Community in the Greater Wellington Area on November 30. The event featured Filipino food and holiday treats and traditional Christmas carols, music and dance.
Christmas is traditionally a joyous occasion shared with family and friends in the Philippines. However, in these trying times after the devastation left behind by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the Filipino Communitys Christmas was a day of remembrance highlighting the richness and strength of the Filipino people and culture in the face of adversity. Pasko showcased Filipino talent and creativity. Food stalls filled with Philippine native delicacies were in a delicious array for everyone enjoy, along with a lantern making contest, carolling-busking contest, photo of the event contest, a cultural show, and dancing with live band music were all part of the celebration. A mass, a traditional affair in a Filipino Christmas festivity, was also celebrated by Father Elmer Ibarra.
Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez delivered the events welcome remarks. She stated that in this season of hope, the Philippine government and the Filipino people are grateful for the kindness and generosity of New Zealand, the international community and fellow Filipinos in New Zealand, back home and overseas for coming to the aid of the Philippines in its time of need after the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). We are deeply moved by their kindness, care, concern and support to bring aid, comfort and relief to our countrymen affected by recent calamity and, indeed, these are the times when the true meaning and spirit of Christmas reign in the hearts of people standing in solidarity with one another and extending a helping hand to each other, she stated.
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown graced the significant occasion and delivered a Christmas message. Mayor Wade-Brown highlighted the close friendship and vital partnership that happily exist between the Philippine embassy, the Filipino community and the Wellington City Council.
Ms. Flora Muriel-Nogoy, Chairperson of the Bulwagan Foundation Charitable Trust, spoke on the aspirations of the Filipino community in Wellington to establish a Filipino Community Centre in New Zealand. She called on the Filipino community and the leaders of various Filipino community organizations in Greater Wellington area to come together to move the project forward in order to promote and preserve our heritage so that our children, and our childrens children will be able to celebrate what makes us unique as a people in this city that we now call home.
Cultural presentations by various organizations showcased Filipino talents through song and dance. Filifest New Zealand Inc, a cultural dance group, performed traditional dances, Munting Tinig, a group of young Filipino children played the ukulele and sang Christmas carols, Ms. Tina Guieb performed a jazz dance interpretation, St. Patricks College The Barbershop sang songs, Munting Bayanihan rendered a modern tinikling number and danced the singkil, and the Wellington Filipino Community Choir performed the Philippine and New Zealand National Anthems as well as inspirational Christmas songs. Also a highlight of the day-long celebration is the Pinoy Shoots with Mr. Tab Baldwin, one of New Zealands most successful basketball coach, who conducted a basketball skills training session as well as a shooting contest.
Christmas will always be especially meaningful for Filipinos. It is the time of the year when sharing and giving, not only of gifts and material things, but more importantly, of one's heart and self as the world shares the universal message of hope, peace, love
FIRST LADY MME. ANNA KOMOROWSKA SHOWS POLANDS SOLIDARITY WITH THE PHILIPPINES BY INSTALLING THE PHILIPPINE PAROL IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE; POLISH HUMANITARIAN ACTION (PAH) PRESENTLY BUILDING 1,000 HOUSES IN BANTAYAN ISLAND
19 December 2013- First Lady Madame Anna Komorowska today led the ceremonial lighting of the Philippine parol which she and President Bronislaw Komorowski decided to hang in a window at the Presidential Palace to signifiy Polands solidarity with the Philippines in the aftermath of the typhoon.
She recalled that last November, a special prayer for the victims of the typhoon was made during a mass which she and President Komorowski attended. Mrs. Komorowska said that the song which the Polish children will render is Polands way of thanking the Philippines for the parol.
In her brief remarks, the president of the Polska Acksja Humanitarnan (Polish Humanitarian Action or PAH) Ms. Janina Ochojska said that PAH is building 1,000 houses in Bantayan Island and that it expects to finish 170 houses by Christmas.
For her part, Amb. Paez said that the Philippines is far away from Warsaw and very little is known about the Philippines in Poland that she never thought that (the Polish people) will give (the Philippines their) kind attention, pray for us, open your hearts, share your time, energies, resources, extend your helping hands, and show that you care for us during our time of grief, pain, sorrow, and despair in the aftermath of a typhoon that struck our islands. She added that I she could not find the words to express (the Philippines) profound gratitude to the Polish people.
Also present during the program for the Philippine parols ceremonial lighting were the director of Caritas Polska Fr. Mariann Subocz, executive director of UNICEF Polska Marek Krupinski, and a representative of the Polish Red Cross.
Below is full text: Remarks of Ambassador Patricia V. Paez of the Republic of the Philippines during the ceremonial lighting of the Philippines. Parol(Christmas lantern) to H.E. President Bronislaw Komorowski and Madame Anna Komorowska
Presidential Residence, 18 December 2013
Good morning to Madame Anna Komorowska, to the President of the Polish Humanitarian Action Ms. Janina Ochojska, to all distinguished officials, guests, friends, to all the people of this great country, Poland.
My country is so far away from Warsaw. Very little is known about the Philippines in Poland. I never thought that you will give us your kind attention, pray for us, open your hearts, share your time, energies, resources, extend your helping hands, and show that you care for us during our time of grief, pain, sorrow, and despair in the aftermath of a typhoon that struck our islands, that took away the lives of thousands of our people, with thousands more missing; that affected over a million people. I therefore, could not find the words to express our profound gratitude to all of you.
With your kindness, you sent us a message of hope: that we are not alone, that the people of Poland are on our side, telling us to remain steadfast in our faith, bound as we are by our Catholic faith. I want each and every citizen of Poland to know that when we were about to give up, you lifted our spirit; that when we were so weakened, you gave us the strength to overcome this tragedy; the human will to move on, with even greater faith in God.
Somebody said, and I quote: To know a mans true character, give him power. President Komorowki, Mrs. Komorowska and Ms. Ochojska are individuals of sterling character. They use the power and influence that they possess, for the well-being of those suffering, with grace, humility, and sincerity.
On behalf of President Benigno Aquino III and the Filipino nation, I thank them, I thank the Polish Humanitarian Action, I thank the Caritas Polska, the Polish Red Cross, UNICEF Polska, the Conference of the Polish Episcopate, I thank Archbishop Jozef Michalik and all the churches, priests, and nuns of Poland, the many organizations and countless individuals who supported us, such as Atty. Roman Giertych, Mr. Boguswav Chrabota of Rzeczpospolita, Mr, Adam Michnik of Gazeta Wybrozca, and to all generous citizens of Poland.
I thank President Komorowki who could have simply given instructions to members of his official family to find ways to help the Philippines. But no, he did not do that. He made time. He went out of his way to meet personally with the charitable organizations. He called on the people of Poland to give donations to the Philippines in its time of dire need. President Komorowski, thank you very much for heeding the Filipino peoples cries for help. Thank you for wiping away our tears.
For everything that you have done for us, we can only humbly offer you our parol. It is a Christmas lantern made by Filipinos in the city of San Fernando, in the province of Pampanga. We hang them in our homes to light the way of the faithful who go to church during the Christmas season for the Midnight Mass. This parol represents the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings on their way to the manger of Jesus Christ. We light them as a symbol of hope. We light them as a way of wishing goodwill to all mankind.
It is a great privilege and honor for the Filipino nation for President Komorowski and Madame Komorowski to accept our small token of appreciation. We are humbled by your gesture. We shall always treasure your compassion. We will never forget the goodness, and the generosity of the people of Poland with every beat of our hearts. May God bless all the Polish people. God bless Poland and thank you so much.
