PHILIPPINE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL IN SYDNEY DRAWS CROWDS ON ITS 2nd YEAR

(Left photo, L-R) Hon. David Clarke, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Multiculturalism Minister Ray Williams, Mr. Peter Ha of the Vietnamese Community in NSW, Tourism Attache Norjamin delos Reyes, former NSW President Anti-Discrimination Board Stephan Kerkyashieran, Consul Marford Angeles, Consul General Keizo Takewaka, and Sydney City Councilor Robert Kok after the official opening ceremony of the Philippine Christmas Festival at the Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, Sydney, on 11 November 2017. (Right photo) Consul Angeles and Minister Williams at the Tumbalong Park grounds with the stage and some stalls in view.

(Left photo) Tourism Attache Norjamin delos Reyes presenting the “Bring Home a Friend” campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT). (Right photo) The festival’s booths offering Filipino traditional Christmas food such as bumbong, and others.

On 11 November 2017, Christmas arrived early in Sydney, Filipino-style, when Consul Marford Angeles, Acting Head of Post of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, representing Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz, officially opened the opened the 2nd Philippine Christmas Festival in Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.

Over two days, the Philippine Christmas Festival 2017 attracted around 22,000 visitors, just over 2 kilometers from the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Consul Angeles said that the festival is the way by which the Filipino community in New South Wales is inviting their Australian friends into their own “home” by bringing to Sydney the Filipinos’ traditional celebration of Christmas.

With the parol, Filipino songs, dances and cultural performances, and Filipino food, the event ushered the Christmas season to Sydney in a big way. Sixteen food stalls featured Filipino traditional Christmas fare such as puto bumbong, bibingka, and other mouth-watering fare. Ten stalls showcased Philippine-made products and services and promoted the as a choice business destination through Special Trade Representative Kenneth Yap.

The DOT campaign, “Bring Home a Friend” was launched at the event by Tourism Attaché Ms.Norjamin delos Reyes, which encourages Filipinos to bring to the Philippines their friends who are Australian, non-Filipinos or second-generation Filipinos abroad. This theme coincides with the Philippines opening its doors to its fellow ASEAN member countries and ASEAN Dialogue Partner countries on the same week for the Philippines’ Chairmanship of the ASEAN on its 50th Founding Anniversary, the logo of which was featured prominently in flyers and banners at the festival. It is also in line with the 70th Year Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Australia, commemorated last year.

Australian officials attending the opening ceremony led by the Hon. Ray Williams, Minister for Multiculturalism representing NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, highlighted the contributions of the Filipino community to Australia, to its economy and towards further enriching the multicultural fabric of Australian society.

Also in attendance were Hon. David Clarke, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Councilor Robert Kok, Sydney Council, representing Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Blacktown City Councillors Jess Diaz, Linda Geronimo Santos, Frederick Brillo, and Carol Israel, and Campbelltown City Councilor Rey Manoto. The Consular Corps were represented at the event by the Consuls General of Japan, and Thailand as well as representatives from the Consulate of the Russian Federation. In celebration of the spirit of ASEAN, the Royal Thai Consulate organized a Thai cultural dance performance for the event.

Now on its second year, the Philippine Christmas Festival was organized by the Filipino community in the state of New South Wales (NSW) under a Committee led by Event Organizing Chairman Roberto Lastica and Philippine Community Council (PCC-NSW) President Serna Ladia, with advice and support from the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, the Department of Tourism Office in Sydney (DOT-Sydney) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Sydney (PTIC-Sydney). END

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