Though Christmas Day is still three weeks away, the Christmas spirit filled the Philippine Embassy grounds as the Filipino community held the Pasko sa Canberra (Christmas in Canberra) on 05 December 2010. 

Philippine Embassy personnel, led by Chargé d’Affaires Mary Anne A. Padua, joined the festivities of the yearly assembly of Filipinos and Filipino-Australian families who gathered to celebrate Christmas Filipino-style. 

In her Christmas message, Ms. Padua said that “nowhere in the world is Christmas celebrated more festively, more colorfully or with more dedication than in the Philippines.”

She described Christmas as “a time for families to be together just as the very first Christmas gathered the most important family in the history of the Christian faith.”

“Through the Filipino Christmas traditions that we hold dear, we echo the Christmas’ message of hope and salvation that came with the birth of the Messiah,” Ms. Padua said. 

Ms. Padua dubbed the Pasko sa Canberra as a gathering that “unites as one big family, committing itself to bringing hope to the less fortunate,” noting that proceeds from the event will be donated to charities in the Philippines. 

She thanked the Filipino Community Council of the ACT, Inc. (FCCACT), under the leadership of its president, Ms. Perlita Swinbank, for putting together “a showcase of Philippine culture, tradition, and talent and most significantly, for bringing Filipino-Australian families in a significant undertaking.”

Now on its 7th year, the Pasko sa Canberra featured stalls selling Filipino food, souvenirs such as the parol (Christmas lantern), and businesses promoting services for Filipinos.  Attendees also got a glimpse of Filipino talent through the song and dance numbers presented.