(L) Filipino Chaplain Fr. Jun de Ocampo, together with the Philippine Pastoral Team, led the lighting of this year´s Christmas Cake. (R) Minister and Consul General Donna M. Rodriguez represented the Embassy and delivered the welcome remarks before 300 guests.
Christmas came early for the Filipino Community in Berlin as they celebrated the annual “Paskong Pinoy” Christmas party last December 2 at the Nostalgie Festsäle. The organizing committee led by the Pastoral Team and Filipino Chaplain Fr. Jun de Ocampo, welcomed some 300 Berlinoys and their guests from nearby cities to a night filled with good food and music.
In her remarks during the event, Minister and Consul General Donna Rodriguez mentioned how the Christmas season has always held a special meaning for Filipinos both at home and abroad. She encouraged everyone to keep in mind the true reason for the celebration, which is the birth of Jesus and His promise of eternal redemption.
(Clockwise from top left) (1) Jomar Rubio, Eladio Pamaran, Kevin Orteza and Rico Villavert crooned a beautiful arrangement of Ryan Cayabyab´s “Munting Sanggol”. (2) Santa Rey de Paz gave gifts to children in attendance. (3) The Filipiniana Dance Group presented folk dances. (4) Jomar and Mylah Rubio sang Jose Mari Chan´s “Christmas in our Hearts”. (5) The Papuri Shalom Choir serenaded the crowd with Felipe de Leon´s “Payapang Daigdig”. (6)The Loved Flock and CFC-FFL presented modern and ballroom dances.
The Filipiniana Dance Group, the Loved Flock and Couples for Christ (CFC-FFL) presented folk, modern and ballroom dance numbers, while the Papuri Shalom Choir, Kevin Orteza, Eladio Pamaran, Rico Villavert, Jomar and Mylah Rubio regaled guests with Christmas songs. Rey de Paz, meanwhile, surprised the crowd by dancing as Santa Claus with his elves and then later giving goodie bags to kids. END
