PH EMBASSY, FILIPINOS IN HOLY LAND WELCOME CHRISTMAS

TEL AVIV, 03 DECEMBER 2022 – The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv led Filipinos in Israel in welcoming the Christmas season with the annual Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony, held on the first Saturday of December, returned to its traditional home at the Terra Sancta Secondary School in Jaffa after two years of scaled-down celebrations due to the pandemic.

Anthony Achilles L. Mandap, charge d’affaires at the Embassy, led the ceremony. He was joined by Honorary Consul Boaz Waksman; Fr. Carlos Santos, Guardian of the St. Peter’s Church; Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FCCI) President Jovelyn Taynan; and National Alliance of Filipino Communities (NAFILCO) President Emma Emiliano, in lighting up the Christmas tree, regarded as the symbolic beginning of the Christmas celebrations among Filipinos in the Holy Land.

CDA Mandap thanked the Filipinos for welcoming him and conveyed the holiday greetings of incoming Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Ramirez Laylo, Jr. He also announced the full resumption of the Embassy’s sociocultural activities with the FilCom, which were paused during the pandemic. 

“Ang pagdiriwang na ito maituturing nating isang ‘homecoming, gayong tayo ay malayo sa Inang Bayan. Para itong pagbabalik-bayan – pagtataguyod ng tradisyon, paggunita sa ating pagiging Kristiyano, at pagtatanghal ng ating puso at diwang Pilipino,” he said in Filipino. 

He also expressed appreciation for the support extended by a team from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Migrant Workers’ Affairs, headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary Kristine Salle. The team coordinated with the Embassy in hosting dinner for special guests from the community, and distributed holiday gifts to children during the ceremony. 

The ceremony showcased the Philippines’ unique and colorful ways of celebrating Christmas. Aside from the parol, groups took turns performing Christmas carols. Six Filipino organizations brought their entries for the best parol contest, which were judged based on originality, creativity, and use of native and recycled materials. 

The winning entries/organizations were as follows: Batangas Radiant Colligation (BARACO) first place; Association of Bicolanos in Israel (ABI), second place; and Just Love Travelers, third place. END