12 December 2016 – The Philippine Embassy in Beirut launched its first ever Christmas Lantern-Making Festival in Lebanon this season and successfully held its culminating activity on December 11 at the Jesuit Residence Courtyard, Tabaris, Achrafieh. The festival was made possible with the support of the following partners: the Society of Jesus, I-Remit Global Remittance, the Afro-Asian Migrant Center, various Filipino community organizations, Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture-Zouk Mikael, and Etihad Airways.
The Festival started with a Holy Mass for the Filipino community, led by Rev. Fr. Martin Mcdermott S.J. of St. Joseph Church. At noontime, the Festival attendees, were invited to a simple Filipino lunch located at the Jesuit Residence Courtyard, to be treated to an array of traditional Filipino food.
At the beginning of the cultural program, Chargé d’ Affaires Mr. Enrik Fort E. Revillas, welcomed everyone to the festivities and expressed his appreciation to the Filipino Community Organizations and individuals who exerted their time and effort to perform and actively participate in the success of the first Lantern Making Festival in Lebanon. He noted that the first Lantern Festival is inspired by the shape of a star, symbolizing all the Filipino migrant workers scattered around the world like the stars in the sky.
He conveyed his deep appreciation to the Embassy’s partners and collaborators – The Society of Jesus in Lebanon, the Zouk Mikael Municipality represented by Ms. Roula Eid Sawan, the I-Remit Global Remittance, represented by Managing Director Mr. Leon Gostanian and Marketing Officer Mr. Marco Salangsang, Etihad Airways, represented by Head of Marketing and Sales Mr. Amine Najjar, and all leaders and members of the Filipino Community organizations.
Festival attendees were serenaded by performances from the Antelias Choir and the Couples for Christ choir with their medley of English and Tagalog Christmas songs, as well as a heartwarming rendition of a Filipino classic Christmas song “Pasko na Sinta ko” by Ms. Lou Gin D. Frias.
The Warayan Group performed a medley of Warayan songs and folk dances (Cariñosa, Maglalatik, Kuracha and Chacha), depicting a variety of Filipino traditions: “Harana” courting by serenading, Playing luksong-tinik, sungka, pounding of unhusked rice, selling native delicacies in the streets (puto, kutsinta, binangkal and dirty ice cream). The audience was also treated to a native T’boli folk dance from the southern part of the Philippines by Ms. Nichelle Mingas.
The Lebanese and Filipino audience showed their deep appreciation by their thunderous applause after each performance.
Twenty-one (21) Filipino community organizations and individuals participated in the Lantern Making Contest. The Couples for Christ group entry was the declared the grand winner, followed by the entry of Ms. Jovelyn dela Vega (2nd) and OFW Global Movement for Empowerment Lebanon Chapter (3rd). The other finalists were IPSRG Group, Kapit Bisig Group, OFW Magbaysay Group, Warayan Group, Domingo Rodriguez, Leila Rafael and Mirasol Lumpas.
To end the whole day event, I-Remit sponsored a grand raffle draw open for all Filipino workers in Lebanon. Three lucky winners were given brand new cellphones and 2 remittance vouchers.
The Festival is a major cultural project of the Embassy together with the Filipino community organizations in Lebanon, and aims to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries. END
