PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN HANOI HOLDS PAROL LIGHTING
CEREMONY WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY
1 DEC 2024 - Amidst the cool winter air of Hanoi, the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi held a parol lighting and thanksgiving ceremony entitled “Liwanag ng Pasko: Pag-Ilaw ng Parol at Gabi ng Pasasalamat” on the evening of Sunday, 1 December 2024 with members of the Filipino community in Hanoi and nearby provinces.
Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre welcomed community members and their families inside the Embassy grounds at sunset, for guests to marvel at the Embassy facade adorned with Christmas decor, lights and capiz parols from the Philippines.
In his remarks, Ambassador Montealegre emphasized how the parol is an important symbol for Christmas in the Philippines, representing the star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to Jesus’s birth. Aside from the parol serving as a light and a guide to people going to Simbang Gabi during Christmas season, Ambassador Montealegre also highlighted that the parol also serves as North Star and called on the guests to reflect on their reason for being in Vietnam: to work well for themselves and for their loved ones, and for students to exert their best efforts on their studies while here in Vietnam.
Ambassador Montealegre also took the opportunity to thank the Filipino community in Vietnam for their efforts and participation during Embassy events the past year.
Following the lighting of the parol, Filipino students serenaded the guests with their rendition of Pasko sa Pinas and Star ng Pasko.
For guests to further feel the spirit of Christmas in the Philippines, Filipino snacks and kakanin such as ensaymada, ube halaya, sinukmani and biko, and traditional Filipino Christmas dishes such as bibingka galapong, pandesal, hamon, queso de bola and salabat and tsokolate were prepared for the guests to enjoy, bringing a traditional Filipino Christmas touch to Christmas celebrations in Vietnam.Ambassador Montealegre explained the significance of the event as follows: “At dahil Pasko ay panahon ng regalo o aguinaldo. Ito ang handog naming sa inyong lahat – Paskong Pinoy – malayo man tayo sa ating bansa, sinasariwa natin ang diwa ng Pasko dito sa Vietnam.” END
The Philippine Embassy in Hanoi decorated in Christmas lights and Capiz Parols
Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre with Embassy Personnel
The Philippine Embassy in Hanoi with members of the Filipino Community in Vietnam pose in front of the Chancery illuminated with Christmas lights.
