Christmas in Brussels for Pinoys
By RAQUEL BERNAL-CRISOSTOMO
ABS-CBN Europe News Desk
Filipinos in Belgium were all treated to an early Christmas celebration with PASKO SA BRUSSELS as the Philippine Embassy in Brussels spearheaded the Filipino way of welcoming the Christmas season.
In her opening speech, Ambassador Cristina Ortega welcomed all the Filipinos and guests to the most awaited and happiest event in the Philippines.
"Pasko sa Brussels is a celebration of Christmas tradition. With the celebration, we hope to share with everyone here in Belgium the Filipino way of welcoming Christmas season.", she said.
Filipinos, unlike their western and European counterparts, don’t celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving so they treat Christmas as the biggest holiday of the year.
Like the usual celebration in the Philippines where the aroma of bibingka (baked rice cake) and puto bumbong (steamed rice cake) fill the air, the presence of lechon (roast pork), dinuguan (blood stew), puto’t bibingka, barbecue and pansit (rice noodles) likewise made the celebration of Pasko sa Brussels more splendid.
Members of Diplomatic corps and guests were serenaded with Filipino Christmas carols and were entertained with popular folk dances.
Ambassador Jacques Vermeulen, director for South-East Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium acknowledged the warm reception extended by all Filipinos to those who attended the event.
"The 2nd edition of Pasko sa Brussels is a big success, lots of people, nice stands. And we Belgians are very happy to celebrate the large and appreciated Filipino community in Belgium this festival, Christmas," he said during an interview with Balitang Europe.
Even the handicrafts and accessories made in the Philippines were simply adored by Belgians.
On the other hand, though some consider Christmas celebration in the Philippines as the best, Maricar Macapagal, an OFW , admitted that Pasko sa Brussels somehow satisfies their "homesickness".
"Although, di ito katulad ng feeling ng Pasko sa Pilipinas, maganda na rin kasi first time na makikita mo uli yung mga Pilipino din dito sa Brussels plus yung mga pagkain na di naming natitikman everyday (although it’s not really like Christmas in the Philippines, it’s also beautiful because it’s the first time one sees in Brussels food that you don’t taste everyday)," she said gleamingly.
They are thankful that with this event, Filipinos were able to spend time with their families and friends which is the real meaning of Christmas.
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