DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-858-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                             06 December  2005

RP BOOTH IN INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR IN LAOS SHOWCASES COLORFUL FILIPINO CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

06 December 2005 -- The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, Lao PDR reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the colorful celebration of the Filipino Christmas was showcased in the Philippine booths and dance numbers at the Women’s International Bazaar (WIG) held on 27 November 2005 at the Lao ITECC.

“The visitors of the Philippine booth were very much delighted with the Christmas presentation of the Embassy that the booths were even featured in The Vientiane Times, Laos’ only English-language daily,” Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso said. The newspaper featured a photo of the Philippine Embassy booth showing colorful parol made by the Embassy staff, Wow Philippines! posters and other tourism materials, and other Philippine decorations from the Embassy’s collections.

The Embassy’s two booths, bedecked in festive colors and featuring Philippine delicacies and Christmas lanterns, were a standout among the more than 130 stalls set up by the different embassies, NGO’s and other international organizations. The Mabuhay Restaurant also sold Philippine favorites such as dinuguan, goto, laing, adobo, halayang ube and many more. Ms. Vicki Obiar and her friend, Jane, a Filipino resident of Udon, sold Philippine-made bags and shoes.

Meanwhile, two dance numbers, performed by the Embassy staff and Filipino children, were enthusiastically applauded by the international audience.  Performing in the bulaklakan dance and a Britney Spears number were children aged 3 to 13 years old,  Jhaline Villapando, Star and Kimberly Agus, Claire Elise and Angelique Gaurana, Nina and Eriel Obiar and Nellie Daguman.

The Bazaar is an annual charity event organized by the Women’s International Group, known as WIG. All profits of the project go to support Lao women and children in the areas of health and education. Beneficiaries of the project include handicapped children, primary and secondary schools and the Somsanga Drug Rehabilitation Center. Various prizes, including a motorbike donated by Kolao Enterprises, were given away during the one-day event. END
 
 

/jay