TURN-OVER BY THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY

 IN BEIJING OF DONATIONS TO GAWAD KALINGA

30 January 2008 – Members of the Filipino community in Beijing, who helped organize the 2007 Filipino community Christmas party cum fund-raising activity on 02 December for Gawad Kalinga Foundation, turned over the amount of RMB51,592 (PhP293,042) to Mr. Israel Silud, leader of the Couples for Christ – Beijing Chapter, at a simple ceremony held at the Philippine Embassy on 10 December 2007.

Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia C. Brady, Minister and Consul General Jaime Ledda, and other Embassy officials witnessed the occasion.

The Filipino community in Beijing decided to make a difference in the lives of their homeless kababayan in the Philippines by contributing to the China Blessed Village project of Gawad Kalinga.  Through their cash donations, and participation in the raffle draw, garage and food sales, they were able to raise a substantial amount for Gawad Kalinga.

More than 500 Filipinos in Beijing gathered on 02 December 2007 to celebrate Christmas at the Philippine Embassy.  They celebrated the occasion in typical Pinoy fashion – full of food, fun, laughter, and games.

In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia C. Brady informed the Filcom of the positive developments taking place in the Philippines, including the issuance of machine readable passports.  She also assured them of the embassy’s assistance if and when they are in distress.  She also took the opportunity to warn them of drug syndicates that have used unknowing Filipinas as couriers.

Embassy personnel performed a song and dance number “Biyahe Na”, a musical invitation to Filipinos to travel around the Philippines in order to “makita ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino” (witness the beauty of the Philippines, the ingenuity of the Filipino).

The party ended with the satisfaction that, while they are far from home, the Filipinos in Beijing were able to share the joy of Christmas with their less fortunate brothers back in the Philippines.  END

/wingret