UNITY – Special guests from the community were welcomed to join the many Filipino families that reside within Unity for a special Christmas celebration.
For Filipinos, the meaning of Christmas is all about connecting with loved ones and showing compassion with others. Known as Paskong Pinoy, families gather together, bringing food, drinks and gifts to share among each other as they are entertained with songs, dances and games.
Organizers of this year’s event included Peter Dimayuga, Catherine Elula, Janeth Baes Repollo, Jessie Felipe, Jovie Weseen, Catherine Parungo, Mary Ann Bacal, Diana Virtudez and Elisa Avena.
Many of the Filipino community members welcomed their employers and friends to the event. With many of the dishes being traditional Filipino food, there were some meals available to those who were less adventurist, with the main attraction was the full-size roasted pig.
Once everyone had a chance to fill their plates, guests were entertained by the Paskong Pinoy band, which included siblings Andrei, Zach and Summer Ignacio, dad Alison Ignacio and family friend, Ron Cordita. There were also some younger vocalists that continued the music while the band took a break.
In between the musical interludes, hosts welcomed everyone of all ages to join in the fun with a variety of games. Even with clearly defined winners, many of the participants were given prizes for joining in on the fun.
A huge gift exchange was then held between the Filipino families, swapping brightly coloured gifts of every size. There were also prize drawings made throughout the evening before the evening turned into a full-on dance party.
The Unity Filipino Community last held Panskog Pinoy in 2017 and are hoping to host another celebration this coming summer.
