Trust Filipinos to jumpstart Christmas celebrations wherever they may be, however hard life is proving to be.
Despite the barrage of problems that swamped Filipinos this year, the celebration of the Yuletide season is still coming early to Filipino-Australians by way of the annual Pasko sa Nayon fete organised by the Bayanihan Australia Community Network, Inc. (BACNI).
The group is currently eliciting the support of Filipino Australian individuals and associations to participate in the upcoming 3rd Pasko sa Nayon Christmas Concert which will be held on December 12, 2009 at the Federation Square.
The organisation started staging Christmas in the Village in Melbourne Central Business District two years ago, with the aim of bringing Filipino-Australians together for the Christmas season and beyond.
During its first years, it relied on the generosity of its sponsors to help fund their Christmas event. But this year, the young organisers of the event proudly announced in a press release that they “decided not to seek sponsorship money because we fully recognise the financial downturn faced by small businesses.”
Instead, BACNI will “publicly recognise” the support of the community organisations, media and businesses in the past two Pasko sa Nayon parties by promoting them in this year’s Pasko sa Nayon promotional materials which will be disseminated in shops and in websites.
This year’s Christmas event boasts of 78 talented and generous Fil-Australian performers who agreed to perform and entertain the guests for free on the night. The line-up of performances is expected to include traditional Filipino carols, traditional instrumental pieces, Filipino folk dances, martial arts exhibition, and hip hop dance.
However, performers who are chosen will have the chance to record their music for Pasko Community CD in a studio (in September ), be featured on the Pasko 2009 Souvenir Program (for November printing) and be featured in media coverage by radio stations, PinoyTV, GMA7 and ABS-CBN on the night of the performance.
BACNI also announced earlier that it might produce Pasko CDs which it plans to make available during the event. Its proceeds will cover the Pasko 2009 costs, with the remaining funds to be utilised for the Bayanihan Multicultural Fiesta in the Southern Region in March next year.
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