AWC members decorating their parol

Motivated by the spirit to win the most creative parol, members of the ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC) gamely participated in parol making during the “Paskong Pinoy”, a pre-Christmas activity organized by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN in Jakarta on 1 December 2016.

Twelve teams competed in creating colorfully decorated parols made of the ubiquitous bamboo adorned with colorful papel de japon or papel de lana, while a few parols were decked with the ASEAN emblem.  The top three winners received prizes ranging from Philippine-made handicrafts, grocery vouchers and cash prizes. 

Aside from parol making, guests were entertained with uniquely Filipino games such as Pinoy Henyo and Pera or Bayong to the delight of the audience.  Several gift items were raffled off, the major prize of which was a Jakarta-Manila-Jakarta air ticket generously donated by Philippine Airlines.  Mr. JP Samonte, newly arrived officer of the Mission, explained the process of parol making while Mr. NJ de Guzman acted as game master.

“I had so much fun.  I loved the food and enjoyed parol making,” a guest from the Indian Mission to ASEAN said.  Ladies from Malaysia and Indonesia were one in saying, “we enjoyed the games and prizes,” while a lady from Singapore was very pleased with the prize she won in the raffle: a hand woven mat from Bukidnon.  Guests also took turns in having their photos taken by the brightly decorated Christmas tree at the Philippine Mission to ASEAN, which was adorned with capiz shells and poinsettia, while everyone received Christmas inspired abaca bags containing goodies and home-made polvoron.  

H.E. Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, fourth from left, with members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, Ambassadors of ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the Executive Committee of AWC.

The event, hosted by Amb. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, was part of the regular activities of the AWC, an organization of spouses of ASEAN Member States.  A sumptuous lunch featuring Filipino dishes such as  chicken pastel, lechon, sotanghon guisado, bistek Tagalog, Bicol express, queso de bola and buko salad  was prepared by Mrs. Doris Novicio, wife of  Deputy Permanent Representative Noel Novicio and officer of the AWC Executive Committee, with the assistance of the Mission's staff and officers. 

It was also thanksgiving luncheon aimed at honoring the Executive Committee of the AWC for their hard work in 2016.  This year, the AWC organized several charity events with the purpose of raising funds for children with disabilities, building school rooms in remote areas in Indonesia and providing classroom equipment to a school by a garbage dump in Jakarta.  Ambassador Buensuceso said, “AWC’s projects genuinely reflect what it means when we say, we all belong to one caring and sharing ASEAN community.”

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