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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Australia, the sunburnt country famed for its warm climate, just got through months of a killer winter and has ushered the start of its lovely spring season in September. Some 6,200 kilometers away, the Philippines is heading to its colder months and has already started the world's longest yearly celebration of Christmas or "Pasko" in September. The Philippine Community Council of New South Wales Inc. (PCC-NSW) has somehow built a cultural holiday bridge between the Land Down Under and the Pearl of the Orient Seas by holding Sydney's largest Filipino Christmas festival every year during these two opposite seasons. Come November 16 and 17, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday), PCC-NSW is presenting the Philippine Christmas (PASKO) Festival 2024 at the Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
For the first time in the event's history, PCC-NSW partnered with TFC (The Filipino Channel), the flagship multimedia brand of ABS-CBN Global group of companies, to bring the energy-packed TFC Happy Hour segment. Headlining this much-awaited segment is superstar actor-director-writer-producer Coco Martin whose current action-drama series FPJ's Batang Quiapo has dominated the ratings as the number one program in the Philippines and also TFC's top show overseas. Joining Coco is a sterling cast of entertainers who are all connected to FPJ's Batang Quiapo comprising of:
Bassilyo: Discovered by the late iconic Filipino rapper Francis Magalona back in 2002, Lordivino Ignacio a.k.a. Bassilyo went from prison to huge success via the massive hit song "Lord, Patawad (Lord, Forgive Me)". He joined the group Crazy As Pinoy with Sisa (Muriel Jamito) and Crispin (Jeffrey Pilien) and became pioneers of the Filipino hip-hop scene. He has since transitioned into a full-fledged actor.
Smugglaz: This rapper-composer-producer-influencer hit the big time with "Nakakamiss", his collab with Filipino hip-hop artists Curse One, Dello, and Flict-G which has over 30 million plays on Spotify. He is also a battle rapper on Versetracker with 16 battles catalogued totaling over 145 million views. He, together with Bassilyo, CrazyMix, Flict-G, Kial, MastaFeat, Jonas, and Pistolero, collaborated on "Batang Quiapo (Matira Matibay)" (Only the Strong Survive), the opening theme song of FPJ's Batang Quiapo.
Kim Domingo: This actress-model-singer, who started as a Little Miss Philippines contestant in 2000 and became a regular in the popular GMA TV sketch comedy "Bubble Gang", is one of the latest additions to the FPJ Batang Quiapo cast. Her feisty Madonna character demonstrates action skills that are being compared to Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie's take on the Lara Croft role. She also dabbles in music recording, releasing the single "Know Me" featuring rapper C-Tru.
Ate Gay: This actor-comedian-impersonator-singer known for his hilarious mashups was able to have a sold-out show at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in November of 2012. He has been appearing in different TV shows and films from 1999 to the present.
Senator Lito Lapid and TIEZA COO Mark Lapid: The father and son have amazing parallels in their respective careers: Senator Lito Lapid, the father, was a box-office star as actor-stuntman who became the Philippines' King of Stunts. Son Mark, currently the COO of the country's Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), also started his career as an action star. Both became governors of the province of Pampanga. Both have provided even more star wattage to the already blockbuster cast of FPJ's Batang Quiapo.
There will be an exclusive Meet & Greet session with all the abovementioned stars and those who want to take part in the session and interact with their favorite stars may register at http://eventbrite.com.au/. For more details, visit the official Facebook page of TFC Australia and New Zealand. Admission to Philippine Christmas (PASKO) Festival 2024 is FREE with the TFC Happy Hour to be held on November 17, 2024 starting at 4:00 pm.
The Philippine Christmas (PASKO) Festival has become the largest Filipino festival in Sydney since its debut in 2016, reaching an attendance of over 120,000 back in 2022. The Australian government and the Philippine Embassy consistently support this celebratory event of Filipino Christmas culture and tradition. "We are delighted to partner with PCC-NSW for the Philippine Christmas (PASKO) Festival of 2024. Attendees this spring in Australia will be transported to a festive and transformative Filipino Christmas celebration with the best of holiday spirit, food, cheers, entertainment, culture and camaraderie. This is a guaranteed joyful showcase of the best of the Filipino in unity with the community of Sydney. We look forward to seeing you there," said ABS-CBN Global Managing Director for Asia Pacific Maribel Hernaez.
