Fil-Minnesotan Association’s 38th annual Paskong Pilipino, December 7 / Bring the whole family to taste Filipino food and enjoy Christmas traditions

by Phyllis Louise Harris

November 2013

Maintaining Filipino traditions is one goal of the Fil-Minnesotan Association and on December 7^th it will hold its 38^th annual Paskong Pilipino Christmas celebration for children. The Filipino community comes together for an afternoon of carols, talent show, nativity scene, raffle, manuhan, Santa and, of course, a wide variety of Filipino food…and it is free!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays and have an opportunity to taste authentic food of the Philippines. Lunch, also free, includes some of the Philippines most popular dishes: pansit, chicken or pork adobo, steamed white rice and biko, sweet rice topped with caramel. In addition there will be food vendors at the event selling a wide variety of Filipino favorites such as barbeques, desserts, and more.

The traditional manuhan is a ceremony by children to honor their grandparents by kissing the hand of grandpa and grandma who then give their grandchildren small holiday packets filled with candy canes

and money. Another traditional event is the swinging of the pabitin, a bamboo square with gift pouches attached for children to grab and remove.

The annual Paskong Pilipino runs from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Parish Community of St. Joseph, 8701 36^th Avenue North in New Hope. The entire event is organized and presented by Fil-Minnesotan volunteers. If you are planning to bring children, please bring a wrapped gift for each child with their name clearly marked on the gift so Santa will get it to the right child.

Fil-Minnesotan Association seeking donations for victims of Typhoon Haiyan

While Paskong Pilipino celebrates one of the joys of Filipino life, there is also the reality of the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines on November 8 leaving an estimated one million people without homes, food, water and the basic essentials for daily life. To put it in perspective if the typhoon had hit the Twin Cities, everyone living in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Woodbury, Blaine, Maple Grove, Bloomington and Edina would be looking for assistance just to survive.

The Fil-Minnesotan Association is currently raising funds to assist Philippine relief efforts.  Since the organization is non-profit all money sent to them for the relief effort is tax deductible and will be sent in full to the Philippines. Every donation is essential, no matter how large or small. If it can buy a pound of rice or a dozen eggs your donation will play an important role in getting Filipinos back on their feet. It may even save a life!

For additional information contact them at www/Fil-Minnesotan.org, or info@fil-minnesotan.org, or 651-300-4FMA. Checks should be made out to Fil-Minnesotan Association with a note for Storm Relief. Mail to Fil-Minnesotan Association, Attn: Storm Relief, c/o Philippine Center of Minnesota, 1380 Frost Ave., Maplewood, MN 55109. Every donation will make a difference!

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