PH Embassy in Cairo Hosts Parol-Making Workshop, Christmas Concert, and “Hope and Endeavor” Art Exhibit

12 December - the Philippine Embassy in Cairo hosted a Parol-Making Workshop and Christmas Concert at the Sofitel El-Gezirah Hotel. The event brought together members of the Filipino community and friends in a celebration of creativity, culture, and the Christmas spirit.

The workshop was participated by members of the Filipino community in Egypt, some diplomats, as well as Egyptian and Nigerian guests. Participants spent a festive afternoon crafting their own parol, the traditional Filipino Christmas lantern, while channeling their creativity through personalized designs—fostering cultural exchange and shared appreciation for Filipino holiday traditions.

The celebration continued with a Christmas Concert featuring talented performers from the Filipino community. The program showcased timeless Christmas carols blended with well-loved Filipino Christmas classics.

Along with the workshop and concert was the “Hope and Endeavor” art exhibit, featuring 13 works by Filipino artists from 1955 to 1982, curated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The collection reflects core Filipino values of "bayanihan" (coming together as one community) along with themes of celebration and homecoming, underscoring that the Filipino journey is one shared with the community.

The guests also feasted on Filipino delicacies including pancit, turon, sapin-sapin, suman, sopas, and ube cupcakes.

Through crafting, music, and art, the celebration highlighted Filipino creativity, talent, and resilience. By the end, participants left with their glowing parols while humming Christmas melodies. A new generation of Filipinos were introduced to the parol tradition, and the local community was introduced to the Filipino bayanihan spirit of hope and endeavor. END