Pasko Na: A Christmas Concert Celebration

The longest celebration of Christmas is perhaps in the Philippines. Filipinos start to put up yuletide decorations and play Christmas carols the moment “ber” months start. However, super typhoon Yolanda that hit the Philippines on November 8 abruptly ended the joyous Christmas spirit of 2013. The grief brought about by the scale of devastation caused by the worst typhoon ever recorded had eclipsed the festive celebration throughout the country.

In solidarity with the victims and survivors of typhoon Yolanda, the Filcom Choraleof Japan staged a concert entitled “Pasko Na!”last November 8 at 6:30 pm at the Sakura Hall, Shibuya Cultural Center Owada.

“Pasko Na,” the third major concert of the FilCom Chorale, shared the Filipino Christmas experience by presenting traditional English and Filipino Christmas carols such as “Silent Night, Holy Night,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,” “Pasko na Sinta Ko” and “Simbang Gabi.” Despite the rain, the more than 700 people who filled the hall to capacity enjoyed the world-class performance of the FilCom Chorale. The proceeds of the concert went to the Leytenos and Samarenos in Japan (LSJ) for the rehabilitation programs of the affected provinces that are still reeling from the magnitude of destruction.

Organized in 2010, the FilCom Choraleis a group of Filipino men and women from Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures that promotes the richness of Filipino culture through concerts that feature Filipino songs and traditions.