Philippine embassy hosts Malaysian-style open house celebration

Chorus line: Rebano (upper left) , Panizales and Guerzo giving a powerful performance at the Philippine embassy’s Christmas open house. Malaya (left) showing his musical skills by singing and playing carols on the piano.

KUALA LUMPUR: Christmas is celebrated with zeal in the Philip­pines and it was no different at its embassy here.

Hosting a Christmas open house for the second consecutive year, the embassy grounds at Changkat Kia Peng were packed on Friday with well-wishers and Filipinos based here.

The evening started off with a rousing musical performance with some of the best Filipino entertainers belting out Christmas tunes.

Rachel Guerzo got the mood going with his rendition of Christ­mas Is Here while Maria Angela Rebano belted out Do You Hear What I Hear and This Christmas.

Gina Panizales, a veteran in the local jazz scene, brought down the house with her powerful rendition of Christmas Blues.

But the surprise of the night certainly came from none other than the host himself, Philippine Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya who put his musical skills on the keyboard with Little Drummer Boy and Peace on Earth with the Embassy Chorale on vocals.

Malaya showing his musical skills by singing and playing carols on the piano.

Malaya said the embassy was inspired to host the open house from Malaysia’s tradition of having open houses for Hari Raya, Deepavali and Chinese New Year.

“My colleagues and I thought it will be a great idea to share the Christmas tradition and what better way to do it than through music which is what Filipinos are renowned for,” he said.

The embassy was turned into a miniature Filipino village as 350 guests – diplomats, businessmen, government officials as well as the Filipino community present in town – were welcomed with parols (Christmas lanterns).

Guests were treated to Filipino Christmas fare such as lumpia (a type of roll similar to popiah), roast chicken, chicken loaf, traditional Filipino hot chocolate drinks and ginger tea called salabat.

“This is the second time we have hosted Christmas open house and hopefully we can continue this as an annual tradition.

“We wish everyone in Malaysia peace and prosperity this Christ­mas,” Malaya said.