Ankara, 16 December 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara, led by Ambassador-designate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. and Madame Ann Mariza N. Sanchez-Bensurto, celebrated Christmas at the Embassy with the Filipino Community in Ankara during a Christmas gathering called “Paskuhan sa Embahada” held on 16 December 2023. The Embassy also hosted the first day of the nine-day Simbang Gabi at the Meryem Ana Catholic Church in Birlik, Çankaya, Ankara, later on the same day.

Ambassador-designate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (center) and Consul General Juan E. Dayang Jr. (third from right) with Filipino community members at the Paskuhan sa Embahada, a Christmas celebration of the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community in Ankara. (Embassy photo)

The “Paskuhan sa Embahada” welcomed over fifty (50) adults and children from the Filipino community organizations in Ankara. The program was filled with Christmas musical performances and fun activities like parlor games and raffle prizes.

Ambassador-designate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. and Madame Ann Mariza N. Sanchez-Bensurto, together with the Embassy’s officers and staff, serenade the Filipino community with Christmas songs. (Embassy photo)

Ambassador and Madame Bensurto, along with Philippine Embassy officers and staff, performed a Christmas serenade that included the songs "Payapang Daigdig," "Himig Pasko," and "Pasko na Sinta Ko," much to the delight of the guests. Additionally, the Filipino community enthusiastically joined in singing traditional Christmas songs such as "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" and "Pasko na Naman." The guests were treated to a delicious spread of Filipino food, which included pancit, lumpia, and fried chicken.

Filipino community members in Ankara actively participate in the games, raffle prizes and singing of Christmas carols at the “Paskuhan sa Embahada,” a holiday gathering at the Philippine Embassy in Ankara. (Embassy photos)

After the Christmas party, the Embassy personnel and members of the community proceeded to the Meryem Ana Catholic Church to begin the “Simbang Gabi” which was organized by the Philippine Embassy. The Embassy and the Filipino community shared the first of the nine-day Christmas novena masses with the French community. The mass was officiated by Fr. Seraphin N. Kazadi, the parish priest of the Meryem Ana Church.

Ambassador-designate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr., reads the First Reading during the Simbang Gabi, officiated by Fr. Seraphin Kazadi, at the Meryem Ana Catholic Church. (Embassy photo).

Ambassador-designate and Madame Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. led the Filipino community in the lantern parade at the Eucharistic procession while the French choir sang the entrance hymn. (Embassy photo)

The mass began with a procession and singing of the entrance hymn, accompanied by a parade of parols or lanterns. Ambassador-designate and Mrs. Bensurto, along with members of the Filipino community, brought colorful parols made during the Parol Festival. Before the final blessing, Ambassador Bensurto led the singing of “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,” creating a joyous Christmas atmosphere. After the mass, delicious champorado and Filipino Christmas delicacies bibingka and puto bumbong were served to Filipino and foreign churchgoers. Following refreshments, Embassy personnel and Filipino churchgoers gathered around the "belen" outside the church grounds to sing Christmas carols.

Ambassador and Madame Henry S. Bensurto Jr. and the Filipino churchgoers sing “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,” accompanied on guitar by Cultural Officer Vanesa T. Sumera, during the first day of Simbang Gabi. (Embassy photo)

Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. with the French children at the Salu-Salo after the Simbang Gabi. (Embassy photo)

The Filipino and French communities share the Filipino traditional Christmas food bibingka and puto bumbong, and champorado after the Simbang Gabi. (Embassy photo)

Ambassador and Madame Henry S. Bensurto, Jr., the Philippine Embassy officers and staff, and the Filipino community gather at the “Belen” outside of the Church to sing Christmas carols. (Embassy photo)

A group of Filipino community organizations in Ankara have initiated a nine-day "Simbang Gabi" which is being held for the first time in Ankara, Türkiye, from 16 to 24 December 2023. The Philippine Embassy, the Vatican Embassy, and the Meryem Ana Church Council are providing their support for this collective initiative. The objective of this event is to introduce the Filipino tradition of holding nine-day novena masses in preparation for Christmas.  END