An all-Filipino choir spreads Pinoy Pasko through songs at the first Philippine Christmas Festival held recently at Darling Harbor in Sydney.
The Filipino Chaplaincy Chatswood Parish (FCCP) Vocal Ensemble performed during the two-day event, part of the celebration marking 70 years of Philippines-Australia diplomatic relations.
Stalls around the venue showcased Philippine products, tourist destinations, and favorite food, including sorbetes served from an iconic ice-cream cart at the festival organized by the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales, Inc., in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General and the Sydney offices of the departments of tourism and trade and industry.
The FCCP choir sings at Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Chatswood, in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. It is composed of engineers, nurses, IT and workforce planning professionals, financial specialists, a teacher, a chef, and a geologist.
The members are – sopranos Mary Alarcio, Charisse Arpafo, Jean Dimanarig, Mariz Espinosa, Lynne Moncada, Caroline Sosito, Olivia Villanueva; altos Rhea Mae Bulquerin, Giselle Goloy, Sheila Arellano-Macaraeg, Mae Annabelle Magtibay; tenors Mark Alarcio, Anton Piccio, Bobby Quiñones, Lester Salcedo; and basses Ryan Balboa, Kristian Garcia, Ricardo Mariano, Jerome Rodriquez.