AMBASSADOR’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

T he essence of Christmas is its being the season of celebration and hope.

As Filipinos, we welcome Christmas as an occasion to articulate our grateful appreciation for the goodness of His Almighty for giving His Son to us for our salvation.  We also celebrate Christmas as a way to rekindle our ties with our families and friends, while recalling our fond memories of Christmas back home in the years past.

As the year comes to a close, we remember all the individual and organizational achievements of Filipino Americans.  It is through these individual and organizational successes that the Filipino Americans collectively continue to make an indelible mark in mainstream America.  As one community in the United States, Filipino Americans must strive to take care of each other, and thus bring about a better future for everyone in the year to come.

As a nation and as a people, we have achieved so much in surmounting the difficulties that we encountered this year.  It is through our unity of purpose, concerted efforts, and our strong faith in the Almighty that we are now confident to lay claim to a prosperous New Year.

My wife Linda and the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., join all Filipinos and Filipino Americans in spreading the spirit of Christmas in the United States and the rest of the world.

It is in our celebration and in our anticipation of a bright tomorrow that the spirit of Christmas lives on.

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!

                                                                                   (Original Signed)

                                                                                     WILLY C. GAA

                                                                                       Ambassador

Washington D.C.

December 25, 2008

* * * * *

CONSUL GENERAL’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

I am happy to extend the Yuletide Greetings to all Filipinos in Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, with all the cheers and blessings of the Advent Season.

After another year of earnest striving in America, it behooves us Filipinos to reunite with our families and kababayans and celebrate the holidays with our unique brand of the spirit of the Season.  I am confident that with our continued bayanihan to improve the common welfare of fellow Filipinos in America, the Yuletide season will bless us with more success, goodwill and prestige in the years to come.

Allow me to greet you and your families a hearty Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!

                                                                                    (Original Signed)

                                                                        MARY JO A. BERNARDO ARAGON

                                                                                      Consul General

Los Angeles, CA

25 December 2008