PAHK Paskong Pinoy, an event to remember

The Paskong Pinoy, a benefit dinner concert, held at Grappas Cellar last Friday, December 18, was no ordinary event. It was a nostalgic reunion of the Filipino community and friends, after years of not seeing each other, we’re finally able to catch up with each other’s lives.

Because of the pandemic that started at the beginning of 2020, the most awaited event for the Filipino community, the Philippine Independence Day on June 12, was not celebrated in observance with Hong Kong protocols in preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Online greetings and meetings became the new norm with families and friends.

With zero Covid-19 cases within the community in Hong Kong for the past few months, relaxation of some protocols started in restaurants and bars, allowing them to accommodate more customers. Due to these lax policies, the Philippine Association of Hong Kong (PAHK)’s Paskong Pinoy beneficiary dinner concert was conceived to raise funds for the three beneficiaries: the Hong Kong Bayanihan Trust, Wimler Foundation, HK Ltd., and the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.

The event started at 6:30, Friday evening at Grappas, in the middle of the busy streets of Causeway Bay. The night was filled with excitement, attendees celebrating as they met face-to-face. Elbow-to-elbow touches and shoulder or back taps were the new ways to greet one another, although some could not resist hugging a friend or two they haven’t seen in years. After more than two years of the pandemic, the simplicity of being able to touch a friend they had only been interacting with through screens was enough to put everyone in a festive mood.

Once the attendees settled and the program started, a short and brief introduction was given by the chairman of the PAHK, Ms. Kathy De Guzman. She promised that within 3-hours of the night, special entertainment should be expected.

And a special time it was. The songs rendered by the group composed of Mikki Villa, Andri Reyes, Steven Co, Joy Carbonnel, Ruby Bofill, and Erin Regalado were songs that reminded the community of where their hearts belong – to their beloved country, the Philippines.

It was not only the songs and the singers that touched the hearts of the audience, it was also the musical accompaniment of the piano played by the very own Mr. Nobel Gabasan. He completed the concert that made the event a night to remember. The concert, aside from distilling the spirit of the season, also reminded everyone about the families back at home, the very ones they migrated to foreign countries to work for. Tagalog and Christmas songs filled the air, inciting cheers and laughter from all around.

The Board of Directors, clad in their black dresses and black suits with red-accessory were active in managing the event, constantly making sure the attendees were enjoying themselves. Making such a successful event filled with friends, food, and drinks, they deserve all the warm appreciation everyone had to give.

We’d personally like to thank the chairman, Ms. Katherine De Guzman, and all the board of directors, Rosabelle Woolf Leonor, Clarita Natcher, Yolanda Marquez, Joeffrey Fajardo, Karlo Antonio Benasa, Estephanie Chan, Julita Lee, Richard Del Valle, May Ong, Dandrei Exdama, and Maribel Guercio. The program could not be possible without the sponsors of Prime Credit, Ayala Land, AFreight, PLDT, First Pacific, Franki, PNB, BDO, MetroBank, RCBC, and OWTEL