THE 2019 Philippine Christmas Festival - Pamaskwa ng Bayan edition showcased the famous Manggahan Festival of the Province of Guimaras and performed at the Yoyogi Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan during the festival opening formalities held on Saturday, November 30.
Guimaras Governor Samuel "Sam" Gumarin spearheaded his delegation to Tokyo to boost the global exposure of the province’s festival, sweet mangoes and local talents.
"We were invited to perform here because last year, the Manggahan festival performers won in the Aliwan Festival in Iloilo for two consecutive years. The Filipino community here finds it fitting to invite us to perform in the Pamaskwa ng Bayan, Philippine Christmas Festival," Gumarin said.
He said they were asked to bring mangoes from Guimaras.
There were 27 Manggahan Festival performers, as well as drummers and provincial leaders who came to Tokyo for the said event.
Meanwhile, Kyoken (Kyoko and Kento) Travel and Tours also participated in the 2019 Philippine Festival organized by the Filipino community in Tokyo, Japan.
Kyoken Travel and Tours President and CEO April M. Kitagawa showed enthusiasm in taking part in the said festivity, given its international influence and prestige.
A group of Negrenses were similarly invited as Negrense philanthropist Eleanor Alonsagay Fukuda plays a vital role in the organization of the said festivity.
Fukuda is the founding president of the Organization for the Development and Advancement of Negros in Japan (ODAN-J).
ODAN-J helped so many Negrenses including local government units to avail of donations such as ambulances, medical equipment and other forms of relief and assistance from Japan.
Negrense designer Jerald D. Lozada and his assistant Christopher Nickel Gonzaga also flew to Japan to do the stage set-up and design.