A not-so-Christian tradition

Muslims and Christians celebrate Christmas and Deepavali at the Malaysian ambassador's residence in Makati on 12 November in a yearly embassy tradition of building a society that thrives in harmony and peace.

Photograph courtesy of DPA Alliance and Germany in Manila Alaaf! Helau! Germany is steeped in festivities and carnivals as the Fifth Season began this week, vivifying the already animated major cities like Dusseldorf, Koln and Mainz. Unesco classifies Fifth Season as an intangible cultural heritage. The celebration ends on Ash Wednesday of the succeeding year, with the main festivities happening around Rosenmontag (Rose Monday).

Clad in colors of Deepavali and Christmas, more than 150 guests comprising the embassy officers and their families, the locally recruited staff and their kins, the Malaysian diaspora in the Philippines, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, and heads of Malaysian companies in the Philippines partook in sumptuous meal of varied dishes: Butter rice, roasted chicken, lamb curry, vegetarian dhal curry, vegetarian samosa and fruits.

photograph courtesy of malaysia in the philippines
Guests of various religions exchanged gifts and won in Christmas costume competition. The Malaysian Embassy and the Chinese General Hospital also organized a blood-donation drive during the event to give back to the local community.

As part of its CSR, the embassy also collaborated with the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center Manila to organize a blood-donation drive during the event to give back to the local community.

Twenty-five people, including Ambassador Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino bin Anthony, donated their blood to this noble cause.