Philippine handicrafts and classic dishes are prominently featured at the annual Madrid City Christmas fair—locally known as La Navideña-Feria Internacional de las Culturas—which was officially opened by Madrid City Mayor Manuela Carmena Castrillo on 14 December 2018 at the Matadero Madrid.
The Mayor dropped by the Philippine booth and as she did in 2017, generously praised the high quality of the capiz decors on display. Aside from handicrafts made from capiz and indigenous textiles, the Embassy also welcomed the participation of Diseño, a Filipino-owned flower shop in Madrid whose Christmas flower arrangements were a hit with guests, and the Roxas Foundation, whose canvass and pouch bags were made by disadvantaged groups in the Philippines, at the Philippine booth.
More than 70 embassies in Spain participate in the annual fair, and over 5,000 people from all over Spain visit it. Aside from traditional handicrafts,tourism information materials, food and delicacies from participating countries, the fair also organizes traditional games, workshops on making traditional handicrafts, performances and cooking demonstrations.
The Embassy has organized a Masskara Dance on 19 December 2018 at 5 p.m. to be performed by members of DDS Madrid who also won the Filipino Community’s Streetdance Competition during Barrio Fiesta 2018; a kare-kare cooking demonstration by Ms. Merry Joy de Asia, proprietor of Filipino restaurant Fabiola on 19 December 2018 at 6 p.m.; and a demonstration of Filipino martial arts arnis by Consul Mikhal de Dios, to be held on 20 December 2018 at 5 p.m.
The fair will run until 23 December 2018. Booths are open on weekdays from 4 p.m.to 8:30 p.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.