20 December 2022, Stockholm – The Embassy of the Philippines, led by H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta, hosted the mass on 19 December 2022 for “Simbang Gabi” at the Sta. Eugenia Catholic Church in Stockholm.
With the goal to revive the Filipino tradition in celebrating Christmas, the Filipino Christian Community (FCC) in Sweden, with the guidance of Fr. Roño Toledo, CP, the group organized Simbang Gabi in Sweden, a devotional, nine-day series of masses from 15-23 December 2022, in anticipation of the celebration of Christmas. It is the first iteration of the event carried out in Sweden.
During the eucharist, Fr. Toledo took the opportunity to call on the community to continue to find ways to count their blessings despite the anxiety and uncertainties faced by society. He further called on Filipino Catholics to continue to be a beacon of the true spirit of Christmas through their unwavering faith, peace, and unity.
Fr. Toledo also shared that he arranged a meeting between Ambassador Isleta and Cardinal Anders Arborelius, wherein the former discussed Filipino Catholic traditions, including the Simbang Gabi. The meeting served as a catalyst in securing the blessing of the Cardinal to hold the Simbang Gabi in Sweden, despite not being a traditionally-Swedish eucharistic practice.
After the mass had concluded, the Embassy personnel was joined by church-goers to a fika where Filipino delicacies, including bibingka, suman, empanada, and ensaymada, were served.
The Simbang Gabi is live streamed through the Filipino Mission in Sweden’s Facebook page. END.
05 December 2022, Stockholm – Filipina jurist Maricar Joy Tuazon, a graduate of Lund University, was among the individuals recognized by the Legal Network of Sweden (LNS) for the change she has brought about in the legal profession, particularly in the tech and finance sector. She is one of the seven lawyers given recognition by the LNS.
In a feature article1, Ms. Tuazon expressed the hope that “today’s lawyers continue to challenge our industry and develop it in a way that is more adapted to future needs and changes, such as digital developments”.
A graduate of Örebro University, Ms. Tuazon earned her Masters of Law (LLM) in European Business Law from Lund University. She currently works as a Compliance Manager at a software company in Lund. She has experience as legal manager, legal officer, and a jurist assistant for several law firms and companies in Southern Sweden.
Ms. Tuazon formerly interned at the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm in the summer of 2020 where she assisted at the Consular Section. She is the daughter of Mr. Frederick Esquivel Tuazon and Mrs. Diana Mapua Tuazon. END.
1 https://www.
