Christmas indeed came in early for the kids in Tondo, Manila as the first-ever Italian Street Food Festival known as the Fiesta con Gusto, a joint effort of the Embassy of Italy to the Philippines and the city government of Manila, fed over 500 underprivileged kids including their families gathered at the San Pablo Apostol Parish New Land Covered Court on November 18.

Spearheaded by Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente with the support of Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, the event successfully introduced the kids of Tondo to one of the most fundamental aspects of Italian culture – food.