Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530515
8 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 13 DECEMBER 2024 THEATRE THIS Saturday, 14 December, at 11.30am, Il-Ħaġar Museum will host the second in a series of three lunchtime concerts taking place on consecutive Saturdays leading up to Christ- mas. This week's concert, Christ- mas Brass, will feature BrassTubes Ensemble under the musical direction of Mark Gauci. On the final Saturday before Christmas, the 21 December, the Laudate Pueri Choir of St George's Basilica, directed by Rev. Can. George J. Frendo and led by Prof. Maria Frendo, will present the third and final lunchtime concert of the sea- son at Il-Ħaġar, In Dulci Jubilo, performing some of the best- loved Christmas carols. The concerts start at 11.30am, and admission to Il-Ħaġar is, as always, free. Christmas lunchtime concerts at Il-Hagar THE HSBC Malta Foundation, in collaboration with the Foun- dation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honeybee (KNM), celebrated the winners of the National Insect €2 Commem- orative Coin Competition dur- ing a special ceremony held at the HSBC Malta Foundation's premises in Valletta. The competition, aimed at raising awareness of the en- demic Maltese Honeybee (Apis mellifera ruttneri), invit- ed participants to create short videos showcasing the bee's unique dark-coloured abdo- men and its critical role in the ecosystem. The winning videos, de- termined by public votes on KNM's YouTube channel, ef- fectively highlighted the im- portance of this vital pollina- tor to Malta's biodiversity. Each of the seven winners — Jeremy Bonello, Brendan Buttigieg, Sebastian Said, Jake Desira, Jorge Spiteri, Joseph Zammit, and Monika Gerd- vilyte — was awarded a lim- ited-edition €2 commemora- tive coin issued by the Central Bank of Malta. These coins were sponsored by the HSBC Malta Founda- tion to honour the Maltese Honeybee, officially recog- nised as Malta's National In- sect. Speaking at the event, Glenn Bugeja, representing the HS- BC Malta Foundation, said: "We are proud to support KNM by sponsoring the pur- chase of these limited-edition commemorative coins hon- ouring the National Insect of Malta. Conservation efforts can take many forms, from hands-on fieldwork to initia- tives like this, which celebrate such a vital pollinator deeply intertwined with our country." Dylan Farrugia, Co-founder and President of KNM, ex- pressed his gratitude: "I am delighted that a commemo- rative coin honouring the na- tional insect of Malta is now available. Every effort towards conservation, in any form, contributes to combating the numerous threats facing our honeybee. We are grateful to the HSBC Malta Foundation for recognising and support- ing these vital conservation efforts." The Maltese Honeybee, an endemic species that has evolved in isolation for centu- ries, faces significant threats to its genetic purity due to the introduction of foreign bee stock. The competition and the re- lease of the commemorative coin aim to raise awareness about these challenges and inspire efforts to protect the species from extinction. The HSBC Malta Founda- tion's sponsorship of the com- petition highlights its ongoing commitment to environmen- tal conservation and sustain- ability. Through such initiatives, HSBC continues to play a vi- tal role in fostering awareness of Malta's unique biodiversity and the importance of preserv- ing it for future generations. HSBC Malta Foundation hosts ceremony to honour winners of Maltese honeybee awareness competition The ceremony was held at the HSBC Malta premises to award the winners. From left to right: Glenn Bugeja (representing the HSBC Malta Foundation), Dylan Farrugia (President of the KNM Foundation), Sebastian Said, Monika Gerdvilyte, Jorge Spiteri, Jake Desira. Front: Jeremy Bonello.