Thursday, November 29, 2012

LGUs gears up for Christmas Festival 2012

Samar capitol and Catbalogan City will both open grandiose Christmas Festival activities on the first day of December.

Samar capitol has sponsored a “Light a Tree” contest for government offices and private establishments with a grand prize of P50,000.

As early as last week of November, offices have started lighting their assigned trees with colorful lanterns giving a festive spirit for park goers.

Meanwhile, Catbalogan City sponsors Panarit Pamasko: Christmas Carol Singing Contest.

Then there is the “Pasko Pasikatay,” a barangay hall decorating contest, aimed at involving the communities and barangay folks in celebrating a greener Christmas by using indigenous materials.

The city government also involves the Samar Chamber of Commerce and Industry by encouraging its members to put up Christmas lighting and decorations outside their respective establishments for a merrier yuletide season.

In return, LGU is offering a free LED advertising for five spots per day as a promotional support to the business partners.

The public is anticipating a brighter and merrier Christmas season In Samar’s capital.

Meanwhile, in the Christmas Capitol of Leyte as the much-awaited holiday season is fast approaching, the local government of Palo under the leadership of Mayor Remedios Loreto Petilla, is currently preparing its annual Palo Christmas Festival tradition.

People annually visit the municipality which turns into an enchanting Palo Christmas Village, clear manifestation of the town’s public and private partnership as every house, every private and public office is decorated with lights and other symbols of Christmas.

For this year, several innovations are being introduced by the mayor - the Christmas Festival competitions will include the search for the Best Decorated and lighted Barangay Main Street Competition for barangays Buri, Arado, Cavite East, Cavite West, Cogon, Sta. Cruz, Naga-Naga, St. Michael, Salvacion, Guindapunan, Pawing, Baras, Luntad, and San Fernando.

Other competitions include the search for the Best Christmas Lantern; the Santa Claus Making contest; the Best Decorated Barangay Hall; Best Christmas Tree using recyclable materials; the Best Belen and the Best Lighted and Well-Decorated Government Agency.

Petilla encourages all barangay officials, Palo residents, business establishments and government offices to once again join this annual activity.

The mayor said the Palo Christmas Festival will start on December 14 until the Feast of the Three Kings on January 6, 2013.

There will be Nightly Shows at the Palo Plaza where various competitions will be featured, among which are “Paskoshion” Competition (recyclable Materials); Hip-hop Competition - Kids Category; Hip-hop Competition - Teen Category; Siday Competition; Christmas Caroling - Youth and Adult Category; Christmas Caroling - Children Category; Dance Drama Competition (For teachers); Drama Competition; and Giant Puppet Competition.

A visit to Enchanting Palo, will not be complete without dropping by the Christmas House of the Saboren Family, as the Christmas festival was initiated 25 years ago by famous tenor Enrique Saboren. To encourage others to the idea of a Christmas Village, he started by decorating his entire house converting it into a Christmas House.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, Palo Councilor Wilson Uy said that the Duaw Palo program of Mayor Petilla calls for the institutionalization of the culture of Palo through 4Ps that includes Pamalandong during the Holy Week Season, Patron in August, Pagbalik ha Palo for the Leyte Landing celebration in the month of October and Pasko.

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