Plazas all over the country turned into Christmas wonderlands

AMIDST political scandals, bird flu scares, natural calamities, and even a widespread economic crunch, town plazas and municipal halls from as far as Mahatao, Batanes in the north down to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur in the south have been transformed into merry wonderland of lights and Christmas scenes. With brightly colored parols, belens and Christmas trees peppering the once bare facades, one will really say: “It’s Christmas!”

Since October, local government leaders and town and citifolk have been pooling their strength, resources, ideas and creative juices together to come up with the best Christmastown creation to compete in Lady’s Choice’s first-ever nationwide Christmas landmark-making contest.

Dubbed “Christmasterpiece: Bayanihang Pasko 2005,” the competition’s objective was to encourage ingenuity and creativity among the participants, and more importantly, tap into the bayanihan spirit inherent among Filipinos.

This year’s winner, the "Arch of Friendship" from Naawan, Misamis Oriental, is a testament to this uniquely Pinoy quality. Naawan may be a fifth-class municipality, but it triumphed over more than a hundred other richer and bigger cities and bested even Christmas “tourist spots.”

The breathtaking structure was made of bamboo and coconut lumber and stretches across a national highway, symbolizing “connectivity” -- the local government's desire to bridge distance and foster good relationships among the town's 10 barangays.

Naawan Mayor Dennis Roa proudly said the Arch of Friendship is a result of sheer hardwork and the bayanihan spirit of townsfolk who voluntarily donated cash or materials and spent sleepless nights laboring over their entry.

He said while it was difficult to to gather materials to suit the requirements and execute the design which needed highly-skilled craftsmen to execute, in the end, unity among the townsfolk prevailed.

The Arch has five main features -- the Belfry, the Bridge, the Lamps, Kabisig (Human Replica) and the Balcony. The Belfry or the bell tower, a Hispanic structural influence, symbolizes Christianity brought by the Spaniards. It is a timely reminder of the Christ’s presence as The Way, The Truth and the Life.




“We wanted to remind all people who pass through the arch that to follow Him, we must climb the ladder and follow His path---a life of service to humanity and love without measure,” said Mayor Roa.

Naawan was awarded a P1-million endowment fund for a "Lady’s Choice Creativity Center," and an additional P200,000 in cash prizes.

The 11 runners-up likewise creatively exhibited the spirit of bayanihan through their uniquely crafted entries. Angono, Rizal’s “Higantes sa Pagkakaisa,” a nativity scene conceptualized by no less than the town’s reputed artists, has different renditions of the Lady’s Choice egg-shaped jars which beautifully adorned the whole landmark.

The municipality of Baa-o, Camarines Sur, meanwhile, built a giant egg-turned-nativity scene with other colorfully created renditions of other Christmas symbols like a giant Christmas tree and Santa Claus all revolving around eggs, the town’s main product.

Bangued, Abra’s entry, a bamboo Christmas tree and a larger-than-life 3D figure of the town’s Governor Valera riding a horse carrying a wagon of a giant Lady’s Choice bottle, is truly a sight to behold that once again gives pride to the people of Abra.

Lagonoy, Camarines Sur’s entry, on the other hand, is a classic display of the bayanihan spirit with a spectacle of all the Christmas symbols such as a giant parol, a marble-made belen, all a giant Christmas tree, and a bevy of glittering Christmas lights that invite a truly joyous Holiday season.

Other inspiring Christmas landmarks from the runners-up are Leganes, Iloilo’s bahay kubo-inspired belen called the “Payagpag sang Paghiliusa” (the hut of unity); Lemery, Batangas’ nativity scene with giant bottle as manger; and Luna, Apayao’s three-deck Christmas tree made of anahaw leaves, bamboo, rattan, twigs and wild vines. Completing the lineup of equally talented runners-up are Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubungan, Iloilo.

The board of judges was composed of National Artist for Literature Alejandro Roces; renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina; Ma. Cristina Toralba, an urban and regional planner and expert in heritage architecture, and Alex Dan Tacderas, a marketing executive of Unilever.

“Christmasterpiece: Bayanihang Pasko 2005” is supported by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Girls Scouts of the Philippines, Soroptimist International and Quota International.

To view photos and read more about this year’s entries, you can visit www.ladyschoice.ph and www.christmasterpiece.blogspot.com.