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==News Feature: Celebrating Christmas the LGU way== | |||
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r12&id=69437 | |||
*Friday, December 23, 2011 | |||
:by Dani Doguiles | |||
KORONADAL CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) -- This is a given: Filipinos celebrate Christmas longer than any nation in the entire world. | |||
Christmas carols, greeting of “Merry Christmas” –- even giving hints on what sort of gift we want to receive from our friends and loved ones -- start on the first day of September and lasts until past January 6. | |||
In roughly a decade, another trend has increasingly become popular: local government units spearheading Christmas festivities for their constituents. | |||
Soccsksargen Region is never one to be left out. | |||
The following are some of the most notable LGU Christmas celebrations this year. | |||
Magpet, North Cotabato: Christmas for the Environment | |||
This municipality, which sits within the slopes of the majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s tallest mountain, celebrates the yuletide season with utmost concern for the environment. Taking off as “Pasko sa Basura” four years ago, the celebration is now called 3K party: “Kinaiyahan Kasadya sa Kapaskuhan.” | |||
All decorations in the town’s plaza are made mostly of indigenous and recyclable materials. All other activities in the event, albeit just a day, are focused on underlining the importance of the protection of Mother Earth. | |||
In his message during the 3K party on December 16, Mayor Efren Piñol, challenged his constituents: “Let us unite to save our environment before it is too late.” | |||
For the first time in four years, Magpet constituents released about 200 paper lanterns that turned the town’s skyline into a simpler version of a sky lantern scene in Disney movie, Tangled. | |||
Tupi, South Cotabato: Ablaze in a Million Lights | |||
“It looks like the entire town hall is covered in a giant blanket of lights,” says Boyet Reyes, a resident of Kidapawan City who dropped by the town plaza on his way to General Santos City. “I am already late for an appointment, I couldn’t help but park my car and take pictures,” he said. | |||
Every pine tree within the town plaza is also filled with lights in red, orange green, blue and many other colors. The town plaza is perfect for friends to hang out until the wee hours or individuals who simply want to sit on one of the benches or the park’s lawn and listen to the Christmas song playing from the LGU’s sound system. | |||
Tupi’s “Paskuhan ng Bayan” kicked off on December 17 with a torch parade participated by hundreds of residents. Highlights of the festivities include nightly band competition, singing competition, gift-giving for children, amateur boxing competition, among others. Activities culminate on December 23. | |||
South Cotabato Provincial Government: December Fest | |||
Of all the LGU-based Christmas celebrations in the entire Soccsksargen Region, only South Cotabato has successfully mixed merriments, private-public partnership, and delivery of social services in one package. | |||
From December 9 until December 23, the province’s Productivity and Technology (Protech) Center becomes a venue of nightly live bands, singing contests, and shows from 6:00 pm until midnight. | |||
Each day, a partner of the provincial government -- to name a few: Sagittarius Mines, Inc., private and public schools, DepEd, Socoteco -- sponsors presentation that showcase the province’s unique pool of talents in dancing, singing, stage play, etc. | |||
Unlike most Christmas celebrations, South Cotabato makes sure that amidst the jubilations of the 15-day celebration, residents gain more than festivities. The provincial government has partnered with DOLE for a jobs fair. This year, a total of 23 local and foreign employers offered hundreds of jobs. | |||
The LGU and the DOST also conducted livelihood trainings and business seminars purposely to develop local entrepreneurs. | |||
The provincial government also sets a night wholly devoted to children. One December 22, hundreds of children came to the provincial capitol grounds for a night of party, food, gift-giving, and games. For the activity, the provincial government has partnered with the three malls in Koronadal City, a giant food chain (which provided party mascots), and other private partners. | |||
Yearly, the capitol compound turns into a Christmas village of lights and sounds perfect for picture-taking and get-together. Last year, a giant Santa Claus straddled the main building’s canopy; this year, a nativity scene, complete with life-size camels and sheep, takes center stage. | |||
General Santos City: Honoring its Champion’s | |||
Yearly, the city government of General Santos City in partnership with the barangay councils, transforms the city’s oval plaza into a “Paskuhan Village,” a showcase of culture, tourism and economic richness of the twenty-six barangays of the Tuna Capital. | |||
A tour in the Paskuhan Village is like a quick visit to the major attractions of the city’s 26 barangays. Barangay Fatima’s booth has a replica of the international airport. That of the Barangay Ligaya, known for it’s poultry industry has a “Santa Nok” (a santa chicken) with a giant egg. | |||
Booths of coastal barangays like Bawing, Bula, Buayan, and Calumpang adorned their respective booths with a real “bangka” and fishnets. A giant shrimp made of luminous plastic in Bula, and the dried fish and squid for sale in Calumpang indicated the abundance of the sea in these barangays with fishing as the main source of income. | |||
This year, Gensan’s Christmas celebration, tagged “Kampeon ang Pasko sa Gensan” pays tribute the personalities who have made a name for themselves and the city. | |||
World boxing champion hails from Barangay Labangal while Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup comes from Barangay Katangawan. | |||
Other personalities that have achieved stardom include actor Gerard Anderson, actress-comedienne Melai Cantiveros, boxer Nonito Donaire, and dance group XB-Gensan. | |||
Wherever one may visit in the four provinces and five cities of Soccsksargen Region, the barangays plazas are adorned with lights and decorations that remind us that the last quarter of each year, is a Merry Christmas. (PIA-12) | |||
==South Cotabato cracks down on illegal mining== | ==South Cotabato cracks down on illegal mining== | ||
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=67&articleId=760594 | *Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=67&articleId=760594 | ||
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Pingoy also called on the police and the military to help enforce the provincial government’s anti-illegal mining thrust in gold-rush towns. | Pingoy also called on the police and the military to help enforce the provincial government’s anti-illegal mining thrust in gold-rush towns. | ||
==South Cotabato sending coffins to Iligan, CDO; WFP joins relief ops== | ==South Cotabato sending coffins to Iligan, CDO; WFP joins relief ops== | ||