Christmas tree lighting kicks off Yuletide season in Calamba

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- Capped by a three-minute fireworks display, a  60-feet Christmas tree was lighted at the Imall-Canlubang here on Tuesday night to kick-off the city’s Yuletide season celebration.

The mall’s Christmas tree is one of eight giant Christmas trees festooned with “parols” that are lit up beginning this week until January 3 in various public plazas, recreational parks and malls in the city.

The other giant Christmas trees can be found at the city hall’s Rizal Plaza, Mercado de Calamba, Palisam Welcome Arch, Barangay Pansol, Waltermart Makiling, SM City Calamba atrium; Calamba Upper Barangays Association (CUBA) and the 77-feet Christmas tree centerpiece in the old Plaza at the “Kalan-Banga” landmark.

City Mayor Justin Marc SB. Chipeco and Laguna 2nd District Rep. Joaquin M. Chipeco led the mammoth crowd in the Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, where city folks were dazzled with the synchronized lighting of the Yuletide decors and the fireworks display.

Mayor Chipeco expressed the message of “Happy ang Pasko sa Calamba” (it’s a Happy Christmas in Calamba” with the season’s theme “Mensahe mula sa Puso Para sa Bawat Calambeño: Pag-ibig, Kagalakan at Kapayapaan Ngayong Pasko” (a message from the heart for every Calambeño: Love, Joy and Peace this Christmas).

He urged Calambeños, visitors and tourists to enjoy the Christmas spirit, nightly yuletide extravaganzas and festivities in thanksgiving to God for the city’s bountiful blessings and achievements.

The city mayor, with wife Laverne;  Representative Chipeco, Jr and wife Nini; Vice Mayor Roseller Rizal; and City Councilors also led the opening of the “Calambuhayan Trade Fair,” nightly Christmas Bazaar and carnival at the Rizal Plaza adjacent grounds.

The “Calambuhayan Trade Fair 2017” features the livelihood products, crafts, food market and home industries of cooperatives, people’s and non-government organizations (POs/NGOs) here.

Chipeco recalled that the city’s Yuletide Season celebration started in 2004 with only a Christmas tree then lit up for the occasion until 13 years later when several Christmas trees have “grown” and now bedeck public plazas and mall facades.

The Laguna congressman said the trees also symbolize not only the love, merriment and peace on Christmastide but also a testament to the city’s strides into becoming the ninth richest city in the Philippines.

The Calambeño solon, however,  told the crowd “not forget to help and pray for the Marawi City victims and survivors in the spirit of compassion, caring and sharing” amid the Christmas occasion “to give the Marawi victims hope during these trying times as they rebuild their lives and their city.” (PNA)