BACOLOD CITY -- Silay City in Negros Occidental is celebrating Yuletide holidays for the whole month of December with its Christmas Village 2017 at the public plaza as the centerpiece of its merrymaking.
This will not be the first time that the holiday revelry will last for a month in the city of Silay. It’s a practice that dates back in the 1890s.
Following the switch-on ceremony on December 3, the plaza has become an enchanting sight with every nook and cranny spruced up with the “belen” (nativity scene) and “arko” (welcome arch) installations mounted by the barangays.
Silay, being the heritage capital of the province, traces back the concept of transforming the plaza into a Christmas village even before the “Cinco de Noviembre Revolution” (November 5 Revolution) in 1898, which ended Spanish control of the island and signaled the start of a government run by Negrenses.
Ver Pacete, former city tourism officer and now consultant on sociology, said the Silay Christmas Village began as early as 1840 when families from Iloilo City came to Silay and other places in Negros to start the hacienda system.
The transformation of the Silay plaza can also be considered a great leveler as everyone could be counted on to achieve its transformation into a Christmas wonderland.
“In Silay, it has been the tradition of the ‘hacenderos’ (landowners) and the “jornaleros” (laborers) to make the plaza beautiful in preparation for the Christmas season. The nightly “daigon” (carolers) and the “Christmas carols” attracted the people to gather at the plaza until the “simbang gabi.” The heritage lives on,” Pacete said in his column in a local newspaper.
He added that the different mayors of Silay then continued to improve the plaza lights and eventually converted the whole area into a Christmas Village. Since 2016, Mayor Mark Golez has spearheaded the activities with the various sectors.
The Silay Christmas Village has become a joint effort of the Silay city government with the Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Education, the business sector, the religious groups, and the tourism pillars.
Pacete said the Christmas Village is a concept of giving life to what the Silaynons are doing in their communities during the Yuletide season.
“At the center of the Christmas Village, we have the giant ‘Belen’ and the Christmas tree symbolizing the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger and the hope of the Silaynons for a more progressive future. The ‘Christmas arko’ is a Silaynon symbol for ‘welcome’,” he added.
Pacete added that “the Christmas Village in Silay is not just for commercial or tourist attraction, it is deeply rooted in the culture and tradition of the Silaynons.”
This year’s theme is “Sa Ti-on sang Paskwa, Paghigugma, Pag-ambit anay kag Pagbinuligay Maga Asenso ang Silay, Maga Asenso ang tagsaka Panimalay.” (This Christmas season, with love, sharing and cooperation, Silay and every home or family in it will attain progress)
In this year’s Arko and Belen competition, Barangay Uno was declared first place, Barangay Hawaiian, second while, Barangay Lantad is third place.
Among the highlights of the month-long activities are Christmas Carol Competition for elementary and high school students, and barangays as well as the Daigon 2017.
The Philippine Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker Show will be held at Kansilayan Gym on December 16, with the “Pamaskwani Mayor Mark” at the Covered Court on December 21.
During the closing day on December 30, activities will include a thanksgiving mass, Rizal Day re-enactment and wreath-laying, and year-end fireworks display and celebrity night. (PNA)
PNA photo by Nanette Guadalquiver
