WINNING ENTRY. The Christmas tree that won over two other entries in a contest during the Christmas party of the Nagbangi II Elementary School in San Remigio, Antique on Dec. 16, 2022. Roscy Lee Novisteros, head teacher of the school, said on Monday the winning Christmas tree is made of coconut leaves that are available since the trees are abundant in the area. (PNA photo courtesy of Roscy Lee Novisteros)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The winning entry in the Christmas tree-making contest of an elementary school in this province showcased the abundance of coconut and endemic materials.
Roscy Lee Novisteros, head teacher of the Nagbangi II Elementary School in Barangay Nagbangi II, San Remigio town, said they held the competition with the support of students' parents during their Christmas party on Dec. 16.
"The groups were then instructed to only use indigenous materials that they could see in the barangay," Novisteros said in an interview on Monday.
She said this is in adherence to the Department of Education's (DepEd) instruction to schools to observe austerity measures in holding Christmas parties within their school premises.
The students were grouped into three based on their "purok" or district in the barangay where they reside.
Purok 2 decided to gather coconut leaves that they tied or wove using coconut fiber and midrib into a four-layer Christmas tree.
"Green coconut leaves were also formed into balls as decorations on their Christmas tree," Novisteros said.
The star on top of the Christmas tree was made of coconut flowers.
"The coconut Christmas tree was stunning with the green leaves making it colorful, that it won first place in the contest," Novisteros said.
She said the coconut Christmas tree outshined two other entries that were made of cogon and the bark of a tree.
The winning group received PHP800 as cash prize while the second and third placers received PHP600 and PHP500, respectively.
"Two days prior to our Christmas party, we had a caroling around the barangay after school in the afternoon and the amount we were able to collect was used as cash prizes," Novisteros said.
She also said since they were not allowed by DepEd to ask for contributions from their pupils or parents for their food preparation, they only had "palutaw" or small glutinous balls cooked in coconut milk and sugar with jackfruit and bananas shared with everyone.
"We really had plenty of palutaw cooked by the parents themselves," Novisteros said.
She said despite their modest Christmas party, everyone enjoyed the Christmas party.
"Our winning coco Christmas tree since it is sturdy still stands there to welcome back the pupils when they return to school on Jan. 4," Novisteros said. (PNA)
