/PNA
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Pangasinenses and tourists were all amazed at the glimpse of Christmas celebrations around the world and the display of lights and sounds when the “Paskuan ed Kapitolyo” Christmas village at the Capitol grounds here was launched on Wednesday night.
Thousands of Pangasinenses gathered around the Capitol building at dusk on Wednesday to witness the lighting of the province’s Christmas tree and the entire Capitol grounds.
Prior to the lighting, the University of Luzon Drum and Bugle Corps played upbeat pop and Christmas songs, while provincial government employees re-enacted the “Panunuluyan” (Jesus Christ’s Nativity), followed by the Kidyam Lights and Sound Show.
The attendees chorused in saying “Wow!” each time colorful videos were projected while singing along the famous Filipino Christmas carol “Pasko na Naman.”
The launching is the start of the province’s celebration of Christmas and the centennial anniversary of the Capitol building, which will turn 100 years on Dec. 28.
The theme of the Christmas village is “Christmas around the world.”
The departments and national government agencies helped one another in order to come up with the spectacle so everybody can have a place to visit with the family.
“This coming Christmas, may we celebrate as one family, one province, as we continue to serve for the betterment of our province,” Governor Amado Espino III told the crowd.
He also asked the public to take care of the displays, so everybody could enjoy it.
“Very good, very nice, very beautiful. Lahat maganda. I-promote ko pa ito sa mga kakilala ko. First time na ganito at ito ang pinakamaganda sa lahat (Everything is beautiful. I’ll promote this to my acquaintances. This is the first of its kind here. The best),” Herminia Lopez, 77, and a resident of Binmaley town, said.
Armie Mendoza, a spa owner in this town, said the Christmas displays have made her feel like she went around the world.
“May kanya-kanyang designs (Each of the display has its own design). The Korean theme display is very colorful, while the Spain theme display makes me feel it’s really Christmas with the music playing, and there are people wearing the country’s national costume while dancing. All of the participants exerted their best efforts,” Mendoza added.
Provincial Tourism Officer Ma. Luisa Elduayan, in an interview Wednesday, said the offices within the capitol grounds were decorated to portray the kind of Christmas celebration in countries like Argentina, Czech Republic, Japan, China, Korea, and Spain.
Elduayan said for the entire Yuletide season, Pangasinenses and tourists will be enjoying different shows like the Kidyam Lights and Sound in front of the capitol building, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Each show, she said, will be announced on the official Facebook page of the province.
Aside from the lights and sound shows, a mini trade fair or the Christmas Bazaar has also been opened for the visitors.
