"Lamdag Dabaw" to highlight this year's Christmas celebration
by Prix D Banzon
Davao City (7 December) -- The Davao City government is taking the lead in celebrating Christmas this year with added attractions as various sectors in the community are involved.
The city tourism office headed by Gerardine Angeles Duran said new events are lined up to ensure that Dabawenyos get the feel of the season through their active participation.
The newest of these events is the Paskohan sa Markets where vendors and barangay residents are encouraged to spruce up their place with symbols of Christmas using indigenous and recyclable materials.
This, she said is a competition of the "Best Christmas Public Market" among nine major areas namely, Agdao, Bankerohan, SIR, Mintal, Calinan, Toril, Tibungco, Mandug, Bunawan and Paquibato.
Prizes would be P100T for the winner, P75T, 2nd placer, P50T for third, and a consolation of P10T each for the rest of the contenders. The cleanest market will receive P15T.
This activity she said is part of the Lamdag Dabaw where parks, markets, malls and streets will be lighted.
"We leave up to them how they will project the market for as long as Christmas like pa rin sa mga palengke and that there is really Christmas spirit in the market," she said.
She said they also would like to stir their creativity and work as a team among the people in implementing this project.
In order for visitors and Dabawenyos to view these places the "Suroy Ta Sa Pasko" or a Christmas Village Tour will bring them to sites for them to observe how Christmas is observed in these places.
She said a 60-seater bus is stationed near the City Hall where everyone can hop in and join the tour where the riders will be served on a first come first serve basis even as she said that they will do their best to field more than two buses so many can take the ride.
"This will be a night tour that will start on December 14 at 7:00 P.M," she said.
Another exciting site to watch out are the Best Christmas Village where the winner will get P150T, a Best Belen, and the Best Christmas Ark.
She said funding of all these preparations i will be shelled out of the city tourism budget of P3.2 million.
The Baktas Karakas or Street Band Competition on December 16 will be capped with the Parko ni Bamboo, a concert of the popular artist Bamboo, at the Rizal Park.
Other events are Christmas Concert of the Himig Singers, Cheer Dance Competition, Caroling Competition of Children and Youth, the Christmas Stars and Melodies (lantern and chorale competition at SM City entertainment plaza, Children, Youth and Adult Christmas Dance at NCCC Mall. The Christmas Thanksgiving, New Year Countdown Party and Christmas Food Fiesta and Nightly Entertainment will also be held at NCCC Mall.
Angeles said that unlike in the previous seasons, all celebration will be held in the urban centers because we want the people to experience and feel the spirit of Christmas with Davao City as the center of the celebration in the south. (PIA XI) [top]