TACLOBAN CITY – This city’s historic park was transformed into a Christmas dreamland.
A 75-foot Christmas tree was formally switched on Thursday night, signaling the start of Christmas season, at least here in the city.
City Mayor Cristina Romualdez and Councilor Aimee Delgado-Grafil led in the lighting ceremony of the cone-shaped Christmas tree at the Rizal Park.
The Christmas tree is adorned with glass stained designed as candies and lighted with changing neon lights that can withstand strong winds and rains.
Mayor Romualdez, in her message, said that transforming Rizal Park into a Christmas village will make the people of the city and those coming from other areas visiting the park the spirit of Christmas.
“We’re doing this every year for everybody, for the families, for the children, for them to have a place to go where they can feel the spirit of Christmas,” the city mayor said.
Nick Guarino, a local designer, was behind the design of the Christmas tree wherein he also put up candy and gingerbread houses inside the park.
The fountain at Rizal Park was also transformed into a gigantic lotus-shaped tree.
The park is also adorned with candy classic lantern arcs and white star gates, seven lamp lantern post, Santa Claus photo-ops board and the blue vintage Nativity retablo stand near the park’s stage which highlights the essence of Christmas.
There is also a bazaar at the Rizal Park where people can buy local delicacies and other souvenir items. (ROEL T. AMAZONA with GAY B. GASPAY, KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM)
