Feature:

How was the Holiday Season

in Iloilo City?



A Christmas tree made from
dried leaves and twigs at
Brgy. Buntatala, Jaro, Iloilo City



By Pepin

Months before Christmas day, the city of Iloilo has been busy preparing different stuffs. In one part of the city, the streets were lined with Christmas trees and Belen (manger) that were made of various indigenous materials. On the other side anyone will be amazed with the sparkling lights and lanterns that cheered up the night sky. Ilonggos truly knew how to celebrate the season with so much enthusiasm and inventiveness. This was a celebration that they surely did not want to miss.

Here are some of the Holiday Highlights in Iloilo:

Major parks in the city were decorated with colorful lights and a Christmas Fair in the City, a project of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, opened the city’s holiday celebration. People, young and old, flocked to the parks to witness the colorful display of lights and fireworks. There were also vendors of bibingka, balut, mani, balloons, and glow toys, who took the opportunity to earn income from a large crowd of spectators.



Tinapayan's Christmas Village



Tinapayan, one of the leading bread stores in the city, once again unveiled to the public their famous Christmas village of pastries, pretzels, and other sweets. People, who passed by the exhibit, can’t help but gave praises and took photos of the sugary masterpiece.

Central Philippine University attracted thousands of audience during the Christmas at Central Park: Festival of Lights and Music. People waited for the final count down until the lights were turned on and a vivid display of fireworks amazed everyone who came. Kids and kids-at-heart also enjoyed in the food fest and the mini fair.                 



A Christmas At Fairytale Land was the holiday offering of Robinson’s Place Iloilo. Children took pleasure in watching animated characters from the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, and The Three Little Pigs, who all sang famous Christmas carols and greetings.



Christmas in Fairytale Land
at Robinson's Place Iloilo



The famous Sigaboom of Angelicum School is a must-see in the city of Iloilo every Christmas season. This year, more people viewed how the silent school building was transformed into a Christmas wonder. School children presented various Christmas traditions and showcased spectacular performances to please the waiting public. As the time for the lighting of lights draws near, spectators marvelled on how the place will become a blast of colorful lights. A ten-minute fireworks display concluded the Sigaboom opening ceremony.



University Church
Central Philippine University



SM City Iloilo also perked up the night sky with a fantastic fireworks display. Inside the mall, shoppers enjoyed signing along with the Christmas songs being played. Of course, they benefited a lot from the discounted prices of goods to accommodate their Christmas budget for gift-giving. A giant Christmas tree was displayed at the lower ground floor of the mall, and shoppers had  free picture-takings.



In most parts of the city, people were still fascinated with the traditional “karoling.” Different choral groups, and even groups of young children, took time to go house-to-house and sang Christmas songs. And eventhough some groups of kids have been out of tune, families, who were listening to them, still shared something that brought them in high spirits during the holiday season.

Iloilo Provincial Capitol

Sigaboom at Angelicum School

The Karoling tradition

So that was Christmas in the city of Iloilo. The different ways that Ilonggos shared to the world to celebrate the special day of our saviour, Jesus Christ only showed that this season is still alive, and it was the joy felt by the heart that truly matters for anyone who was touched by the holiday spirit.