Sunday, December 18, 2005
First Light
By Keith Aparri Bacalso
Long gone are the days of total darkness. That, despite the early dusk this time of year.
“They pioneered the now booming industry of Christmas lights here in Gorordo Avenue,” a bystander jumps in, offering that bit of trivia, nodding off to Citas Lights. Loloy Dagala, meanwhile, smiles in acknowledgement, all the while placing the finishing touches on yet another piece of work for sale. The neighbors aren’t far behind.
“We started four years ago, a UP student here, who was originally from Pampanga suggested this,” Loloy, speaking in Cebuano, sheds light on the beginnings of his bright creations. A frequent passerby then, I remember those were humble beginnings. And he confirms, “we started with steady lights, simple and small designs. We even asked some Fine Arts majors to give us some designs.”
Now, the price ranges from P500 to P4,000. “That depends on the design, some are bigger, more detailed.” They progressively take longer and entail more creativity, but hey, they look better, too. “And the lights blink, giving the illusion of motion,” Loloy continues in Cebuano. Indeed, they do. The streets are lined with Santa playing a guitar (blinking lights animate the shifting of guitar chords), Santa on a sleigh (the reindeers run), angels flying, and candles flickering in the nonexistent wind.
It really is much better when you try to be creative. “I do my best to think of newer designs all by myself now. I also try to improve the lighting, to better animate the designs,” clever with the electronics, Loloy successfully synchronizes the flapping of angel wings, reindeer feet, and um, Santa’s whip.
And that is how it will get better in the succeeding years.
(December 18, 2005 issue)
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