Friday, December 19, 2008 Light up those Christmas trees By Grace L. Plata
SOME of Davao City's 186 villages will light up their community Christmas trees Friday night to celebrate and nurture the Christmas spirit despite hard times.
These community Christmas trees will also serve as their official entries to the Paskong Kahoy sa Barangay competition, a part of the annual Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw.
Until last year, barangays were invited to participate in three competitions -- the Dayan-dayan sa Barangay, a themed arc and decor arrangement with lights; the Community Christmas Trees and the Parol or Christmas Lantern.
But this year, due to the global economic crisis, the city government opted to just hold two competitions to avoid overspending in the barangay level. Only the Christmas tree and the lantern contests have remained.
Winners are chosen based on creativity, craftsmanship and execution, appeal and impact during daytime without the benefit of lighting effects and appeal and impact during the night as enhanced by light system provided.
Vying for top prizes bring the barangay people together in the spirit of sharing, giving and Filipino "bayanihan".
The barangay people work in shifts to set up the best designs and final touches to their trees.
Last year, it was Barangay Catalunan Grande that bagged the top prize for the Christmas tree while Barangay Tigatto won the over-all.
This year, the grand prize winner for the Christmas Tree Category will get P100,000 while each of the five runners-up wil get P20,000. The best lantern, on the other hand, will get P10,000 while four runners-up will get P5,000 each.
