THE City Government of Cagayan de Oro welcomed the Yuletide season on December 1, 2022 with its annual "Pasko de Oro," after two years of no Christmas festivities.

"Pasko de Oro" kicked off with a parade of six marching bands and six motorelas dressed up in colorful Christmas-themed decorations, beginning at the Rodelsa Circlen and ending outside the City Hall.

Following the parade is the Marching Band Competition where various community bands showed off their skills and performed a medley of classic and popular Christmas songs.

Participating in this year's Marching Band Competition were the Oro Marching Arts Guild, Silverianz DBC, the community bands of Barangays Lumbia, Bayanga and Patag, and Pilgrim Christian College.

On the same day, the pre-judging of the siz entries for Paskorela began.

Paskorela, a holiday-themed "Dress Up Your Own Motorela" competition, is one of the highlight activities of the city that honors the most common public transportation in Cagayan de Oro.

After the performances of the six marching bands, City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy expressed his gratitude to the participants and the Kagay-anons present during the event in his Christmas message.

"Dako kaayo ko og pagpasalamat kaninyo nga nagmalampuson kining maong pagbukas sa kasaulogan sa atong kapaskuhan," Uy said.

"Ang kapaskuhan maoy pagpangandam nato sa atong kasaulogan sa adlaw'ng natawhan sa atong Ginoo nga atong manunubos nga si Hesukristo," he added.

The city mayor also encouraged the public to be united for a peaceful and joyful Christmas celebration in Cagayan de Oro.

"Mao ning magtinabangay kita, maghiusa kay mao ra ni akong kalipay nga ang tanang katawhan sa dakbayan matagaan nato og kahigayunan, ug labaw sa tanan nga kamo ang malipayon kaayo," Mayor Klarex said.

The Paskorela and Marching Band competitions are just two of the several activities the City Government, through its City Tourism Office, has prepared for Cagayan de Oro's Christmas celebration this year.

Other events include Bangga sa Daygon on December 9, Indigay sa Parol and Christmas Village Around the World 2022. (SunStar Philippines)