FESTIVE fairy lights brighten up the streets of Camp Evangelista on Friday evening, December 2. In the first week of December, the 4th Infantry Diamond Division of the Philippine Army opens their first ever Christmas village to residents and visitors here, in time for the Christmas season.
The Christmas village dubbed, “festival of lights” takes on the theme of every Filipino’s Christmas celebration.
Located within the military camp at Barangay Patag, the Christmas village is open for public viewing for the whole month of December.
4ID Commanding General Benjie Madrigal Jr. shared that this year, the diamond troopers in Cagayan de Oro city had come up with the idea of a Christmas village to be able to take part in the city’s celebration of the Christmas season.
“This Christmas village of ours is a way through which our fellows here in Cagayan de Oro city can experience the spirit of Christmas which is all about hope and peace,” Madrigal said.
Within the village, the armed forces has decorated five areas with subthemes such as caroling, gift-giving, Noche Buena, the Christmas lantern and Simbang Gabi.
As visitors enter Camp Evangelista during its festival of lights, they are welcomed by the Caroling-singing-themed area located at the camp’s headquarters office. The army band sings Christmas songs to visitors to stimulate the spirit of the season under the gigantic Christmas tree. The pond in front of the headquarters is decorated with dazzling Christmas lights and figurines, all creating a joyful Christmas ambiance.
The village themed as Christmas lantern features a wide array of brightly lit lanterns of different sizes. The officer organizers of this area boast of their lanterns being made of indigenous materials such as the leaves of the trees found within the camp. As visitors go around the lantern-themed area of the Christmas village, they are free to take pictures beside these lanterns
Its merry atmosphere will also draw visitors to the next area which is themed ‘gift-giving’. Three officers dressed as Santa Claus dance to the beat of Christmas songs while they offer candies and gifts to visitors.
The iconic army tank was also decorated to create the Christmas mood. A Santa Claus figurine dressed with an army uniform was placed on top of the army tank, recreating Santa on the sleigh. Here at the camp, Santa is riding an army tank.
Food is literally offered at the Christmas village’s Noche Buena themed area as organizers serve barbecued food for visitors. This area aims to capture the typical Filipino salo-salo every Christmas season. The symbolic Lechong Baboy of every Filipino celebration is found in the area with another uniformed Santa Claus minding the pole.
Meanwhile, the organizers have made a mini Simbang Gabi area to complete the Christmas village themes. Arranged with a cathedral background, this area features the characteristic things that Filipinos find during the Misa de Gallo. Miniature shops with steaming puto bumbong are placed beside the cathedral along with a Christmas tree and Santa Claus sleigh.
The Christmas village is open for all Kagay-anons from six to nine in the evening.
Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Diamond Division assures the public of the safety of the Christmas village and invites everyone to visit Camp Evangelista.
“It is indeed refreshing to see such a serious camp be transformed into a bright place to celebrate the Christmas season. Indeed, Christmas is in the air it is joyful that people came and witnessed its opening here in our camp,” Martinez said.
“We hope that the process for the bilateral peace talks in the country would end up for peace of everyone so that the happiness, hope, and peace of Christmas continue from this holiday season to the whole year. This Christmas village hopes to instill to Kagay-anons and also to our other countrymen that the army, like our Festival of Lights, aims to be the guiding light to the country for the good of all,” Madrigal added.
On its opening night, visiting children played and danced with the different games and tricks of the Christmas village. Nine year old Ella Claridad who visited with her said that she enjoyed the part when the three Santa Claus officers in the Gift-giving area danced to the music and even invited them to dance.
“They were funny to look at while they were dancing and singing and talking with us,” the young Claridad said.
Jino Montalban, eleven years old who also came with his family and with some of his friends said that they were impressed with the Santa Claus in the army tank.
“It is amazing that instead of being in a sleigh, Santa is riding the tank like the soldiers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Christmas village was also a treat not only for the children but also for their families and parents who were there at the first day of 4ID’s festival of lights.
“I think that the best among these areas is the Misa de Gallo themed one because it offered a lot of sights and opportunities for picture taking,” said Victoria Ganancia, who came with her sister and nieces.