LA CASTELLANA, Negros Occidental – This southern Negros Occidental town turned into a “Disney Christmas wonderland” for the holiday season.
This was part of celebrating the famous “Bailes de Luces,” or the “Festival of Lights,” which started Dec. 18 and will end Jan. 5.
This year, the town plaza transformed into a “wonderland of Disney characters” fused with Christmas lanterns, or parols.
This was made possible through the municipal government’s “Light a Tree” program.
“La Castellana sparks mainly because of our Bailes de Luces Festival. Through our sparkling plaza, we want to give fun and enjoyment to our people, as well as to the visitors,” said Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan.
Aside from the Disney characters, La Castellana also featured a belen in one of its gardens to highlight the nativity of Jesus Christ. Reindeers were also part of the decoration.
Schools that were clustered in six groups made the Disney-themed installations.
The group with the most wonderful Christmas installation will receive P100,000 as cash prize on the last day of the festival.
The first and second runners-up, on the other hand, will receive P75,000 and P50,000, respectively.
The non-winning groups will also receive each a consolidation prize worth P20,000.
“We are driven by the concept of ‘Makilahok, Makiisa at Makialam’. Thus, this is one way of letting our people from different sectors share their abilities, not only during Bailes de Luces, but in all other town activities,” Nicor-Manguilimutan said.
“More than the colorful lights and stunning attractions, the true essence of Christmas is still about sharing and giving,” the mayor added. (With PNA/PN)
