ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has announced the extension of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol’s light display until the Dinagyang Festival this Jan. 27 and 28. This move aims to provide additional entertainment for both locals and tourists.
Defensor emphasized the importance of maximizing the efforts of the provincial government and the General Services Office (GSO) in decorating the capitol for the Christmas season. It would be wasteful not to allow people to enjoy these decorations for a longer period, he said.
Furthermore, Defensor revealed that there would be a slight redesign of the light display to align with the Dinagyang Festival theme.
“We will make adjustments to specifically reflect the Dinagyang spirit. This design will demonstrate our support for the festival,” he said.
The theme of the current capitol lights display is “Magical Christmas.”
Defensor expressed satisfaction with the GSO’s hard work, citing the joy on the faces of the thousands of Ilonggos who visited the capitol in December.
The provincial government allocated P2,878,850 for the purchase of Christmas lights and decorations to achieve the magical Christmas theme. A significant portion of this budget was spent on new Christmas lights, decorations, and labor for additional designs to enhance the beauty of the capitol building and grounds.
The light display was inaugurated on Dec. 1, attracting thousands of Ilonggos. The display was made more spectacular than in previous years to make the capitol a family destination during the holiday season.
“This initiative is also for our tourism. We are investing in activities that help position our province on the tourism map of the Philippines. That’s what magical Christmas at the capitol is all about: fun, food, and family friendliness,” said Defensor./PN
