LEGAZPI CITY – The Christmas Village here, more popularly known as “Paskuhan sa Legazpi”, is anticipated to draw both domestic and foreign tourists and visitors to the Sawangan Waterfront Park sandwiched between the Albay Gulf and Mayon Volcano, which is still oozing lava at present.
This year’s edition is the second since its launch in 2019 before the pandemic occurred.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mayor Geraldine Rosal said business establishments and civic organizations that have joined the Paskuhan have started erecting their contributed Christmas displays in preparation for the opening and lighting ceremonies on Dec. 1.
Rosal said the Paskuhan sa Legazpi 2023 is themed “Winter Christmas” and will feature an old Christmas tree formed out of white lights, a winter arch, Santa Claus, a snowman, a minimalist Yuletide village, giant Christmas balls, candy canes, gingerbread house, snowflakes, tunnel of lights and other Christmas displays.
“There will be also a night market at the Legazpi City esplanade adjacent to the Sawangan Park as part of the nightly activities of the Christmas village,” she said.
Rosal thanked the different business establishments and civic groups that have helped the city government with this year’s Christmas village, such as the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Legazpi City Chapter, Bicol Shirt City, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and various schools in this capital city.
In a separate interview, Agapita Pacres, Legazpi City Tourism Office (CTO) chief, said students and members of the academe, city government employees and villagers are expected to join the Paskuhan sa Legazpi opening parade.
“There will also be a reenactment of the nativity as an additional show that would give a more meaningful celebration of this Christmas season than during the lashings of the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic,” Pacres said.
She said the Christmas village will also showcase nightly entertainment activities from the opening night until Dec. 23, including concerts featuring various bands. | Emmanuel Solis (PNA)
Photo courtesy: Connie Calipay (PNA)