Koronadal City – Guests, DILG XII employees and spectators gathered to witness the Culmination Program for 2019 Paskuhan Village on Saturday, December 7, as the week-long festivity has come to an end after featuring well-lit and brightly decorated office buildings at the regional center in Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City.
DILG XII officials led by RD Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO, led the whole personnel and staff in jubilation after the city government announced the DILG XII as the Champion for the Paskuhan Village, receiving a cash prize of P30, 000.00. Participating agencies, with their decorations and Paskuhan Village concepts, had been judged according to creativity, originality and overall appeal and visual impact (both during daytime and nighttime). This year’s theme is “Sa Bagong Koronadal, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” which explains why stars of all color and sizes became the main motif for the festivity.
The closing program was made more meaningful with the presence of City mayor Eliordo U. Ogena who has personally advocated for the establishment of new places to visit during the Christmas Season. Along with the mayor were some of the other city hall personnel led by City Admin. Rene B. Jumilla and other department heads who had been judges for the contest.
On December 3, visitors crowded the Department of the Interior and Local Government XII’s Nativity tableau as the Regional Center formally opened its week-long Christmas activity called Paskuhan Village.
As support to this endeavor, DILG XII and all other national-line agencies gave full support and dressed-up their respective offices with Christmas lights and decorations to brighten up the entire Regional Center. The DILG XII Office itself is decked with some homey decors with all the splash of colors for the Yuletide Season, with well-placed wreaths, lighted trees and multi-colored sparkling lights. The main feature of the display is the iconic nativity scene, with a twist.
Instead of the usual cut-out figures, real-life actors and players take center stage at the makeshift stable, complete with ‘hay’, thatched roof and a manger. The set-up was placed at the DILG office’s entrance lobby, and the main characters were portrayed by the employees of the said agency, together with Regional Director Leysa who played the infant Jesus’ mother, Mary and DILG XII Finance and Administrative Division Chief Dennis M. Sucol, MPA, as Joseph.
Other regional officials like ARD Lailyn A. Ortiz, CESO also played as alternates for the Mary’s role, while other personnel acted out the other roles of the shepherds, angel Gabriel, the local residents and the Three Wise Men.
The Nativity scene exhibits figures representing the infant Jesus, Mary, her husband, Joseph, and the three kings presenting gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold. During the break, standees take over the stable scene.
Members of the DILG choir also joined in as they rendered Christmas songs to the audience’s delight and the judges’ surprise.
A real-life Santa Claus played by DILG-South Cotabato’s Bong Suwaib surely caught the attention of kids, adults and even employees alike as he handed –out giveaways, even during the opening and culmination night. He obliged for poses from little children and families who came in droves.
NGAs and other partner stakeholders were also able to host other nightly presentations at the Regional Center starting on December 3 to December 7. The Opening Night on Dec.3 was hosted by the LGU of Koronadal City and the BFP Region XII. The second night was assigned to DILG XII and BJMP XII and both offices blasted the night away with the First Christmas drama presentation, high-energy dance numbers and a loud and entertaining live band.
The 3rd night, Dec. 5, was sponsored by the DepEd and DA, CHED, MGB and EMB joined hands on Dec. 6 and the Culmination Night was hosted by the City Government of Koronadal.
The Paskuhan Village was conceptualized upon the initiative of the City Government of Koronadal and DILG XII Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO V as a means to draw visitors, onlookers and local residents who might want alternative places to visit during the Holiday Season. It has been a sort of a local tradition among the residents of South Cotabato to visit various LGUs where the sights, lights and sounds of Christmas are being showcased. Various LGUs like Surallah, Tampakan, Koronadal City and the Provincial Capitol of South Cotabato has become some of the most visited places during Christmas as they feature bright, interesting and colorful displays in their designated areas.
The Regional Center joined this year’s list of go-to places as part of its support to the City government’s efforts to ‘brighten up the Season’.
DILG Leysa, in her message prior to the official lighting ceremony, encouraged everyone to visit the Regional Center while at the same time, give time to revisit the First Christmas story as described in the Gospel According to Luke, with its eternal message of salvation and hope to all mankind through the birth of the Messiah.
