CITY OF
TAGUM, DAVAO DEL NORTE—Residents here are now gearing up to witness the
lighting of the iconic Giant Holiday Tree which comes to life Wednesday,
November 21, 2012, officially starting this city’s festive holiday season.
The city
government under the leadership of Mayor Rey T. Uy will lead in the lighting
ceremony on Wednesday which local authorities said could draw more than 5,000
people from all walks of life to the Freedom Park, the site where the holiday
tree stands.
This year’s
holiday tree is towering at 113 feet that features an intricate design,
highlighted by 300 pieces of clear raindrops lights, stars, flowers, fruits and
angels.
This year’s
lighting ceremony will give tribute to the outstanding contribution of the
barangay health workers and the barangay nutrition scholars from the 23
villages here.
City
Councilor De Carlo “Oyo” Uy is set to deliver his annual holiday greetings, who
last year labeled the city’s giant tree as the city's “gift of hope, love and
peace” as well as highlighting it as a “universal tree” not only catered for
the Christians but also to other dominions of faith.
In fact, an
ecumenical prayer will highlight the start of Wednesday’s ceremony—featuring
invocations from the Muslims, Christians and Lumads.
The lighting
of the holiday tree comes nine days before the Diocese of Tagum celebrates the
parochial fiesta of Christ the King.
The news of
the lighting ceremony ignited excitement among locals here, including those
overseas.
“Seeing the
giant tree being lighted means I am finally home to celebrate Christmas with
family and friends,” wrote Marydee Gulle Anderson on facebook.
“Christmas
is more meaningful when you're home,” Anderson added, who is celebrating
Christmas at in Tagum instead in the United Kingdom, where she is based with
her husband.
Febby
Kirstin Ibita suggested the event is “another chance for the people of Tagum,
from all walks of life, to huddle and gather around the city's symbol of hope
and merriment.”
“It is the
sign that the city officially embraces the blissful feeling that Christmas will
bring,” tells Jio Managbanag who shared he’s also excited for his one year-old
son to witness Wednesday’s revelry.
Photography
enthusiast and blogger Tess Halili turned serious when asked about her thoughts
of the iconic tree.
“It should
be the spark that signals a Season of Hope and Joy the message of which should
not just ring true during the holidays but should go beyond, even when election
time comes.”
Organizers
advised the public to be early on Wednesday as the ceremony will start at
exactly 5:00 PM with performances from the Tagum City Youth Orchestra, a
composite of 330 music artists from the different choir, rondalla and symphonic
bands from the different public and private schools in Tagum. Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum
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