Pasko Fiesta kicks off with Lighting Ceremony

Davao City celebrates the Christmas season with the month-long Pasko Fiesta festival, an annual celebration that integrates festive and competitive Christmas activities, showcasing colorful lightings and arrays of decorations in different barangays, public parks, roads and buildings.  
The highly anticipated event features a series of competitive performances showcasing the community’s creativity and talents while keeping the Christmas traditions alive.
Pasko Fiesta will officially commence tomorrow, December 04, 2009 (Friday), 5:00 PM with the ceremonial lighting of the parks and the LGU complex in a program dubbed as “Sidlak Silaw Sa Dabaw”.
Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will lead tomorrow’s Lighting Ceremony together with Vice-Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, the city’s deputy mayors, Mutya ng Dabaw and her court, Hiyas sa Kadayawan and her court, and representatives from different sectors.
The program will also feature performances by local performers including the Kaliwat Theater Collective, Matina Central Elementary School Choir, UIC Chorale, The Housemates, Academy of Sakya , and the Magallanes Alumni Rondalla.
The district events of the Pasko Fiesta are scheduled on the following dates: December 5-Marilog; December 7-Paquibato; December 9-Baguio; December 10-Bunawan; December 11-Toril; December 12-Calinan; December 14-Tugbok; December 15-Buhangin; December 16-Agdao; December 17-Talomo; December 18-Poblacion B; December 19-Poblacion A; December 21-Children Events Finals (Peoples Park), and Parol Parade (Rizal Park to Peoples Park); December 22-Youth Events Finals (Rizal Park); December 23-Adult Events Finals (Rizal Park); December 25-Rondalsayaw (4 PM, Rizal Park); and December 28-Bulalakaw sa Kalinaw (Rizal Park) and Pasidungog.
Free performances at the parks will feature different local artists and groups such as Chorale & St. Peter’s Choir (December 12), Matina Central Choir & Davao Boys Choir (December 13), Himig Singers (December 14), SP Chorale (December 15), Kalayaan Dance Troupe (December 17), Maharlika (December 18), Kaliwat & Madayaw (December 19), SAMADHI & Popong Landero (December 20), Royeca Ballet (December 21), Kalumon Ensemble (December 22); Kathara (December 23); and Davao HipHop Community (December 25).
The traditional “Simbang Gabi” or “Nine Mornings” will highlight traditional food and delicacies, sold outside the cathedral starting on the dawn of December 16 while “Mag-Negosyo ‘Ta Day” Fair Trade, a showcase and selling of proudly Davao-made goods, will be held at the Sanguniang Panlungsod lobby from December 7 to 23.
This year’s Pasko Fiesta theme is “Tanglaw ng Pasko ang Bawat Dabawenyo”. [CIO/PIA 11]