A mammoth of crowd filled the city hall arena to witness the grand lighting ceremony, last night December 1, of the city’s Christmas icon—the Giant Christmas Tree.
An estimate of 40,000 people, coming not only from this city but also from neighboring municipalities, trooped the city hall grounds and was in awe with the tree’s towering height beating its last year’s record of 186 feet.
Touted to be the tallest tree in the Philippines, 5,000 light bulbs decorated the 193 feet icon with 23 little stars representing the 23 barangays of Tagum and the biggest star at the top symbolizing the omnipotent God with eight rays signifying the 8th City Council.
This year’s design is inspired with the Enneagram, a personality test which measures and identifies the nine personalities of people which blink at three different color representing Tagum’s Lumads, Christians, and Muslims inhabitants while keeping its 10 layers indicating the developmental agenda of the city government dubbed as EAGLE WINGS.
Prior to the lighting, a mardi gras themed presentation wowed the visiting crowd with the flamboyant dances of students from UM Tagum College, calming saxophone playing of Cegred Lou Bulotano and the sonorous singing numbers of the City Band singers, Loetscher Idul, and the Mindanao pride who competed in Tawag ng Tanghalan Rafaelo Canedo and Adele Nicole Yu. Councilor Alderson Rellon and Atty. Ana Alvarez also serenaded the people.
Since the lighting fell on December 1 which is the first day of advent, Mayor Allan L. Rellon hopes that this symbolic activity may bring inspiration and hope not only to Tagumenyos but to all Filipinos. Furthermore, he encouraged everyone to look on the positive side of things and not to dwell on the negativities of life.
Also present in the activity were Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez, the board members of the Province of Davao del Norte, Vice Mayor Eva Lorraine Estabillo, and the members of the 8th City Council. JP Cordovero/CIO Tagum
