Belenismo sa Tarlac

Can you imagine how our lives would be without the eager anticipation of Christmas?

Christmas is a magical time of priceless epiphanies that stand out as treasured gems. Some are anticipated and planned for while others unfold spontaneously. Sometimes they are given to us — singular events that change the way we view our world, our lives.

Just as we think or contemplate on what to give each other this season, we often give and receive gifts intended to please one another. It is, however, truly refreshing to be reminded that we must empower one another to be the gift, by simply being a blessing to others.

Christmas came quite early this year as I received a gift from a precious friend with a note that read: “Please use this to make someone happy this Christmas.” This loving gesture made recall the film Pay It Forward, which espouses that any act of kindness to us ought to be passed on to another till a cycle of love and compassion comes full circle. This act also reminded me of the reason for the season. Since Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, shouldn’t we be the ones to give Him the best gift?

It has been said that miracles are God’s way of remaining anonymous. But if God remains anonymous, the hands through which He works are clearly visible — the hands of everyday folk around us. I experienced this miracle recently in Tarlac as I was privy to the solidarity of its people who are committed to transform their community into resplendent havens of Nativity scenes where revelry and reverence reign supreme. The most splendid gifts ever, they dedicate their lives, their crafts, their love to making their province the Belen Capital of the Philippines. Each manger, a labor of love, evokes peace, joy and exultation for our Lord.

Visiting the historic province of Tarlac, one doesn’t need to wonder why it is best to celebrate the yuletide season in our country. It is this infectious community spirit that has propelled the province into the most ideal place to experience the spirit of holiday cheer not only in the Philippines but perhaps the entire region as well. No wonder my late parents Mama Mila and Papa Ting often advised, “You can travel the world anytime of the year but you must be home for Christmas.” Indeed, Christmas is a tradition my siblings and I lovingly embrace.

In Tarlac, just three hours’ drive from Manila, the art of belen-making is an ode, a loving testimony to the universal truth that Jesus was born so we would live.   Belenismo sa Tarlac, now in its second year, is a Department of Tourism (DOT)- calendared event that started last year. Our dear family friends Tita Isabel Cojuangco Suntay and her gracious daughter Dr. Isa Suntay enthused that the very idea of this belen-making contest started with a desire to create an activity that would unite the province, showcase Tarlac as a tourism destination and help uplift the economic conditions of the community as well. The exquisite art of belen-making has been revived through the Tarlac Heritage Foundation led by Tita Isabel and Isa, the Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, Diocese of Tarlac led by Rev Fr. Alex Bautista, Tarlac Convention and Visitors Bureau led by Jun Baron, the Tarlac Provincial Government under the dynamic leadership of Gov. Victor Yap and the generosity of San Miguel Corporation as the major sponsor of Belenismo.

Tita Isabel constantly shares, “The province of Tarlac has been so good to our family since the time of our grandparents who hailed from Fujian in China. This is our way of sharing our blessings and reciprocating the love.”

The project is highlighted by a province-wide competition that aims to showcase the artistic, social and religious significance of the belen, the symbol of Christ’s birth, through different categories. The Belenisimo sa Tarlac 2008 winners in the diorama category were Albert Dancel (1st place) for his miniature recreation of an eclectic pahiyas depicting thanksgiving for bountiful providence. Other winners were Ramon Espinosa (2nd place) and USST (3rd place) who depicted unique floating belens in the pristine waterfalls. In the monumental category, the following were the winners: Nay’s House (1st place), Social Security System (2nd place), Coco Grill Express-TSU (3rd place), La Maja Rica Hotel (4th place) and Magic Star Mall (5th place).

The Municipality of Victoria was once again adjudged the first-prize winner in the grand municipal category. Victoria was a revelation as Pasko sa Nayon was a spectacular live reenactment of how we Filipinos celebrate Christmas. It was presented with a unique historical Spanish ancestral theme reminiscent of a cineaste’s Pinoy Christmas. According to Tarlac’s beaming Gov. Victor Yap (who was named after Victoria town’s namesake), Belenismo in Victoria defines the local people’s way of life, an expression of their resiliency and humility and their simplicity of life in an agricultural community. Amid the trials and poverty, Pasko sa Nayon is an expression of thanksgiving to the Lord — a testimony that whatever comes, Filipino families are always grateful for providence. Other winners in the category were the municipalities of Pura (2nd place), Capas (3rd place), San Manuel (4th place), Moncada (5th place) and San Clemente (6th place).

In the grand category non-municipal division, the 1st place was again bagged by the Philippine National Police-Tarlac Police Provincial Office. The towering Christmas tree festooned with neon colored lights lit up the PNP’s Belen creation of indigenous materials such as dayami, bamboo, bamboo twigs, and talahib, all of which were gathered by the men and women of their police force from the 17 municipalities and lone city of Tarlac. Dayami was used in the 18 arches, which stand for the 17 municipalities and the lone city of Tarlac province, protected by their respective 18 police stations. The bonsai angel used in their display was painstakingly cultivated by their Police Provincial Director, Senior Supt Rudy G. Lacadin. The huge star atop the Christmas tree was made in Gerona, symbolizing “God the Father,” keeping watch over their beloved province.

Second place went to Our Lady of Remedios Parish and the third place was won by the Asian Hotel whose tricycle made of native straw was also a sight to behold.

The festive awards night of Belenismo 2008 coincided with the inauguration of the Maria Cristina Park on Romulo Boulevard in Tarlac City. The judges were unanimous in sharing the difficulty of determining the best because each belen was uniquely beautiful, utilizing various materials such as wood, cloth, cardboard, resin, abaca, old bottles, roofing sheets and plastic recycled from previous fiestas, corn husks, banana stalks, plastic capiz, and even old X-ray films from the nearby hospital.

Tita Isabel and Isa joined us for a sumptuous dinner at our favorite restaurant in the heart of the city, Nay’s house on Romulo Boulevard. Resembling a brightly lit gingerbread house outside, the cuisine inside was even more delightful: sago and gulaman and palabok — homemade egg noodles topped with a savory sauce of tinapa, pork crackle bits, boiled egg, squid, shrimp, fried garlic, onion leeks with kalamansi and patis, presented in a creative “palabok bar.” There were also fried lumpia with togue, puto kutchinta, the local paella called bringhe, chicken asado, kare-kare, crispy adobo flakes, pritong hito with balo-balo and mustasa leaves, and sugpo sa aligue for takeout orders.

This delicious cuisine is definitely one major reason for us to keep returning to Tarlac!

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The Belenisimo in Tarlac runs until Jan. 6, 2009. For more information, call the Tarlac Provincial Investment Tourism and Information Office Brgy. San Vicente, Capitol Hill, Tarlac City, telephone 045-9821234 loc 148, fax 045-800194. For more information about Nay’s House, call 045-9825286 or 0918-9426832.

E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.