The most Christmassy places on Bohol

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest and most exciting festival of the year when presents are wrapped, foods are prepared and decorations are hung.

But where would you find the most Christmas spirit in Bohol? It's hard to say for certain, here are my top picks for the most Christmassy places around Bohol.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE – Hermila “Mila” Lim loves Christmas time so much she starts decorating as early as October to enjoy her own personal village that is set up inside her house.

Each holiday season the village fills Mila Lim’s home.
From the middle of October until the middle of January
 the room is covered with glistening lights,
small buildings, snow and tiny people. - LPU

Mila began her Christmas Village project in 2008 for her own family at her house on M. Torralba Street. Her collection of miniature Christmas houses and objects has grown since.

Mila greets visitors to her home, the start of the fun. Upon entering, a visitor immediately hears the song, “Deck the Halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la... ‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la...” and sees a garden decorated with small snowman figures.

Once inside, however, visitors are magically transported to an elegant festival filled with all the symbols of Christmas.

The Christmas village at the main entrance is filled with trees of green and gold, colorful mini-shops, miniature skiers up and down the slopes, carnival rides, dancers twirling to a waltz inside a gazebo, skaters in the park, Santa Claus dancing and flying on sleighs, and a Christmas train running in circles.

As you continue through the house and see Santa's kitchen and dining room where the table is festively decorated for a Christmas meal. Drinking glasses and place mats bear the Christmas motif, acquired during Mila’s travels with her husband to Israel, Australia, Hong Kong and China.

If meeting Santa is on your Christmas to-do-list
 then a trip to Sierra-Bullones is a must.
The town has the tallest
and biggest Santa Claus in the country. -LPU

Fascinated by St. Nicolas since childhood, Mila’s home has an array of Santa likenesses, in a variety of shapes and sizes collected for the past 14 years—at the doorsteps and all over inside the place. These include a drunk Santa, a photographer Santa, a Santa Claus band, Santa in a parachute, singing and dancing Santas with reindeer and even a Tarzan Santa. Another hallmark of the home is an animated fireplace.

“It's fixed up like a little city. It gives me joy," she said with a laugh.

Mila and her husband, Teofilo, own one of the biggest liquified petroleum gas (LPG) dealership firms in Tagbilaran City.

Note: A must-see. Christmas lights adorn the houses of Allan Lumanao in Tomas Cloma Avenue cor Graham Avenue, Booy District, Tagbilaran City and Rosalinda Paredes in Dauis.

Thousands of twinkle lights bring holiday cheer
 to people at the Tagbilaran City Hall Compound. – LPU

SPARKLING LIGHTS

The Tagbilaran City Hall turns into one of the country's most magical capitals this year’s Christmas, thanks to the thousands of festive lights and decorations. The silver and white motif provided a wonderful ambience in the midst of the on-going city hall rebuilding.

The Christmas tree at Plaza Rizal. -LPU

Sparkling Christmas lights have been placed in the trees inside the FCB Main Building Compound in Taloto District, this city. They have the biggest belen, too.

The light displays at the Plaza Rizal regularly dazzle residents.  This year, a giant Christmas tree adorned with Christmas gifts attracts visitors.

TALLEST SANTA CLAUS

Christmas would obviously not be Christmas without Santa Claus, Pere Noel or Father Christmas. Whatever the name, his popularity among children (and many adults) is perennial.

                                                                                                                         

That’s why the municipality of Sierra-Bullones has the 25-feet Santa Claus, probably the tallest in the country and in the world. It took one month to finish the foundation of the Santa Claus; and two weeks to dress the Santa Claus. According to Mayor’s Office, it should be ready before the town's fiesta on Dec. 8. Their Santa Claus is a white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. It has eyeglasses, too. His other hand is carrying a bag and the other hand is making a high-five sign.

The giant Santa Claus inside
 the Island City Mall. –LPU

An animated moving Santa is sure to attract attention inside the Island City Mall. Santa has no elves but he has reindeers to help him.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Why do we love Christmas trees? To help spread the holiday cheer, the Alturas Mall has the oh-so-bright evergreens for your viewing pleasure.  The Christmas tree of the Metro Centre Hotel has the lanky conifers with long, graceful branches seem particularly enchanting to all.

Above all, the home is the most Christmassy place because it is engulfed with love, peace and unity as the season of Christmas should be.

Various parols and belens are displayed at Tubigon town plaza to bring more cheer to this year’s Christmas celebration. The holiday ambience that Tubigon affords its visitors is making the place as one of the Most Christmassy Places on Bohol. 

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9 days of 'Misa de Gallo' officially starts Christmas season

Wake-uppers:

Seen: The giant Santa Claus, which measures 25 feet high, in Sierra-Bullones, Bohol colors the Yuletide Season! The biggest and tallest Santa Claus in Bohol and probably in the Philippines has been attracting visitors for years.

Scene: Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto Abad will visit Bohol on Monday, Dec. 17 to give a lecture to judges, prosecutors, government and private lawyers and police investigators on the Judicial Affidavit Rule (A.M. No. 12-8-8-SC).

Seen: 3rd District Rep. Arthur Yap is the only Boholano solon who showed up and voted against the Reproductive Health Bill in Congress.  Yap cited some provisions in the Reproductive Health Bill that need to be scrapped or heavily amended for being unjust, unconstitutional and harsh or unnecessary at all.

Seen: Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Manager Rey Anthony Chiu received the "Most Prolific Writer." He has written the most number of news stories and features for 2011. PIA-7 RD Minerva Newman assisted by PCOO Sec. Sonny Coloma presented the award to Chiu.

Seen: Paul Emerson Salinas Almontero was recently adjudged as one of the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy (Overseas Filipino Worker) Children - Ibang Klaseng Talino Category - 2012. He is the first Boholano to receive such prestigious award from the Bank of Philippine Islands search for outstanding expat children that made its final judging from among 86 national finalists nationwide.

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What a busy, busy schedule I had last week! After watching Pacman-Marquez IV, I hurriedly went to JJ’s Seafoods for the preliminary interview of the Mr and Ms Teen Bohol 2012 organized by Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Provincial Federation headed by Jethro Nathaniel Imboy.  

The 28 contestants sat down for a conversation with Jeycelle Espejo and yours truly. I could say, this year’s contestants are “one of the best batches” of Mr and Miss Teen Bohol. Many of the contestants were recruited from the modeling field so we’re seeing familiar faces. There were also neophytes and veterans.

Last Friday, Dec. 14, Adryan Mila of Panglao and Thea Rose Rizaldo of Tubigon were crowned Mr and Miss Teen Bohol 2012.  

Rep. Sonny Angara

As we were about to end our interview, I saw Alvin Acuzar and Myttee Palo who were busy preparing the function room for senatorial aspirant Aurora Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. Rep Angara was the guest of honor during the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA)- Regional Meet.

Rep. Angara, who was named one of the country’s Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2010, is the author of the measure seeking to create a Philippine High School for Sports (HB No. 3825). This will answer the clamor for a stronger national grassroots sports program that will help young Filipino athletes become more competitive in the global arena.

Rep. Angara gladly listened to the queries and concerns from the people’s organizations/civic organizations and from the media.

We ended the night saying, “What a Sonny Day! Angara ang buhay!”

The next morning, Edward Guyano, Janet Villarojo and other media friends went to Pilar to cover the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of the modern Bohol Rice Processing Complex (BRPC) funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica).

Rep. Arthur Yap, the only Boholano solon who showed up and voted against the RH Bill in Congress, delivers his message during the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of the modern Bohol Rice Processing Complex in Pilar town. Courtesy: Ric Obedencio

The BRPC intends to improve efficiency in the rice postproduction system through the reduction of postharvest losses, enhancement in the quality of milled rice, improvement of the distribution system and maximization of rice by-products.

It is very modern that Edward and I witnessed how brown, red, pink and white rice separate from each other. The rice processing complex has post-harvest facilities like modern rice mills, mechanical dyers and warehouses.

According to Gov. Edgar Chatto, Bohol is considered as the rice granary of the Central Visayas and farmers from the 18 towns of Bohol will be benefited from the modern rice complex.

"Ang RPC po ay magbibigay sa mga magsasaka  ng mataas  na kalidad ng bigas dahil sa makabagong makina nito," said Usec Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, DA for Special Concerns.

Hon. Lee Hyuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, stressed the importance of Korea-Philippine relationship. He said that BPRC is a testament to the continuing and deepening commitment of the governments of the Philippines and Korea to develop the agricultural sector of the Philippines.

"I hope that this PRC project will set a milestone, a starting point for the national growth of the Philippines as well as the helping and empowering of the Filipino farmers."

Jerome Sala

Rep. Arthur Yap recalled that the project was proposed in 2009 during the administration of then Bohol Governor now 2^nd district Rep. Erico Aumentado. Yap said, "As our population is increasing, we have also to increase the use of our land and we have to increase rice production. Koreans and Filipinos stand side by side together in this battle against poverty, in this battle for self sufficiency in food.”

Also spotted during the event were Pilar Mayor Wilson Pajo, Mabini Mayor Esther Tabigue, Pureza Chatto, Ae Damalerio, Larry Pamugas, and other officials.

The event was also an opportunity to see ABS-CBN Star in A Million 2005 grand champion Jerome Sala who sang the Philippine Anthem after years of inactivity.

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The nine-day Simbang Gabi (Tagalog term that literally means "Night Mass") or Misa de Gallo (Spanish term for "Mass of the Rooster") begins today, Dec. 16, officially starting the Christmas season, the longest Christmas celebration in the world.

Young entrepreneur Dalareich Polot and her tableya. 

The Catholic Church says that the nine-day dawn Masses are held at 4 a.m. to commemorate the actual birth of Christ. The liturgy for nine consecutive days is in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The tradition dates back to 1587 in Mexico, when Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, petitioned the Pope to hold Christmas Mass outdoors to accommodate the huge number of mass-goers.    

However, the novena Mass has no longer been strictly held before dawn. The Catholic Church has adjusted to modern urban schedules.

In our times, the Misa De Gallo has also become an opportunity to keep in touch with relatives and friends. And, ehem, it is also the time for young boys to court girls and many lovers also tend to spend more time in the churchyard rather than inside.

Some people still challenge to complete all nine masses especially if they have special petitions this Christmas.  A friend told me that if someone can attend the nine masses, wishes will be granted.

During Misa de Gallo, our love affair with food is heightened.  We don’t have puto bumbong (sweet taro steamed in small bamboo tubes) here but we have native rice cakes such as bingka, suman and puto maya. To keep warm during the cold weather, there are salabat (ginger tea) and sekwati.    

                       

One who is excited for Misa de Gallo is the young entrepreneur Dalareich Polot, owner of Dalareich Tableya (Booy District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Tel No: 038-501-9549/411-0584/+63939-902-3462/+63927-214-1456, website: www.dalareichtableya.com, email: info@dalareichtableya.com), Bohol’s finest homemade native chocolate solids.

“I can't wait for simbang gabi.. hot chocolate after mass!” Dalareich posted on Facebook.

Dalareich, who started her tableya business years ago, shares how to make sekwati (hot chocolate drink): Add 3 pieces of Dalareich Tableya on a cup of boiling water. Stir for two minutes. Remove from heat. Add sugar. Milk maybe added to make it creamier. Serve hot.

Make sure you have something in your stomach to have a memorable Misa de Gallo experience.

Meanwhile, join Bared for a look back at all the buzzed-about newsmakers who made the year -- and decade -- so unforgettable. Send your feedback to leoudtohan@yahoo.com or text +639212446791.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.