Leyte Celebrates Christmas Festival in Palo

Palo, Leyte festival runs from December 15 - January 8

The Local Government Unit of Palo, Leyte through the leadership of Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla made public the different activities in line with the town’s Christmas Festival.

These festivities will surely captivate both local and foreign tourists to really match General McArthur’s promise of “I shall return”, once the much-awaited yuletide festivity begins December 15.

Mayor Petilla informed members of media in a press conference held in her office at the town hall, that she will revive and will make a comeback with a bang the way the town celebrated Christmas in previous years when she was not yet the local chief executive of the town.

The lady mayor disclosed that that the town used to celebrate Christmas before with a lot of fun-filled and awe-inspiring activities that not only mesmerized but also captivated the public to really come to Palo just to witness the yuletide celebration in the municipality.

However, she said that there were times that the municipality could not sustain in holding Christmas activities yearly due to some financial constraints and lack of support from stakeholders in the community.

“Promoting festivities like this one is one reason for people to come to Palo, Leyte”, Mayor Petilla stressed.

She added that once the town’s Christmas Festival will start, people will start talking and more people will visit the municipality in order to know more what is happening in the town this Christmas season.

“Palo is starting to shine now and this Christmas Festival is one way of making the town known to the whole world”, said Mayor Petilla as she mentioned the Enchanting Palo Facebook contest which is a part of the activities of the Christmas Festival 2010.

The town’s Christmas Festival that runs for 25 days starts December 15 with a grand opening at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the poblacion with activities that include the ceremonial switching on of Christmas lights, fireworks display, ribbon cutting of the Christmas Tiangge, Luntad Christmas Village, Saboren’s Christmas Fantasy House, Balay ni Santa Claus, Christmas Food Plaza and Christmas Belen Plaza.

The rest of the days in December after the opening until January 8 will be highlighted with different cultural presentations in songs and dances featuring local and national performers in the evening with venue at the public plaza and holding of different Christmas contests.

The different Christmas competitions include the best decorated and lighted main streets, Belen competition, best decorated residence, Christmas lantern competition, Santa Claus making competition and Christmas tree competition.

Each day of the Christmas Festival in Palo is sponsored by national and local government agencies, private organizations, non-government organizations and religious organizations in Palo. (PIA 8/Rodrigo S. Victor)