LUCENA CITY—The news spread like wildfire, especially among children.
Over a thousand pieces of lighted miniature holiday replicas scattered over a snow-swept landscape called the “Christmas Village” are on display at the old Capitol building in front of Perez Park in Lucena City to cast the season’s magic spell on visitors.
“He wants to come here every day just to watch,” Maria Isabel Fernandez said of her 6-year-old son Carlos. She watched him stare, eyes wide open, at the assorted figurines and scale models of buildings, houses and highways strewn all over the detailed terrain draped with cotton to resemble snow.
Other onlookers queued outside the entrance door, waiting for their turn to take a glimpse at the showcase.
“The fantastic display is a sight to behold. I feel young,” said Lourdes Tan, a retired government employee who came with her nephews and nieces.
The porcelain and ceramic figurines were spread over eight rectangular tables at the ground-floor lobby. These came from the personal collection of former Quezon Rep. Aleta Suarez, wife of Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and mother of Gov. David Suarez.
Butch Alanes, 59, head of the design team of two professional electricians and two helpers, said it took over 20 days to finish assembling the complex gallery. “It was a meticulous job that entailed focus on every detail and design,” he said.
All hardships, however, easily vanished when they saw the fun and excitement on the faces of children looking at the display. “We’re all blessed that our job will become a part of their memorable Christmas,” Alanes said.
A member of the popular Bayanihan Dance Troupe for 10 years and municipal tourism officer of Unisan, Alanes recalled that Aleta Suarez started collecting Christmas figurines in 1996 from her trips abroad.
“When Yuletide season came that year, she asked me to conceptualize a Christmas village theme from her collection. So I made one inside the living room of their residence in Unisan town and she was happy with the result. Even their guests were admiring the setup,” he said.
Since 1997, Aleta had been opening the living room of her house every Christmas season to toddlers from day care centers in Unisan and neighboring towns.
“Every year, there will be additional items in her collection. (These were) from items which she bought abroad and lately, from our shopping spree of similar holiday figurines in Duty Free shops and Manila malls,” Alanes said.
This year, Aleta decided to transfer her keepsakes to Lucena. “Her order for me is to create a more picturesque and much wider space to display her collection. She really wants to make children happy this Christmas,” Alanes said.
When he learned that the provincial tourism office had come up with a mini replica of the capitol building and Perez Park made by architecture students, the idea of a holiday-inspired tour from Quezon province up to the North Pole cropped up.
“But we decided not to cover the (Perez) park and the capitol building with snow so that it could be easily identified,” he said.
The fantasy tour starts at the province’s “Welcome” arch at the boundary of Tiaong town and San Pablo City in Laguna. This landmark alongside hills, mountains and edifices are made from Styrofoam.
Colorful lights illuminate the playgrounds, buildings, houses and other structures, and electric posts. Two toy trains snake through snow-covered mountains.
“We have to strictly follow the designs of the roads, highways and even where to place the vehicles to make them more realistic and fun for the viewers,” Alanes said.
The display is open to the public during weekdays, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., up to Jan. 8. “We accommodate morning guests from different schools but only on schedule,” Alanes said.