Some of the nativity scenes in the Christmas village created by Bamboo Tonogbanua in Bacolod City. PHOTOS BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
BACOLOD CITY — Saying Jesus must be the center of Christmas, the person behind this city’s iconic miniature Christmas Village has added a new twist to his masterpiece this year.
Bamboo Tonogbanua included tiny nativity scenes into one of the rooms that are already filled with miniature houses, castles, pubs, stores, churches, carnival rides, skating rinks, ski slopes, railroads, and festive people of all races.
The challenge, however, is finding them.
These tiny nativity scenes may just be anywhere — on the snowy mountain tops, in Bethlehem, above a magical kingdom, in one of many quaint little European communities or perhaps near the Chinese or Mexican sections of the Christmas Village.
Another challenge this year is to spot three tiny helicopters hovering over the village, said Tonogbanua.
The miniature village that has brought Christmas cheer to thousands of visitors for 27 years has opened its doors to the public once again on Dec. 16.
It is located on the second floor of the ancestral home of Tonogbanua on No. 90 San Juan Street in this city.
The Christmas Village is a permanent fixture in one of the rooms of the Tonogbanua house that undergoes renovations every year for its annual opening to the public every December.
“I keep on putting the village up because oftentimes, it’s the little things in life that give me pleasure. Collecting them brings me joy beyond measure,” he said.
The village is in an air-conditioned eight-by-eight-meter room to keep the dust away and for the comfort of visitors.
In 1996, Tonogbanua began his miniature Christmas Village on a single table. As he saw the joy it brought to people who visited, he worked to make it grow bigger each year.
He bought more miniature objects during his travels, while friends and even strangers brought in their contributions.
The miniature objects have been artistically laid out in sub-villages representing different countries and eras.
One of the nativity scenes in the Christmas village at Bacolod City. PHOTO BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
As a boy, Tonogbanua was fascinated by pictures of festive snow-covered villages and Santa Claus on Christmas cards, which have been his inspiration in his Christmas village journey that has brought joy to thousands of visitors.
Many of the objects move to the beat of festive Christmas music coming from various sections of the village divided into communities representing numerous countries.
Every year Tonogbanua has something new to offer even for those who have visited the village many times before.
After all, he still has thousands more miniature objects in storage waiting for their turn to go on display.
This year, it is the turn of the miniature belens, or the nativity scenes that show the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.
Some of the nativity scenes in the Christmas village. PHOTO BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
“I have a strong attraction for different belens but on a miniature scale. They give the essence of the season in my Christmas Village,” he said in an interview.
“Putting Christ at the center of the Christmas celebrations is important,” he added.
Tonogbanua said the search for nativity scenes with tiny objects representing the birth of Jesus has been a challenge throughout the iconic miniature Christmas.
He said he found his little Fontana nativity sets from the sidewalks of Rome and the accompanying figures from various Christmas shops locally and abroad.
In the middle of the miniature Christmas village, a new life-size Christmas tree has sprouted with miniature villages also embedded in its branches.
One of Santa’s elves busily climbs up and down a ladder leaning on the tree.
The miniature village is not the only attraction at Tonogbanua’s house.
One immediately feels the holiday spirit as one walks into his front door as Christmas decorations he has created abound throughout his home.
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