THE first Christmas came to life in Mandaue City’s annual inter-school contest of stage tableaus of the birth of Jesus Christ on Friday night.
The dramatic reenactment based on accounts in the Bible is a way of paying homage to Jesus Christ and strengthening one’s faith, said the mayor’s wife, Sarah Walker-Cortes, who conceptualized the activity.
Students went on stage dressed up as the 3 Wise Men, Joseph and Mary in the City Hall grounds.
St. Anne Learning Center in Paknaan won first place in the private school category with a P30,000 prize.
Isah Dano, stage director of the 10-member cast and elementary teacher, said their teamwork and rehearsals for almost a month had paid off.
Other winners were University of the Visayas-Mandaue in second place, and Mandaue Ebenezer Alliance Academy in third place.
Criteria included, creativity (30 percent), performance (40 percent); costumes and props (15 percent) and audience impact (15 percent).
The judges included Frelyn Mabanag, city council secretary and Orlando Staneda-Diola, a retired bank officer, balikbayan, photographer and water colorist.
Another contest for six pubic schools was also held last night. /Mandaue News Service