The length of V. Rama Avenue in Cebu City is alive with lights and Nativity scenes, a neighborhood contest going on its 18th year.
Twenty-five entries depicting the birth of Jesus lined the road through barangays Guadalupe, Calamba, and San Nicolas Proper.
Nipa leaves and recycled plastic cups were some of the materials used to express the theme “Sa Pag-ampo, Pagtuo, Pag-salig, Paglaum. . . Malipayon kita karong Paskoha.”
(Through prayers, faith, trust, hope… We are happy this Christmas.)
It was the first time for Siegfred Regidor, 22, a former waiter for a catering company, to join the competition.
He assembled 100 styrofoam food packs and 500 plastic cups for his design.
Ricky Pajoriray, a 37-year-old Overseas Filipino Worker, used his experience as a visual merchandiser window designer in Saudi Arabia.
He said he thought it would be fun to join this year’s Pasko sa V. Rama.
“Suway-suway lang gud. Aron pod ba maka-share ko sa akong talent. (I’m just giving it a try so I can also share my talent),” he said.
It took him four days to mount his entry using bamboo, marbles and styrofoam. Four friends helped him.
Abel Gabucan, 57, used “puso” or hanging rice as his main material. He said he learned how to weave coconut leaves just for the contest.
Using coconuts, cloth and leaves, Gabucan completed a second entry for the contest in two weeks.
Each participant was given P5,000 seed money. Private sponsors support the contest, said Gisela Palacios, Pasko sa V. Rama project chairperson.
Judging of entries was last December 18 and winners will be announced on January 7.
Winners get cash prizes of P10,000 for first place, P7,000 for second place and P5,000 for third place.
Even decorated houses that were not entries for the contest were secretly judged.
Winners will be given P1,000 to P3,000.
Commercial establishments that put up Christmas decorations will also be awarded with plaques.
The annual Pasko sa V. Rama was started as a community project by Mayor Michael Rama when he was still the vice mayor of Cebu City. /Bjorn Abraham Tabanera, Correspondent