Belenisimo
Belenisimo has caught my attention from Cito Beltran’s program entitled “Agenda”.
Belenisimo is still very much alive in Tarlac today. It has become a tradition for the province of Tarlac to showcase the artistry, solidarity, and the devotion to the Christ Jesus and the Holy Family through a festival called Belenisimo. It is a sense of community and pride of place.
The Belenisimo festival is being chaired by a Cojuanco scion, Dr. Isa Cojuangco – Suntay, who is a medical doctor.
When I read the Inquirer, I found out that Belenisimo “is a festival that can go on despite the quarantine rules.” I also read that “the organizers just restricted the number of people who will gather together to view the dioramas. Everyone is welcome, but health protocols must be observed” said Dr. Isa Cojuangco Suntay, cofounder of Tarlac Heritage Foundation, which is among the organizers of the event.
In fact Dr. Suntay announced that a simple opening was held on Nov. 6 in order not to gather a big group of people. It is interesting to note that the nativity dioramas are presented in the form of a competition in the community, church, monumental, grand municipal and grand non municipal categories.
The same write up revealed that “a rainbow-themed belen of the Philippine Army in front of Camp Servillano Aquino in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City, stands out with its bright glows.”
I remember one time, a few years back, before the earthquake struck Bohol in 2013. I was privileged to attend a seminar of ICOM -International Conference on Museum. This was held in Vigan and knowing that I could not travel alone, the organizers included in my trip package a very good friend, Jo Caballo.
During our trip, we had that chance to see the landscape from Manila, part of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos. Since we traveled during the Christmas season, we were mesmerized by the beauty of Christmas lanterns (parols) along the way. Kanindot gyud, as in nindot ang mga parol. Susama ba nga ilang gibuhos gyud ang ilang kahanas ug mga talento sa paghimo sa mga parol.
As of this writing, I could say that the star of Bethlehem was seen last night which could only be seen once in every 400 years. Planets Jupiter and Saturn are so close to each other. I was curious to see the night sky but alas the weather did not cooperate. It was drizzling. Sa pagsuwat man gud nako niining maong pahina, wala pa mahuman si tropical depression, Vicky.
So, the Belenisimo, the Christmas lanterns on our way to Vigan, the program of Cito Beltran, the Star of Bethlehem are all associated with what was always focused by my Lola Danday during Christmas – the Belen.
I was born in 1946 when the war just ended. That was the reconstructing and rebuilding years. Saving and recycling were the norms at that time. I saw many supply of milk (in cans) coming in from America. Alpine and Milk Maid were the two favorite milk brands that we had. I remember Lola Dandy gathering the empty cans of milk. Iya ning pagagamiton aron tamnan sa tipasi ug mais. Inig tubo niini, maoy iyang ibutang didto na kural kural sa Belen.
Our belen was made of the material used to make a box. Ang tawag namo ana, karton. Mao pud ni ang baligya kani-adto didto sa merkado nga karon gitawag na ug Agora. Then we would buy the Dauis made karnero, kabayo ug baka-baka. Dauis was famous for this, then. I am happy I have samples of these priceless works of art courtesy of my Dauisanon friend, Dory Penales.
Our karaang balay sa Baliaut used to have a big belen in one of its rooms. I remember as a little girl that this room had its door always wide open from December until February 2 (the official end of the Christmas Season) every year. That was for the mga manaygonay (carolers) to make their offerings. Before, some families would prepare a little pakaon and hikay inig hipos na sa Belen.
The belen of the Matuod family in barangay Manga of Tagbilaran was a sight to behold during Christmas. . Magpakyaw gyud mi ug sakyanan ni Nong Huning Pates kaniadto aron lang mi mutan-aw sa Belen sa Matuod family.
This Christmas of 2020 amidst the pandemic, let’s have our time for reflection. What is God’s message for us this Christmas season? Perhaps, we have taken for granted a lot of things. Have we loved enough ourselves, our family, our friends and Mother Earth? Are we not in the era of wastefulness? Is this not the time to change and mend our ways?
The answer is in our hands!
Maayong pasko kanatong tanan! May peace and serenity reign in our hearts.
One of the attractive belens at Baclayon, Bohol is located at barangay Taguihon, specifically at the residence of Vickey Turing Faller.
My belen along the stairway of The Blue Apartelle, also located at Taguihon, Baclayon, Bohol.
The Christmas Star from Bethlehem caught by the camera of Ken Shelton