Artes Ita Paskua

 

                    The Christmas season is a joyous occasion. It's all about giving back and helping others. People remember Jesus Christ and his life lessons during the month of December. It's simply a reminder of why we should stay faithful to our humanity's core. Through celebration, we are encouraged to share, donate to the less fortunate, spend time with loved ones, and have a positive view of life in general. Despite all of the difficulties faced by the pandemic, the Bigueño’s still celebrate Christmas. Authorities and workers in Vigan assisted one another in putting up this year's colorful Christmas tree in front of Vigan City Hall and the Christmas Village at Vigan Conservation Complex. The city is buzzing with Christmas spirit, and the city's massive, sparkling Christmas tree brings hope and optimism to every Bigueño and Ilocano, especially during this pandemic.

   Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Bigueño’s and Ilocanos are extremely intelligent and wise people, since they manage to celebrate Christmas in a variety of ways. Bigueño’s held other events, including the Christmas Installation Contest, in which participants decorated their local barangay halls and covered courts with Nativity Scenes, Christmas Trees, and other colorful and dazzling Christmas-related decorations produced from recyclable materials. Aside from the barangay Christmas tree competition, the city government's various departments and divisions continued to bring the Christmas season and happy vibes into their separate offices by putting up recycled Christmas trees.

              Children from Bigueño’s are competing in a Christmas card-making contest. At this year's event, children were praised for their creativity and practice in writing in the Ilocano language. Artists from the city actively joined in the Christmas Street Painting to display their ingenuity and passion for the arts, and they painted their own interpretations of the Christmas epidemic. In addition to the contests, a lantern or parol competition, a poster-creating contest, and an essay contest are also included. Due to the pandemic, this year's competition was very different from previous years, where the City Government of Vigan, through the City Events, Promotions, and Protocol Office, in collaboration with the TVigan Channel, and under the supervision of the City Covid-19 Task Force, took all necessary precautions while celebrating "Artes Ita Paskua".

                     The significance of giving and sharing with friends and family is emphasized over the Christmas season. We know that the birth of Jesus is the beginning of wonderful things in the world because of Christmas. It is, in general, a time to reflect on nature and the cause of our existence. Despite being a Christian event, Christmas is a festival that people of many religions and faiths around the world celebrate. It is the core of this celebration that brings so many people together.

Reference:

The pictures are from "Vigan City PH" Facebook page of Vigan City. 

Retrieved January 15, 2022.