VALENCIA, Negros Oriental, Dec. 11
(PIA) – The municipal government of Valencia together with the renewable energy
firm Energy Development Corporation (EDC) officially welcomes Christmas season
with the lighting of its 20 meter Christmas tree at the town plaza last night.
Several local government officials and
EDC executives along with hundreds of Valencianons gathered at the municipal
park to witness the lighting of the giant Christmas tree and the inauguration
of the “Belen.”
A short program took place before the
countdown to the lighting of the Christmas tree that featured performances from
a local band, EDC-BINHI youth campers and students from Valencia Central
Elementary School.
The Christmas tree is composed of four
layers of rings with different sizes decorated with different brightly colored
lanterns. Strings of Christmas lights drop from every layer adding more
brightness and color to the Christmas tree.
In his message to his constituents,
Valencia Mayor Edgar Teves mentioned that the giant Christmas tree represents
every Valencianon’s firmness in times of trials while the star lanterns that
adorn the Christmas tree symbolize the hope and light amidst every difficulty.
“Above all, let us not forget that the
reason for celebration which is the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the
world. The real essence of Christmas is giving and sharing. With God’s blessing
may we achieve what we hope for in 2015,” Mayor Teves said.
Days before the event, volunteers who
helped assemble the Christmas tree needed to dismantle the tree due to the
threat of typhoon Ruby. But volunteers were able to put it back on Monday, Dec.
8.
A lot of the tree’s ornaments were made
of recycled materials.
In a press statement, Engr. Dwight
Maxino, EDC Vice President for Southern Negros Geothermal Project disclosed
that event is very meaningful because the Lord spared the province from the
devastation of the typhoon.
“The Nativity and the giant Christmas
tree both symbolize not only thanksgiving, happiness and love but also the
strong bond between EDC and the community of Valencia for the past 31 years,”
Maxino adds.
“This is our way of saying that we are
one with the island and we to do our part to take care of the community,” said
James Villaroman, EDC head Negros Island Geothermal Business Unit.
With these, the local government of
Valencia invites other Negrenses to visit the town and celebrate Christmas with
Valencianons. Aside from the Belen and the Christmas tree there are other
Christmas structures built around the park.
Food stalls are also located at the
park to provide food and refreshments to those who are visiting the park.
(mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)