Oro tourism launches Halad sa Pasko 2006

Christmas will be merrier here in the city as various activities will be staged to ensure a festive celebration among the different barangays in the city.

Foremost of these activities is the re-staging of the annual Halad Sa Pasko, a major annual Christmas event jointly initiated by the City Tourism Board, City Tourism Office and SM City Cagayan de Oro.

Imma Rae D. Gatuslao, acting city tourism officer, said that the Halad sa Pasko has been staged in the city for the past 25 years and this year, the event will have two major contests-- the Oro Choir Festival and the Indigay sa Parol.

Gatuslao explained that the Oro Choir Festival is a caroling contest while the Indigay Sa Parol is a lantern design contest. Both are open only for residents of Cagayan de Oro.

Along this, Gatuslao is inviting all Cagayanons to join the contest and get their application forms at the City Tourism Office at the Ground Floor of the City Tourism Building and must submit it on or before December 15.

The Choir Festival will have its elimination round on December 15 at the Kiosko Kagawasan while the final round will be on December 18 at SM City.

Interested choral groups are allowed free interpretation on how to venerate the birth of Jesus, allowed only to sing one piece either in Tagalog or in Visayan and must be composed of 15-30 members.

The choral groups will be judged on voice (40%), rhythm (15%), choreography (20%), diction (15%) and costume (10%).

Each of the five finalists will get a P2,000 cash prize while the eight non-finalists will receive a consolation prize of P1,500 each during the elimination. In the final round, the 1st placer will receive P25,000, 2nd placer receives P20,000.00, 3rd placer receives P12, 000 and two consolation prize winners of P2,000 each.

For the Indigay sa Parol, interested parties may use any materials, as long it depicts the Christmas celebration. The lantern will be displayed at the Kiosko Kagawasan on December 15 for the elimination round while the final judging will be on December 18 at SM City.

All lanterns will be judged based on artistry (30%), craftsmanship/creativity (30%), uniqueness (20%) and message/concept/over-all presentation (30%).

Prizes for the elimination round is P1,000 for the fifteen finalists and ten consolation prizes at P500 each while in the final round, winners will receive P17,000 for the first prize, P12,000 for the second prize, and P6, 000 for the third prize.

(City Information Office)


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