Albay marks Karangahan Christmas with no plastics, ‘crackers

MANILA, Philippines - Consistent with its environment protection and “zero casualty” campaigns, Albay will celebrate its Karangahan Green Christmas Festival without plastic materials and firecrackers.

“Karangahan” comes from the ancient Bikol word ranga, which means solace with respect, caring and joy.

On its sixth year, the festival features a giant Christmas tree made of the karagumoy plant, used in weaving mats, hats and baskets.

Pili seedlings and camote tops were previously used for the province’s giant tree.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the Green Christmas would highlight the ban on the use of firecrackers and plastic materials in food servings and decorations in support of the province’s climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction program.

Salceda, in a memorandum,  directed provincial government heads and personnel to celebrate the holidays safely and joyously.

Albay has been a recipient of Galing Pook Awards for three consecutive years. The third this year is for its Outstanding Governance Program on Disaster Preparedness. It won the Gawad Kalasag Hall of Fame Award in 2012 for Best Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The province is also among the country’s fastest growing tourist destinations and was a recent winner of the first-ever $1-million 2015 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) CEO Challenge’s Top Destination Award, as a prime global tourism site.

Salceda personally attended the honors conferment and received the award at the PATA Advocacy Dinner in London last Nov. 2.