Finding Christmas at Belenismo
Through the Belenismo, a yearly Belen-making competition in Tarlac that started in 2007, I am always treated to an early celebration of Christmas. People of Tarlac start making their Belens as early as August and by November their artful creations are set up in town halls all over the province for judging.
I have been a judge of this contest — together with my sisters Christine Dayrit and Yvonne Romualdez, Cito Beltran, Johnny Co, Ces Drilon and Mike Mina — for three years now and each experience gives me the chance to gaze at the different creations of the Nativity Scene. It is always a spiritual journey to be awed by the scene of Baby Jesus lying in a lowly manger and lovingly cared for by Mary and Joseph on a peaceful night in Tarlac.
The Belenismo, which has become so dear to my heart, was started by the indefatigable mother-daughter tandem of Tita Isabel Cojuangco Suntay and Dr. Isa Suntay. Tita Isabel is the founder of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation while Isa is the foundation’s executive vice president.
Tita Isabel shared that her late father often expressed that the province of Tarlac has been very good to their family, hence it is with a grateful heart that Tita Isabel wished to help the Tarlaqueños to whom the Belenismo is dedicated. Their dream of seeing Tarlac become “Belen capital of the Philippines” is infectious.
Isa recalled, “While going around Tarlac from August onwards to check on the progress of preparations for this year’s festival, I felt that every Belen tells a story. Individuals, families, and even entire communities came together to showcase Tarlac’s best talents and creative efforts to retain our title as the ‘Belen capital of the Philippines’.”
The Belenismo in Tarlac is on display in the whole province until Jan. 6. This year’s 456 entries, Isa added, are a microcosm of what Tarlaqueños hold dear — a love for Mother Earth, a devotion to our Catholic heritage, a dedication to our President who hails from Tarlac, reflections of the way of life and means of livelihood of its people, a deep respect for our cultural diversity as a people and a deeply ingrained values system, which we have inherited from past generations.
As we traveled through the night viewing the numerous entries, Tita Isabel enlightened us with her personal accounts of each town. I am sharing with you the stories of the towns that made some of my favorite Belens.
The town of San Clemente, Tita Isabel said, is a very poor town but the people are so united and so resourceful. Their Belen made of native banig had the judges swooning over their quaintly lit chandeliers fashioned out of wild twigs.
Anao is the ilang-ilang capital of the Philippines. Do you know that couples who wish to marry in this town are first required to plant ilang-ilang? Each barangay in Anao helped out by donating materials to complete their Belen. Every night, the townfolk light up the Belen and take turns hosting a program showcasing both the talents of each barangay and their spectacular community spirit!
In Gerona, the sight of an elevated Belen atop a fence made of empty bottles of GSM Blue shimmering in the moonlight was unforgettable. Early next year, the residents of the town will sell these empty bottles to donate educational materials to the Department of Education.
Let me tell you about La Paz. Due to incessant rains, the whole town flooded. This area looked like a lake. I didn’t expect them to finish a Belen entry simply because their homes were underwater. But they did and, using discarded plastic materials, came up with a Belen on a makeshift boat. Inspired by their mayor’s humble project of providing food in exchange of collected plastic waste materials termed “Plastic Palit Bigas,” this is one Belen with a strong message — a desire to diminish plastics in their area, keep surroundings clean, stop clogging canals to avoid flooding.
As we passed the highway, we stopped and stood in awe at the sight of the grand PNP Belen. Isa shared, “The PNP suffered tremendously from the negative international publicity that it drew as a result of the infamous Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident earlier in the year. The Tarlac Police Provincial Office, Belenismo sa Tarlac’s Hall of Fame awardee for the grand non-municipal category, though not in contention this year, chose to rise above the stigma and focus on what they deem to be truly essential — the coming of the Savior.”
The 47 members of TPPO’S Team, with the support of Isa and award-winning designer Ding Mercado, sought to showcase an entry, which pays homage to the environment and showcases TPPO’s love for God, country and fellowmen.
These selfless officers and men of the Belen Team, through the initiative of Tarlac Heritage Foundation with PSupt. Florante Torres, launched Belenismo sa Tarlac’s Tourist Police. The members of the Belen team act as tour guides and at the same time as police escorts for visitors to the province during the festival.
I wish that everyone could have a Belen in their home, in order to be reminded of the love and hope that our Saviour brings to each one. A blessed season to one and all!
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