And to think that nine years ago, it all started with one small belen in a nondescript corner of the garden in the house of Norma Lim, businesswoman and Papal Awardee.
"The kids in the neighborhood would knock at our gate because they wanted to see our Christmas belen," Norma traces the humble beginnings of this Christmas town. "They would look and look. Later, not only the kids from the block were coming but also people from neighboring barangays. So we decided to bring out our Christmas display and mount it on the roof of our house for everyone to see and appreciate."
The popularity of Policarpio simply spread by word of mouth (and quite a mouthful it was) that soon, people from all over, including media people, were flocking to the place like a swarm of bees. One night, a busload of Japanese tourists came, clicking away with their digital cameras. Another night, CNN cameras were seen whirring away. TV crews from the local stations had likewise been dazzled by Policarpio.
Last year, Policarpio drew 100,000 visitors from all over the country – yes, as far as Aparri. "They would tell us that they read about us in the newspapers, like The Philippine STAR," Norma tells us.
But it’s not the glare of publicity that makes Norma’s eyes light up. "I’m happy to bring joy to other people," says Norma. "It’s a different feeling to be able to enrich other people’s lives, especially during these hard times. People who look at our Christmas display feel light when they walk away – hindi nila nadarama ang hirap ng buhay. This is the ninth Christmas the Policarpio Residents Association is doing this. We really started small; it just got bigger and bigger."
Joy must really be like perfume – you can’t spray it without the others getting a few drops on themselves. With the Lims’ belen becoming the talk of the town, the neighbors petitioned Norma to make her Christmas display a yearly attraction.
"They told me to light up every Christmas," Norma relates.
Soon, the whole Policarpio Street, where live 31 families, started lighting up come Christmastime. Fact is, Policarpio starts turning on its Christmas lights as early as Nov. 29. But weeks before that, on Nov. 15, its Christmas display is formally inaugurated. The lights are switched on as dusk falls at 6 p.m. and stay on till midnight or thereabouts. And as in Christmases past, the Christmas town will be on view all through the Christmas season.
Policarpio’s Christmas display has, indeed, come a long way. While it cost the Lims only a pittance to mount its display nine years ago, they had to shell out a fortune to decorate this year. "We’re motorized now," Norma explains. "People like to see something different every year so we try to give them something new every Christmas."
The same old Nativity set (lest you forget why we’re celebrating Christmas in the first place) lords it over the rooftop of the Lims’ house. "We just added some decor to our belen made of papier mache and resin," says Norma.
This year, across the Lims’ house, jolly old St. Nick beckons all to make their shopping list and visit the tiangge put up by Policarpio.
Putting it all together must have been quite a job for the Policarpio folk. You look in awe, for instance, at the mishmash of Christmas lights covering a whole house. Homeowners Domeng and Baby Dalisay, who are in the caldero business, spared no expense. Even their elevated water tank is bathed in Christmas lights. Last year, they had a live dancing Santa Claus atop their roof.
Each year, Norma banks on the help of her little helpers – two artists, two carpenters, two electricians. She points out, "They start working as early as July. By September-October, the display should have been put up."
By then, the Lims should have put out the old Christmas decor hibernating somewhere and wiped the dust away.
This year, as in past years, the Lims are using 60 percent recyled decor and 80 percent recycled lights. "We have a big storeroom where we keep our decor after use," says Norma. "And we have the busted bulbs fixed before we store the lights for next year’s use."
This year, Meralco joined Policarpio to give people an even more electrifying Christmas. Last Dec. 5, Meralco brought to Policarpio a mascot and lights show featuring a magician, a ventriloquist, puppets, games and surprises.
So, how much are the Lims (or the Dalisays) are paying for their monthly power consumption this Christmas?
"The Lord provides," says a smiling Mrs. Lim. "Our business (she runs a fast-food restaurant named after her son Paul Vincent Lim as well as a fine-dining place) has its ups and downs, but I lift everything up to the Lord. Never have I worried that we wouldn’t be able to put a display on Christmas."
Norma heaves a sigh and says, "Every day is a miracle."
Through the years, prayers have kept the little community of Policarpio alive and glowing on Christmas. "Our homeowners association is quite a close-knit group. Maganda ang samahan sa Policarpio," Norma is happy to note.
A Papal Awardee in 1993, Mrs. Lim is quite active in church work. She goes to church every day at 6 a.m., whether or not she slept well the night before. "Kahit puyat, I never miss going to church daily," she asserts.
She adds, "There are a lot of religious, prayerful people here at Policarpio. We work together in church."
Being able to put together a dazzling Christmas display – a whole street block of it – year after year is a warm show of that camaraderie.
A not-too-bright note though: One neighbor, a Seventh Day Adventist, refused to decorate for Christmas. "He did not want to spend so I gave him some of my own Christmas lights," says Norma. "He liked what we did to his house – I guess we’ve won him over."
From a small community affair, the Christmas display at Policarpio has become a grand event to look forward to each Christmas.
As soon as the lights are turned on at Policarpio (you won’t miss it, just follow the assorted crowds headed on foot towards the same direction), the streets leading to Policarpio are cordoned off. Police cars are visible. This year, Norma Lim’s sister Linda Ong chairs the committee in charge of the Christmas activities at Policarpio.
"We’re really very organized here," says a proud Mrs. Lim. "Everybody helps. At the end of the day, you won’t see even a single piece of trash on the street. In the morning, Policarpio is so clean, as if nothing happened the night before."
Keeping the place clean and bright is quite a feat for residents of Policarpio considering that every year, more and more people come to sell their assorted wares in the tiangges that have sprouted up all around Policarpio. "This is one way by which we’re able to raise funds for next year’s Christmas display," says Norma. "We sell anything and everything, even sago, just to be able to raise money for Policarpio. Some of the money also go to church projects for the poor. We’re also able to give jobs to people who are in dire need of money. At the end of the year, these vendors come to thank Policarpio for making their lives a bit easier."
Truly, paskong-pasko sa Policarpio. You can see it in the thousand and one lights all over the place. More than that, you can see it in the glow in people’s eyes as they walk away with faith and hope in their hearts.