For me, there’s no better place to relive past Christmases than Ilocos Sur mainly because of the 150 belens currently on exhibit at the Vigan City capitol. All of them are part of the collection of Ilocos Sur governor Deogracias Victor "DV" Savellano. And the governor has been collecting them for the last 20 years.
"Ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by the Nativity scene," Savellano.
One day, after hearing the strains of a Christmas carol on the radio, DV decided to bring out all his belens to the surprise of his family and friends. Mariel, DV’s eldest daughter, shared, "Papa has been collecting belens since I was born but I did not expect he had that many."
DV said his late father, former Comelec chairman Victorino Savellano, influenced him. DV’s gracious mother, Jean Barbers Savellano, enthused that her husband was an avid devotee of the Holy Family thus their clan has carried on this wonderful tradition.
"In a fast changing world, the focus of the celebration has slowly changed. We have forgotten that Christmas is the birthday of Christ. Therefore it’s a celebration of love and a celebration of life," DV told guests and visitors at the opening of the exhibit.
The exhibit is a treat for Filipinos wanting to experience the true spirit of the season. Each piece definitely evokes "love and peace, joy and exultation, compassion and understanding."
"This collection includes the ones I found in department stores and flea markets abroad, as well as gifts from friends," DV said. The belens came from France, Belgium, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, China, South Korea, India, China, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, among other countries. In the Philippines, he has belens from the provinces he has visited. These mangers are either mineral or limestone carvings. Some are cut-outs from special paper. Others are made of resin, abaca fiber, cloth, fiber glass, ceramics, cardboard, and wood.
"I was surprised to see a belen in a market in Saudi Arabia. It was not yet Christmas when I went there and I was so happy to find a belen," he said.
His Lladro Nativity scene, which he bought in Hong Kong, was one of his very first acquisitions. This particular piece is a favorite of his. Another is the manger made of grass which he got from Christ The King Church on E. Rodriguez Avenue.
"Every piece is very meaningful to me. Each of them has a story to tell," DV said.
One time when DV visited the provincial jail, an inmate handed him a gift wrapped in newspaper. When he got home, he was surprised to find that the prisoner gave him a belen. He went back that very day to thank the prisoner. They’ve been friends ever since.
In Canada, DV was walking the streets of Ontario when he stumbled upon a belen jutting out from a mound of snow. "I just saw the protruding crown of one of the Three Kings and I knew right away that it was a Nativity scene. True enough, it turned out to be a beautiful bronze belen."
He also said he found a grimy limestone belen in a garbage can in Manila. DV gave it a new life.
"I always find it amusing every time I find a belen in the most peculiar places. Who would have thought that there’s one in a Muslim market in Jeddah? Or one in a garbage can," DV remarked.
When DV celebrated his birthday last Nov. 25, he received 20 belens as gifts. On the day when DV and his staff were putting together the exhibit, he was surprised to receive more belens from friends and acquaintances.
"That’s why I will do the exhibit every year," he said. "The message of the exhibit is loud and clear: Before we greet each other ‘Merry Christmas!’ let us greet the Savior first ‘Happy Birthday!’ " DV enthused.
From this simple truth, we should begin weaving the magic of Christmas in our hearts.