Belenismo sa Tarlac

If Christ the Savior was born in this time and age, I am pretty sure his parents, Mary and Joseph, would not find it hard to look for a place for his birth. In Tarlac, the whole province opened their hearts and homes for the Holy Family as they lovingly created beautiful manger scenes irrespective of religious affiliations and came up with 1,001 reasons why the province should gain the sobriquet “Belen Capital of the Philippines.” In Tarlac, many a star shines its brightest not only to guide the magi but mortals like us to come revisit where the redemption of sinners started — the Nativity.

Driving down to Tarlac with my gregarious sisters Michelle and Yvonne brought back many nostalgic memories of past Christmases. No matter how old one is, the meaning of this season never changes. It is a glorious celebration for families to unite, show their love for each other and glorify our Lord. Gracious Isabel Cojuangco Suntay and daughter Isa shared that the very idea of this belen-making contest started with a desire to stage an activity that would unite the province, showcase Tarlac as a tourism destination and help uplift the economic conditions of the community as well. Through the dynamic leadership of Gov. Victor Yap, the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, the Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church and Tarlac Convention and Visitors Bureau, the exquisite art of belen-making has been revived. Others involved in the project — called “Belenismo sa Tarlac” — are Fr. Alex Bautista, Jun and Milit Baron, Amado Go, Dr. Restie and Chit de Ocampo. The project is highlighted by a province-wide competition that aims to showcase the artistic, social and religious significance of the belen, the symbol of Christ’s birth.

Tita Isabel humbly explained, “The Province of Tarlac has been so good to our family since the time of our grandparents, who came from Fujian in China. This is our way of sharing our blessings and reciprocating our love.” A month ago, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac passed an ordinance declaring December “Belenismo” month and promulgating the promotion of belen-making as a major cottage industry. The ordinance was authored by provincial board members Carlito David, Amado Go and Pearl Pacada. Four categories were judged the best by a panel led by STAR columnists Cito Beltran, Michelle Soliven and myself; ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon; creative czars Joey Panlilio and Eric Pineda; and UST Professor Eric Zerrudo. In all, 79 entries were submitted — 12 personal, 10 diorama, 43 establishments and 14 municipal.

The indefatigable Fr. Alex, who had studied in Spain, conceptualized the belen-making activity, which was well received by the province. Like lightning gravitating towards a central source, practically the entire community was mobilized for the Nativity mise en scène. There were two successful workshops conducted by Fr. Alex to teach interested parties how to utilize indigenous materials in making their masterpieces. Even the creative talents of the Tarlac police provincial office were tapped as architects, engineers and creative hands, formulating their prize-winning belen in the Grand Category replete with fantastic lights that brightened McArthur highway. The display was put up with provincial senior superintendent and former PNP spokesman Col. Nicanor Bartolome with Col. Aniceto Frany, and Col. Eden Ugale. The Tarlac Police Belen project ingenuously utilized the fishing net, the crib, the well, farming implements and the offerings.

All the dioramas were on display at the San Sebastian Cathedral. Photographer Jose “Joe” dela Cruz Guevarra Jr. documented all the entries. The first-placer in the Diorama Category, “Belenismong Tarlac sa Vigan” by 20-year-old Albert Dancel, has an interesting anecdote behind its creation. Albert, a seminarian representing San Manuel, had complained to Tita Isabel that some details of his diorama were missing. Tita Isabel promptly informed the PNP police to check on the complaint, only to find out that the missing piece was a danggit (dried fish) that a local cat had taken an interest in. No wonder these dioramas looked so real; even the cat was fooled.

History and love for culture enhanced the diaroma by Ramon Espinosa in the Personal Category, which bagged second place. A belen made of styrofoam, old recycled boxes and pin lights captured the glory of the Capitolyo created way back in 1906 by then Governor Jose Espinosa, Ramon’s ancestor. Ramon enthused that his love for the place where he has worked for the past 19 years inspired him to create his entry. 

Live animals eventually stole the show in some of the splendid belen entries like the first placer in the Municipal Category, the town of Victoria. This very traditional Filipino ancestral home-inspired entry showed deep love of community, proudly featured the best flora and fauna collection of the region and even had a charming beige sheep that caught the fancy of the judges. An angelic choir serenaded everyone with traditional Christmas melodies as an eclectically dressed (in crocheted clothing) carabao from the Municipality of Ramos stole the show as it bowed on its knees before the judges. In the Personal Category, first-placer was Rolando Rigor while the Monumental Category first-place prize went to St. Jose Maria Escriva Parish in Gerona.

After the awarding of winners at the Capitolyo last Sunday, the dynamic guest of honor Senator Loren Legarda gave her message of peace and love to the Tarlaqueños and toured the newly inaugurated Museo where all the dioramas and personal belens will be on display until the first quarter of next year.

Over the delicious dinner prepared at Nay’s Restaurant (tel. no. (045)982-5286) that consisted of a pancit luglog bar (create your own delicious concoction), hito with mustasa and balo-balo, kare-kare with green mango, lechon Tarlac and a divinely delicious dessert smorgasboard of tibok-tibok (carabao milk flan with coconut shavings) kuchinta, sans rival, buko pandan, buko lychee sherbet and dalandan slush, the dashing Gov. Victor Yap shared with us the travel and epicurean destinations of Tarlac. One must check out the Coconut Grill Restaurant (where they also have two cozy rooms for rent), Café Maja Rica, Fortune Seafood, Hut Chan, Honkee Tea House, and Vilmar’s. Cozy lodgings here include La Maja Rica Hotel, the Farmhouse and Asiaten Hotel where one can feel the ambiance of a Spanish villa. Asiaten’s owner Danny Asiaten showed us his Malatarlak Belen that won second place, made of bamboo, tall wild grass called malatarlak, abaca and other ornamental plants endemic to the province.

The eco-tourism activities one can enjoy here include mountain trail biking in the western side of Tarlac, exploring the waterfalls in Dueg, experiencing the caldera of Mount Pinatubo via Capas, also famous for the heroic Death March. Places of interest include Bamban and San Clemente, where indigenous tribes abound. For horticulturists and flower fans, the ilang-ilang blooms in Anao will surely entice you. One can also visit the Gawad Kalinga Village donated by a family in Moncada in memory of a son in law, an astronaut who perished in a spaceship tragedy. One can also enjoy the former Luisita shopping complex, now a property of the Robinsons group, or schedule a round of golf at Luisita Golf Course. One can also embark on religious pilgrimages here to be arranged by Ding Mercado. There is a very special chapel in Tarlac known as the Expiatory Chapel (the only one of its kind in the Philippines) and the Monasterio de Tarlac where the Reliquary of the True Cross is.

It was a moving experience to witness 100 children letting go of their Christmas lanterns, which bore wishes to Jesus for a peaceful and happy Christmas in the loving embrace of their families. No matter how simple their wish, they all believe as their Christmas balloons reached the higher heavens closer to the Lord, their wishes would come true. This Christmas, the season of giving and sharing, let us focus on the real essence of the yuletide: to love and honor Jesus, who by His birth gave us the reason to live.

*  *  *

For more information, call the Tarlac Tourism Office at (045)9824051 and look for Edwin Caoleng; the Tarlac Convention and Visitors Bureau at 0918-4806885; or e-mail belenismosatarlac@gmail.com.