Getting 'holidazed' at Belenismo in Tarlac

The beauty of the Christmas season is it rekindles the child in each one of us. We allow ourselves to be awed by the holiday spirit around us. We somehow become “holidazed” because we are filled with delight and gratitude for all the blessings we have received. As one grows older, it is best to be reminded of what W.T Ellis once said: “It is Christmas in our hearts that puts Christmas in the air.”

It is the heart of a child that beats in me as I marvel at the Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. The air is crisp and frosty as the European-inspired Christmas villages in this wonderful holiday wonderland are illuminated by two million colorful lights bulbs, sleigh rides, simulated flights, toy workshops of Santa Claus at the North Pole, Yuletide song and dance shows. Countries like France, Italy, Ireland, Germany and England proudly showcase their Christmas traditions and delicacies such as peppermint fudge brownies, s’mores (combination of chocolate and marshmallow melted between graham crackers), cinnamon crisps, and even buffet banquets prepared by Mrs. Claus in their fireside feast.

Aldrin Capiendo’s Panagbenga: a kankanaey term for “a season of blooming,” this is an invitation to those who look upon the manger to gravitate towards the good Lord, is the First Place Winner in the Diorama Category.

In the middle of the illumination of the iconic 50-foot “O Tannenbaum” Christmas Tree whose twinkling lights and sounds were synchronized to everyone’s sheer delight, I wandered on my own and noticed a Nativity scene where an ivory carved belen took center stage. I remembered our very own version of this tradition of the belenismo in the historic and beautiful province of Tarlac. With the belenismo, one gets “holidazed” by the Tarlakenos’ sheer ingenuity and artistry that they employed in their intricate belen creations.

The time of the year when I am proudest to be a Filipino is during the annual judging of the Belenismo sa Tarlac. The Belenismo, now in its fourth year, is a campaign that seeks to transform the province of Tarlac into the belen capital of the Philippines. I am ecstatic to say this is definitely a smashing success. Spearheaded by the indefatigable mother-daughter tandem of Tita Isabel and Dra. Isa Suntay of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, Belenismo is a community-based contest wherein the people of Tarlac lovingly showcase their ingenuity, artistry and love of Jesus through the creation of the most beautiful, intricate, exquisite and soulful nativity scenes or crèches the world will ever see. It is here that one will witness that no plague, natural calamity or environmental obstacle can hinder the creation of our magnificent belens. In fact, they rise above such situations with flying colors, proving that sustainable tourism can be successfully implemented through collective effort, unity, harmony and compassion.

Tarlac is now a haven of nativity and cheer as belens of every size and theme dominate the mise en scène. The creativity is infectious as recyclable materials are utilized and transformed into awesome obra maestras. Love for the environment is equivalent to love for one another as the spirit of modern-day bayanihan is prevalent.

As we disembarked in the various town plazas and localities where the belens had been set up, the mayors introduced us to the talented youth who created the belens. The innovative lights magically transported us to Christmas heaven with the entire community singing and dancing in the Yuletide spirit as heartwarming native delicacies like suman, tinupig, hot chocolate were served to our hearts’ content. It is no wonder that no matter how Christmas is celebrated the world over, there really is no comparison to the way we celebrate the occasion in our homeland — only in Tarlac, only in the Philippines.

I learned from UST Prof. Eric Zerrudo, who teaches Cultural and Heritage Tourism, that it was his student Fr. Alex Bautista who brought to the fore through his thesis: a community-based project showcasing the heartfelt tradition of the Filipinos known as Belenismo. Fr. Alex, together with Tita Isabel and Dr. Isa, initiated workshops to train the Tarlaqueños how to craft various materials, even recycled ones.

The Belenismo judges: Seated (from left) are Ces Orena Drilon, Yvonne Dayrit Romualdez, Michelle Dayrit Soliven, Christine Dayrit; standing (from left) Cito Beltran, Johnny Co, Ding Mercado.

This year, Tarlac Heritage Foundation together with the Tarlac Police Provincial Office as represented By Supt. Florante L. Torres and the members of TPPO’s Belen Team, officially launched “Belenismo sa Tarlac’s Tourist Police,” a belen tour guide service that is available for all who wish to discover the belen trail from Nov. 5 to Jan. 6, 2011. Two Belenismo Tourist policemen are dispatched in a buddy system wherein they accompany groups in a bus, coaster or several vehicle caravans.

Can you imagine how some of these belens were created? The infectious spirit of Belenismo has become a profound lifestyle in which the youth create belens from whatever materials are available on hand — whether it’s discarded CDs, dextrose bottles, old Comelec ballots, egg trays, corn husks, dried grass, recyclable tetra packs or more. Truly impressive. Proudly Pinoy.

Judging with me in the Belenisimo were my sisters Michelle Soliven and Yvonne Romualdez and Cito Beltran, Ces Drilon and Johnny Co. Also with us was Belenismo organizer Ding Mercado, whose PNP belen is simply fabulous, what with its glass wings that resemble a giant flower with the belen right in the middle all aglow in purple and green lights.

No judging of the Belenisimo is complete without us having dinner at our favorite restaurant in Tarlac — Nay’s House. The delicacies here include sugpo sa aligue, pancit luglog, bringe, turon with langka, burong isda with mustasa and tibok-tibok dessert (sweet carabao milk custard flan). Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap joined us for this sumptuous dinner.

We patrolled the province as we became more and more delightfully confused as to which town created the best, brightest belen. Tita Isabel lovingly advised us beforehand that we could judge several entries as top prize winners because she knew how difficult it was to decide. For us judges, each and every belen is a winner in its own right. One is spoiled for choice as to which should emerge victorious in each category. The categories are: Diorama, Monumental, Church, Grand Non-Municipal and Grand Municipal. Do visit the belens this season and be your own judge.

The Belenismo sa Tarlac Awards Night was held yesterday at the Plazuela of the Municipality of Moncada in Tarlac. 

The winners of this year’s Belenismo are:

Grand Municipal Category: 1st place: Municipalities of San Clemente and Victoria; 2nd place: Municipalities of Anao and Gerona; 3rd place: Municipalities of San Manuel, Moncada, Mayantoc, and La Paz.

Grand Non-Municipal Category: 1st place: The 3rd Congressional District Office Belen; 2nd place: NOLCOM; 3rd place: Azaya Garden Resort.

Church Category: 1st place: Our Lady of Remedies Parish, Sta. Maria, San Manuel; 2nd place: Immaculate Concepcion Parish, Mababanaba, San Jose; 3rd place: St. Isidore Parish, Estipona, Pura.

Diorama Category: 1st place: Aldrin Capiendo; 2nd place: Paolo Beltran; 3rd place: Ramon Espinosa; Special Award: Rizelle Ann Lanoria.

Monumental Category: 1st place: Nay’s House; 2nd place: La Maja Rica Hotel; 3rd place: Gem’s Cutflowers; Special Award: The Social Security System.

Tarlac Heritage Foundation’s Dr. Isa Cojuangco Suntay and Dona Isabel Cojuangco Suntay.

Where in the world can one find this kind of cultural heritage/community tourism? It is this brand of sustainable tourism that uplifts the entire community as each member is involved tremendously in this dynamic collective process. Cultural heritage promotes community advancement and tourism, through enhancement and implementation of sustainable practices and opportunities for the future.

Each year when the Yuletide season kicks in, I look forward to judging the Belenismo because I am not simply appreciating belens per se. More than that, I am being integrated into the infectious love of a community whose devotion to Jesus Christ has heralded this magnanimity in their homes, hearts and souls. Truly, a jewel of a find, Christmas in Tarlac is not just a time or season but a wonderful state of mind.

* * *

For more information about the Belenismo tours, please call Engineer Elmer Bulaon at The Museo ng Probinsiya ng Tarlac at (045) 493-1773.

For Nay’s House, call (045) 982-5286 or 09189-426832

E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.