But you know, what it means is that the city square is now full of local people, and the ferris wheel is a symbol of the town's prosperity (not to mention a lot of fun for the kids in the newly repaired city square).
Report here:
GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- A 100-foot Christmas tree, tunnel lights with over 50,000 bulbs and a 45-meter tall ferris wheel-cum-giant lantern, were among the main attractions of the city's grand Christmas festival dubbed “Masaya ang Pasko sa Gapan” that was formally launched here over the weekend.
Mayor Emerson Pascual said the PHP50-million ferris wheel that was built under the city government tourism program will be open to all the local residents free of charge and with "minimal fees" for local tourists.
Pascual said the Christmas bulbs were lit up Saturday night to treat the people to a colorful holiday and "let them feel the true spirit of Christmas." “A nativity scene was also blessed,” he said. The tunnel lights that span 700 meters and placed a few meters away from the national road, emphasized the fully-decorated town plaza that has become an attraction to both residents and visitors.
the Christmas festival launching program kicked off with the performance of popular singer-comedian Janno Gibbs. Pascual assured visitors that the city, with its improved peace and order condition, is ready to welcome tourists.yup.
improved peace and order. Blame Duterte (and our mayor, who now is using city funds for things like this instead of diverting the money into his pocket).
and some of the locals vlog:
this vlog shows the square down the street from us. We are in the old section of town: Not the rich part, although some families are ex pats or have families overseas who send money to improve their homes. (the gated housing for the affluent is up near the mall and the new city hall, where the town is expanding).
in other words, middle and working class folk who can easily walk there or take a tricycle to the party.
...
this starts at the mall but quickly changes to downtown;
.------------this one is shorter>>>>>>>>>>>>>-----------
the city square also has been the place for jogging, where Lolo used to jog every morning, and for the past 5 years holds a morning exercize class (which is too vigourous for my old bones). Up to recently, however, it looked run down and shoddy: Now it looks pretty and clean.
Now, if only people would put all of their discarded plastic cups and bags into the trash bins. These predate the present mayor and are used, but often at night the dogs and cats spread the garbage around to look for left overs.
the former mayor also covered the ditches so the open air market wouldn't flood so much. Too bad that the cement used was substandard and is crumbling....in several places, the covers collapsed completely and had to be replaces.
The electric wires are also being replaced with cables instead of the numerous wires that got tangled and often sagged and got broken by passing rice trucks.
Next step: gradually replace all the broken water pipes.
Part of the problem is that with the increase in prosperity, the traffic is worse: So the trucks now go around our house since downtown the main street is one way. And the streets (and covers to the drainage ditches that go under the street or get parked on by trucks making deliveries) can't always take the heavy loads.
There are also more outreach programs for the sick: there is a clinic for sick kids behind the old city hall near the square, and more grants for the elderly indigent to get their blood pressure and diabetic medicines for free.
The vacant lot across the street has been cleaned up and now has a store to supply audiosystems for cars and tricycles, and also to paint cars etc.
This is bad news for the dogs.
when we moved here, south of the house was open land, but now it is full of new houses, some of which have small shops. So things are improving. But no more sleepy town with waterbuffalo grazing up the street in the vacant lots.
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