Tree Lighting in the Plaza

the Christmas lights are up, and they had the tree lighting ceremony last night, complete with fireworks, singing by Michael Pangilinan, and lots of local folks celebrating.

yes, it cost a fortune but hey, it's Christmas (and it is a way to advertise we are not a backward poor town but an up and coming city for you to invest here). And it means the kids have something to do besides sit around bored and get drunk/take drugs/ have sex.

the role of parties and fiestas in increasing social cohesiveness is something over looked by the puritans who want people to work work work.

the fireworks were beautiful: but it meant all the dogs were trying to hide under my bed: even the dog from next door.


here is Mikey Bustos discussing Christmas customs in the Philippines.



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... and here is a lovely local commercial about family coming home to celebrate Christmas. 

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.and EWTN even has a TV series that is about making meal time a way to celebrate family and God's love in one's daily life...

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.... yup. Even the simpsons know that  parties are a way for us to anticipate heaven

 

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update: A better video on the tree lighting ceremony here: