Category Archives: Travel

This is the fifth year of Belenismo! Thank you Tita Isabel and Isa for making me a part of this Christmas tradition.  I am truly honored and blessed.  Belenismo is a project that is born out of your love for Jesus and the Holy Family.

There were 148 Entries this year among the 3 categories – Monumental, Grand Monumental and Parish.  Then there are the dioramas with 50 entries.

Previous Entries:  Belenismo sa Tarlac December 12, 2007 

Belenismo sa Tarlac 2008 December 31, 2008 

Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 December 27, 2o10 

The 4th Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 January 23, 2011 

 Congratulations Tita Isabel and Isa for al your effort in making this an annual tradition.   As always your Belen is so beautiful, thank you to Ding Mercado, who tells me that whenever he is working on his design and the Belen that he does it with much love.

I will never be tired seeing all the beautiful Belens the people of Tarlac work so hard to put up during Christmas.  I feel their energy, spirit and love when they proudly present their labor of love.  Thank you Tita Isabel and Isa for bringing that spirit to the hearts of everyone who come to see all the belens. I wish more people could come and see them live and not only in photos.

San Clemente Municipal -This was the first Belen we visited and it was really really beautiful!

Our Lady of Remedies Parish Belen – Noah’s Ark Belen with the ark that was actually moving and swaying

Señor Sto. Niño Hospital

Moncada Municipal

Anao Municipal – One of my favorite Belens which is like Fabergé eggs.  The hanging chandeliers looking like stars are made out of recycled soda plastic litro bottles.  How creative!  It’s even much better in person

Ramos Municipal – Wow!  This was a humongous Belen!! Super bright and beautiful!

Jeffrey Valencie Residence – This was a treehouse belen.  We were all amazed at the simplicity of it and yet how beautiful it still was.  This was displayed in the front of the house of the owner who designed and made the Belen

Pura Municipal – Another major production with dancers and singers

Women actually making the flowers

St. Isidore Parish

A beautiful altar made out of bamboo inside the church

Expiatory

SM Prime Holdings

San Sebastian Cathedral

Rotary Club

Azaya Garden

GR8 Multi-Purpose Coop

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

Ves Foodhouse

Concepcion Municipal

[email_link]

This is the first time I went to Belenismo as a judge.  All the other four years I came as a guest since it always coincides with my Mom’s birthday.  But this year since Mom celebrated elsewhere, I was able to go!

I joined the bus with all the other judges – Johnny, Ding, Carlo, Mike, Isa, and the three Dayrit sisters – Christine, Michelle and my friend Yvonne with her daughter Carin.  This group has been doing it every year for the past 5 years and I was happy to join them.  My friend Yvonne put it so well, she said it was not only a judging or to see the belens but a pilgrimage as well in honor of Baby Jesus

The Judges – Cito Beltran, Ces Drilon, Yvonne and Christine Dayrit, Rica de Jesus and Johnny Go

Ding Mercado, Michelle Dayrit and Jiji Sanares

with Tita Isabel Cojuangco and Isa

We left Manila at 230pm and arrived at around 5pm at the Museo for the Belen Dioramas.  As everyone said, it gets better every year.  The Belens are beautiful works of art.  Even if they are small, a lot of hardwork and thought is put into each and every Belen.  It’s a tribute to Jesus in celebration of his birth

This is my favorite which is made out of 3,000 pcs. of toothpicks!

Previous Entries:  Belenismo sa Tarlac December 12, 2007 

Belenismo sa Tarlac 2008 December 31, 2008 

Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 December 27, 2o10 

The 4th Belenismo sa Tarlac 2010 January 23, 2011 

[email_link]