It is amazing what people do to prepare for Christmas.  In the Philippines, no matter what economic situation, everyone makes sure they decorate and prepare for Jesus’ birthday. 

This year, Tita Isabel Cojuangco Suntay and her daughter, Isa, did something really extraordinary.  They started a new tradition in their hometown, Tarlac.  The whole city joined in the endeavor and it is the FIRST ever in the country.  Last July, Father Alex Bautista, Head of the Commission of the Cultural Heritage of the Church of the Diocese of Tarlac, brought up the idea to Tita Isabel.  This is what started the conception of Belenismo.  Of course aside from coming up with a great idea, the key and the hardest part is always the implementation and bringing the idea to life and it was the hard work and dedication of Tita Isabel and Isa to organize the whole city to join.  Many residences, buildings, restaurants, hotels joined including the 17 Municipalities of Tarlac. The categories are:  Monumental, Grand, Personal and Dioramas. Thank you also to San Miguel Corporation for sponsoring the event and making all of this possible.

Heart2Heart had the chance to join a small group whom Tita Isabel and Isa hosted to view this spectacular sight.    The first stop was the San Sebastian Cathedral which housed the dioramas and a few of the personal categories.  ( Click on the small photos for a larger view of the image )

This was one of Heart2Heart’s favorites because it was unique in the sense that it used an aquarium as the belen. 

Isa had her own entry to the contest and with the help of her designer Ding Mercado they were able to come up with this beautiful belen:

Take note, the gift in the Belen is from Rustan’s!!! 🙂

We were able to tour a few municipalities out of the 17 and visited a few others on the way.  As usual, we were impressed at the  creativity and talent the Filipinos have in designing their belens.  They made use of indigenous materials. 

Asiaten Hotel

A Chinese restaurant had their own version of a Belen with Chinese characters:

Municipal of Capas:

Our last stop and one of the finalists in the GRAND category:

The Department of Tourism will include Belenismo in the Official list of Festivals of the Philippines if they do this for three consecutive years.  Tita Isabel said they definitely will and she will try to arrange a week wherein people from different cities can come over and see the belens and maybe even purchase some belens.  So Heart2Heart is looking forward to next year’s Belenismo.

Thank you very much Tita Isabel and Isa for bringing the christmas spirit to Tarlac….. and to the whole world.  You have contributed something which all of us will remember and for giving Jesus a reason to always want to celebrate his birthday in our country.  GOD BLESS YOU!!