In the heart of Dumaguete, a city known for its rich culture and traditions, one man’s legacy shines as bright as the Christmas lights that adorn his iconic Christmas House.
Dr. Prospero ‘Rico’ Absin, a remarkable anesthesiologist, and tireless advocate for culture and tourism, has left an indelible mark on the City and in the hearts of the Negrenses.
Born on June 19, 1945 to a pioneer City Councilor Dr. Genovivo Absin and civic leader Doña Alicia Pañares, Rico Absin’s journey in life was destined for greatness.
He embarked on his educational path at St. Paul’s College-Dumaguete (now St. Paul University-Dumaguete) where he laid the foundation for his future endeavors. During his student years, Dr. Absin was a part of the Paulinian Drama Club and the Paulinian Glee Club, where his love for culture and the arts blossomed.
His thirst for knowledge led him to the prestigious University of Sto. Tomas along España in Manila where he earned his medical degree, setting the stage for a medical career dedicated to serving the community.
In his professional life, Dr. Absin served as an anesthesiologist at the Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc., demonstrating his commitment to the well-being of his patients.
Dumaguete Christmas House
However, it was not just Dr. Absin’s medical prowess that made him an icon of Dumaguete. He is best known for his creation of the renowned Christmas House in their ancestral home in barangay Piapi, a testament to his love for his mother who instilled in him a child-like obsession with the holiday season.
The Christmas House came to life in 1988, a year after his mother’s passing, and has since become a beacon of joy and hope, for locals and visitors in the City alike.
Every year for the past 32 years or so, Dr. Absin’s Christmas House would be adorned with hundreds of kilometers of colorful twinkling lights, reindeers on a sleigh led by Santa Clause, fancy toy trains, floral arrangements neatly sewn hanging from the high ceiling, huge dolls and stuff toys lining the red carpeted stairwell, exquisite Christmas table settings, beautiful angels and fully-bedecked Christmas trees everywhere — transforming the family’s Spanish-style ancestral home into a spectacle that jampacked even Hibbard Ave. in Piapi.
The Christmas House not only celebrated the holiday season but also showcased Dr. Absin’s passion for collecting. His antique collection, including Lladro art procelain figurines, would be displayed alongside an array of angels and cherubs, creating a harmonious blend of tradition and modern art.
Later, he developed an exclusive subdivision called El Pueblo Genovivo in barangay Candau-ay, which also became a venue for huge parties in the City, and his annual Christmas gala, a dinner-concert-for-a-cause to help the less fortunate families.
Dr. Absin’s dedication extended beyond the medical field. He was an active member of the Board of Trustees of his Alma Mater, SPUD, for two decades, and was deeply involved in the SPUD Alumni Association Inc.-Dumaguete Chapter. He had played a pivotal role in the centennial celebration of SPUD in 2004, contributing to the preservation of the institution’s history as the first-ever St. Paul school in the entire Philippines. (It was here in the shores of Dumaguete where the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in France, sailing in from Vietnam, first docked in the Philippine Islands in 1904.)
His influence on the cultural landscape extended to tourism as well. Dr. Absin was the pioneer chairperson of the Dumaguete City Tourism Council, guiding the local government’s efforts to attract visitors to this University Town. He also served as member of the Board of Directors for the Dumaguete Arts & Cultural Society from 1990 to 1995, and of the Sandurot Foundation Inc. He was also a founding member of the Dumaguete City Festival & Arts Society Inc., and served as member of the Board of Trustees and vice chairperson of the Negros Oriental Tourism Council.
During his chairmanship of the Tourism Council, Dr. Absin organized several star-studded events including the Dumaguete Santacruzan, the Kabulakan Festival, World Tourism Month, the Dumaguete Sandurot, and the Dumaguete Christmas Festival.
His vision extended to the beautification of Rizal Boulevard, Quezon Park, and the City Hall, maintaining them as picturesque landmarks.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Dr. Absin received from the Dumaguete government the Belfry Tourism Excellence Award in 2014 for Culture and Heritage.
While Dr. Absin’s accomplishments in the field of medicine, and his advocacy for culture and tourism are noteworthy, it is his altruistic spirit that stands out.
For over three decades, Dr. Absin organized a fund-raising initiative to provide meals for street children in during Christmas, exemplifying his commitment to the well-being of the less fortunate.
In one of his acts of generosity that would turn out his last, Dr. Absin ensured that 1,000 street children in Dumaguete would have a special Christmas meal.
Dr. Prospero ‘Rico’ P. Absin, a man of deep humility and boundless kindness, will forever be remembered as a cultural icon who brought joy, beauty, and hope to his beloved city of Dumaguete. His legacy lives on in the twinkling lights of the Christmas House, the cultural vibrancy of the City, and in the hearts of those who had the privilege of being beneficiaries of his various acts of generosity.
Thank you, Doc Rico, for your unwavering dedication and the profound impact you have made on Dumaguete. You are an inspiration to us all, and your memory will continue to light up our lives, just as your Christmas House illuminated our City. (Penn Larena)
