All is set for “Pasko sa Kapitolyo”, a yearly activity of the Negros Oriental provincial government for the entire family as well as for tourists to enjoy during the holiday season.
The “Pasko sa Kapitolyo” includes exhibit of floats, lantern lighting, fireworks display, children’s ice cream fellowship, CosPlay of cartoon characters, booth opening, search for Sidlakan star and the Sayawit competition.
Senior Tourism Officer Myla Mae Abellana, who is head of the secretariat in this year’s “Pasko sa Kapitolyo”, disclosed this year’s theme is “Flaming with the Marvelous Love of Jesus”.
“Pasko sa Kapitolyo” will commence with a Jingle Bell Run, a Gawad Kalinga fund-raising activity at 4:00 a.m. on December 15, 2016 to be followed by a parade of 27 Department of Education floats, which is in a form of a competition.
At 6 p.m. on the same day, Gov. Roel Degamo is expected to grace the opening salvo through a switch-on activity of the lanterns around the provincial capitol with a fireworks display courtesy of DSS.
By tradition, Degamo and wife Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo are also expected to treat the children to free ice cream and carnival rides.
The DepEd booth with a modernized Belen with cartoon characters will also be opened that night at the Aquino Freedom Park.
The yearly Sayawit will be participated in by five divisions of the Department of Education, namely, Bayawan, Dumaguete, Bais, Guihulngan and Negros Oriental division, while the Parol contest will not be available this year due to lack of funds.
According to Abellana, nightly activities and competitions will be presented by DepEd with the Aquino Freedom Park and the Capitol forecourt as the main venues.
The best float will receive P30,000, 1st runner-up P25,000, 2nd runner-up P20,000, 3rd runner-up P15,000 and consolation prize is P10,000, aside from the special awards of P2,000 each for most creative and best interpretation with P3,000 for biggest contingent.
For the Sayawit, the champion will get P15,000, 1st runner-up P12,000, 2nd runner-up P8,000, consolation prize is P5,000 while the best accompaniment will get P2,000.
For the Christmas Booth of Cartoon Characters competition, the champion gets P12,000, the 1st runner-up will get P8,000, 2nd runner-up P7,000 and consolation prize of P5,000 each.
Meanwhile, P350,000 was allotted as total cost for prizes and tokens for judges and hosts in the Grand Provincial Search for Sidlakan Star Season 6 this year, in five categories to include Children Solo Singing Competition (14 years old and below), Unique Amateur Talents category (solo, duo, trio, quartet), Junior Group Performing Arts category (amateur level), Senior Group Performing Arts category (provincial and regional winner level) and the Sidlak Negorense Talents battle (national level). (PNA/JFP/JG)
