A compilation of all Pinay's blogposts on "Mi Ciudad", Zamboanga City and another Ciudad close to my heart, Ciudad Medical Zamboanga… showcasing the beauty of Zamboanga City, the dynamic activities of Ciudad Medical Zamboanga and some stories and insights on the Zamboanga Crisis and how the City and CMZ transcends from the adversity.
Please click this You Tube Video to best appreciate Zamboanga City Christmas!... and hopefully, CLICk LIKE! Similar to 2015, this 2016 is still a Christmas for children in Zamboanga City! "Un Mundo de Paz y Amistad" Cristiano, Muslim y Lumad...todo
kita unido para el Ciudad de Zamboanga. Feliz advento del Dios Emanuel y
Bondadozo Año Nuevo! -- Mayor Beng Climaco As explained by Mayor Beng Climaco of Zamboanga City, this year’s theme of the Christmas celebration stemmed from the simple request of a little girl for a Small World Christmas. "In bringing to the City replicas of the famous landmarks from different countries and continents, the theme is a representation of the local government’s desire to promote peace, unity, and friendship amongst all people in Zamboanga City." Day Shots of the Small World Christmas at the Zamboanga City Hall
Day Shots of the Small World Christmas at the Paseo Del Mar, Zamboanga City
“The theme is our version of Un Mundo de Paz para todo los vivientes. El diferente continente y landmarks from different parts of the world showcase the message of paz, unidad, y amistad,” as quoted from our City Mayor. From the TV news, I also heard from the City's Chief Executive, that since we have a century-old City Hall, it is safer to have this Board type of decoration as a way to prevent fires... Here are my night shots taken with the beautiful Christmas lights in Zamboanga City! Night Shots of the Small World Christmas at the Zamboanga City Hall
Night Shots of the Small World Christmas at the Plaza Pershing in Zamboanga City
Night Shots of the Small World Christmas at the Paseo Del Mar in Zamboanga City
I hope you enjoyed going over the Zamboanga City Christmas festive lights this year! We have to thank all those who were instrumental for these grand designs that transform our Zamboanga City Hall from a historical landmark to the icon of Christmas joy, with special mention to the Zamboanga City General Service Office! SO, don't forget to visit the Zamboanga City Hall and Paseo Del Mar LIVE, and you will definitely feel CHRISTMAS IS NOW IN ZAMBOANGA CITY!!! P.S.
The City General
Services Office is in charge in the physical set up of most of the City
Government's activities and their biggest activity is the yuletide decors which
we start preparing as early as June.
The ZC GSO is headed
by Engr. Rene M. Dela Cruz and with special mention to Architect Rizamay Sta.
Teresa Basing. The City GSO has in-house carpenters, painters/artists, electricians
and the whole GSO Team produce and create everything from scratch including the
controls of the lights.
Special mention to:
**The very able GSO
electricians who does the controls:
~~~ Danilo Ulod,
General Electrician Foreman (the one in-charge of City Hall controls)
~~~ Edwin Lunggay,
Electrician II (in-charge of lighting at the Paseo Del Mar and Plaza Pershing
controls)
**Artists/Painters:
Alex Mendoza, Wenifred Aranquez, Rodolfo Raquel
**Scuplture/Steel
& Christmas Tree Master: Edgar Javier
This blogpost is taken from In Pinay's Footsteps and reblogged for the 2016 updates! Zamboanga City Hallis a real historical landmark of Zamboanga City considering that it is already more than a century old.
Zamboanga City Hall- The construction of this building started in 1905 and was completed in 1907 by the Federal Government of the United States for the then American Governors of the area which included: Leonard 0. Wood, Tasker H. Bliss, Ralph W. Hoyt, and Gen. John Pershing of World War I fame. Today, this serves as the City Hall of Zamboanga City where the Mayor holds office.
in June 2009
in 2011
The Zamboanga City Hall is a focal point of the City and more so during the Christmas season!
WHY?
...because of the festive air with all the beautiful lights of the City hall itself and also in the adjacent plazas....this is another update of these previous links which I thought I should do to complete the comparisons through the years...
Year 2000 - In retrospect, I am not so sure of the date .... but this is imprinted on the photo!
2007.
Just wanted to capture the perfect moment with less than perfect shots...
2007
2007
2007
2008. The Zamboanga City Hall is now more colorful this Christmas with the theme: Christmas Elves.
2008
2010.
Embellishing the century-old City Hall has improved a lot over the years... the lights are brighter and the colors more varied. This year's theme is Christmas Village!
They may have spent more, but I think they also made a lot of people happier -- young and old... from Zamboanga City and visitors, too.
2010
There is snow in Zamboanga City!
The lights really attracted everyone...and these white flakes you see are not artifacts / specks of the picture but "snow".
How everyone wanted to see the "snow" at the Christmas Village!
And young and old alike were just excited about it.
ZAMBOANGA CITY HALL 2010.
And the surrounding plazas were also brightly adorned with the neon-lit Plaza Pershing and the meaningful Belen (Nativity Scene) in Plaza Rizal.
2010
The entrance to Plaza Pershing and the gazebo all add up to the Christmas-y air!
And of course, the giant Christmas tree inside!
the brightly lit gazebo in Plaza Pershing
The Nativity Scene in Plaza Rizal is also as attractive and eye-catching!
the tableau of the nativity in Plaza Rizal near ZC City Hall
A friend commented, that he didn't ever see this kind of decorations in Cebu, and that the Zamboanga City Hall area was so beautifully lighted for Christmas.
And the adjacent plazas were also brightly adorned with the neon-lit Plaza Pershing and the meaningful Belen in Plaza Rizal.
2011
2012.
I just had a glimpse of the Zamboanga City Hall this year! The theme is It's A Merry Fairy Christmas!!! They just lighted the ZC City Hall together with the other parks just a few days ago!Everyone again drives around the area or strolls around, of course, for all the photo opportunities!
2012
2012
And a glimpse of the neighboring Plaza Pershing...
2012
2013.
A lot had happened to our beloved City this 2013... a most memorable almost month-long Zamboanga Siege from the fated Sept 9 to the end of September and this was followed by flooding in many parts of Zamboanga City in early October! Somehow, looking at our Zamboanga City Hall also instills hope on the people.We did not have the mardi gras for the 2013 Fiesta Hermosa, but the lighted City Hall was inspiring.Here is a link: zamboanga-city-hall-lighted-for-fiesta.html
October 12, 2013 with the Lady of the Pillar at the City hall facade
CHRISTMAS 2013. Here is the lighted Zamboanga City Hall for Christmas 2013 with the theme: STARS OF HOPE!
2013
The Belen (Nativity scene) is now in the Center in front of the City Hall.
Yes, the Zamboanga City Hall is less festive and less colorful than in the prior years, but of course, it is fitting with the times. This is the lighted Plaza Pershing for 2013!
The folks still flock to the area...which was heartwarming. We continue to be so happy to see Christmas in the air in the heart of our City every year!!! 2014. We now have a different look this Christmas, with the 2014 Theme, "Paz y Alegria y Desarrollo" (Peace, Joy and Development), thus, the predominant colors of Blue and Silver in the Christmas decorations... reminiscent of "Frozen"!
"The City Government through the Creative Team of the General
Services Office chose a fun theme for 2015—Candy Land Christmas—setting
the scene in City Hall, Plaza Pershing, Paseo del Mar and other landmarks with
sweet decorations featuring chocolate bars and cotton candy twirls, lollipops,
cookies, cupcakes and many more - that will mean a lot of fun especially for the
children during the yuletide season."
There is a BELEN (Nativity scene) in the center of Candy Land!
Plaza Rizal Scenes
Cotton Candy Twirls!
Plaza Pershing Scenes
Giant lollipops!
Giant lollipops!
80-foot Christmas Tree at Paseo Del Mar for 2015
2016.
Similar to 2015, this 2016 is still a Christmas for children! As explained by Mayor Beng Climaco of Zamboanga City, this
year’s theme of the Christmas celebration stemmed from the simple request of a
little girl for a Small World Christmas. "In bringing to the City replicas of the famous
landmarks from different countries and continents, the theme is a
representation of the local government’s desire to promote peace, unity, and
friendship amongst all people in Zamboanga City." Day shot of the Zamboanga City Hall for Christmas 2016
Day shot of It's A Small World Christmas at the Paseo Del Mar.
“The
theme is our version of Un Mundo de Paz para todo los vivientes. El diferente
continente y landmarks from different parts of the world showcase the message
of paz, unidad, y amistad,” as quoted from our City Mayor. From the TV news, I also heard from the City's Chief Executive, that since we have a century-old City Hall, it is safer to have this Board type of decoration as a way to prevent fires... I still have to take night shots of the Zamboanga City Hall and the Paseo Del Mar. In the meantime, I would like to borrow two photos from Mayor Beng's Facebook...
I hope you enjoyed going over the Zamboanga City Hall Christmas throughout the years through this post! We have to thank all those who were instrumental for these grand designs that transform our Zamboanga City Hall from a historical landmark to the icon of Christmas joy! SO, don't forget to visit the Zamboanga City Hall and Paseo Del Mar LIVE, and you will definitely feel CHRISTMAS IS NOW IN ZAMBOANGA CITY!!!
