CMZ BELEN MAKING CONTEST 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!
Amidst the commercialization of Christmas, let us look back into one of the most meaningful symbols of Christmas... the CHRISTMAS CRIB... or the Nativity Scene or the Filipinos' BELEN... as this symbolizes Jesus' birth!

In today's gospel, the BELEN is the symbol of CONVERGENCE... of the rich and poor... of the powerful and powerless... the old and the young... the ancient and the modern... and CONVERGENCE OF THE FAMILY!

I look back to 2013 on my story about the different BELENS created by the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga workforce as the symbol of this CONVERGENCE!

Ciudad Medical Zamboanga celebrated Christmas with a Belen Making Contest 2013!

I just want to share the different expressions of the Belen as created by the CMZ staff using the Dayami as well as native and recycled materials.

Aren't their creations amazing?

We are so happy that this contest instills friendly competition, unity and most of all their artistic talent and innovation!

THE HONORABLE BOARD OF JUDGES WERE:

**RAMEER TAWASIL, the renowned International artist from Zamboanga

**DANTE CORTEZA, media (Daily Zamboanga Times) and consultancy

**MILA ARRIETA, media (Zamboanga Today)

Here are the WINNERS who were awarded during the CMZ Christmas party 2013 at the Astoria Regency Convention Center:

FIRST PRIZE

SECOND PRIZE

 

THIRD PRIZE

CONSOLATION PRIZES

We really praise the talents of our workforce!

We hope that these different expressions of the Christmas Crib will remind us of the real meaning of CHRISTMAS and ignite the spirit of love and unity among everyone!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY JESUS!!!

AND, We look forward for more of your Creative outputs in our future endeavors!!!

PASEO DEL MAR @ CHRISTMAS 2010 (written 2011)

It is Christmas in Zamboanga and this time, my friend, Nora came home for Christmas.

It has been sometime since Nora came home from the US, so we decided to have a reunion with her family and my staff.

We thought the Christmas-sy place for the family would definitely be PASEO DEL MAR.

Here are images of Paseo Del Mar in the Christmas of 2010... at night!

the Christmas Star atop the Giant Christmas Tree!

Pascua na Zamboanga!

we ate first at Mano-Mano for chicken barbecue...everyone's request!

then, we walked around the park...

It was a nice, breezy December night and so we strolled in the park after a yummy meal.

the original group!!!

and how we have multiplied!

We were so happy to see each other again! And... we loved the centerpiece of the Paseo, the giant Christmas tree!

the Paseo Del Mar Christmas Tree!

now, there are now lots of kids with us!!!

We bought some lighted toys for the kids...

I think all the kids request for this! 

the happy faces of the kids ... we were happy they also enjoyed the night out with us!                                                    

The kids saw the ice cream stall... and bought some popsicles!...

with our popsies... and with the Paseo light in our background!

Then, they saw the ice scramble stall... and also requested for this!

the name of the Ice Scramble store is Brain Freezers!

with Mommy Nora for the ice scramble treat... 

We sat by the seaside and just relaxed... while we ate our scrambles. The adults were also included!

The main street in the background...

The background lights are from the Zamboanga Port and from Lantaka Hotel

my original staff as we sat in one of the comfortable steel benches...

at the entrance/exit is the BELEN

The night was almost done and on our way out, we had our photos at the entrance/exit where we saw "Belen", the nativity scene, the center of Filipino Christmas!

ALL OF US... with the Belen, the arches and the colored lamps at the Paseo Del Mar, Christmas 2010

Well, before we ended our night, we also passed by the almost century-old Zamboanga City Hall, which was very well-lighted and another Christmas attraction in Zamboanga City!

Yippeeee! We really had a happy, happy night!

These images will forever stay in our heart... and we were so happy to spend that night at the Paseo Del Mar, where there was something for everyone in the family!