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Frank Cimatu, PDI - North Luzon Bureau For comments, suggestions and inquiries, please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com

Before the discovery of colorful lanterns, towering Christmas trees and flashing Christmas lights, what used to epitomize Christmas was a static scene depicting the birth of Jesus as he lay in a manger, with his mother Mary and Joseph. Such scene we term today as “The Nativity of Jesus,” or, in what it is more popularly called in the Philippines, the “Belen”.

Both gospels of Matthew and Luke describe Jesus was born in Bethlehem, with Mary and Joseph, while angels proclaimed him Saviour of humankind and shepherds come to adore him. Wise men followed a star in the sky to reach Bethlehem, bringing gifts for the newborn, said to be the World's Redeemer.

While it is true that representation of Christmas has evolved over the centuries, – with lanterns, lights, decorated trees and other embellishments adoring homes and streets – nothing would come close to the grandeur, symbolism and spirit that “belen” brings during Christmas season, maybe because the scene depicts the first Christmas ever.

Good thing that “belen”, though seemingly diminishing its manifestation in Christmas adornments, is still far from dying out. A lot of people still use it as Christmas ornamentation that somehow restores the religious and social significance of the “belen” as a symbol of Christmas.

In the province of Tarlac, for example, belen was given a renewed spirit as mounting one becomes a by-product of “bayanihan”. Townspeople gather their efforts altogether to mount a “belen” that is unique and creative and have it vie for an award at the annual Belenismo sa Tarlac – a belen-making competition among all towns/cities, churches, schools and establishments in the province geared to gain an annual tourist attraction for Tarlac, a project that seeks to transform the province into the “Belen Capital of the Philippines.”

Belens competing for the Belenismo are usually made up of indigenous materials and are proudly displayed long during the holidays in streets, buildings, municipal grounds, gardens and even houses. They come to life during the night when they are litted and the Nativity scene is flashed by the spotlight. And they are inspired by the community's way of life.

The Belenismo sa Tarlac, first staged in year 2007, has already gone quite a long successful journey and hopefully it will come a long, long way even more in its advocacy as it gradually becomes a tradition in the province and a source of pride for the whole country as it showcases how creative Filipinos are.

As it is, belen serves as an emblem of love and hope; that no matter how hard situations may become, seeing the scene of a worthy family in a manger shall make us realize that life is good after all.

William L. Beltran, PIA-3

The Scene That Really Depicts Christmas

"Tugtugan at Talakayan" Radio Program with Philippine Coast Guard-Northern Luzon as guest Spirit FM 106.7 Newsroom, Agoo, La Union

"Tugtugan at Talakayan" Radio Program with Philippine Coast Guard-Northern Luzon as guest Spirit FM 106.7 Newsroom, Agoo, La Union

Tipon-Tipan sa PIA with Department of Trade Industry atthe PIA Conference Room

Tipon-Tipan sa PIA with Department of Trade Industry atthe PIA Conference Room

Senior Citizen Summit - Seminar on the health problems of ageing and theimpact of an ageing population headed by the UNILAB foundation and

Angeles City Government. Angeles City, Pampanga

Senior Citizen Summit - Seminar on the health problems of ageing and theimpact of an ageing population headed by the UNILAB foundation and

Angeles City Government. Angeles City, Pampanga

Japan's Nagoya Honmaru Lions Club and Baguio Pines City Lions Clubturns over the Lions Club International Foundation school building

to the Bonifacio Elementary School

Japan's Nagoya Honmaru Lions Club and Baguio Pines City Lions Clubturns over the Lions Club International Foundation school building

to the Bonifacio Elementary School

,PDI

Statisticsby: BAS/DA

National Statistical Coordination Board

Ilocos Norte Crime Statistics

November 28

November 28-29

November 29

November 29

November 29 EMB- establishment of Regional Ecology Center meeting, EMB Regional

Office 2, Tuguegarao City

November 27-30 Cagayan GSP- RD Licas travel to Macau-Hongkong

December 1 LGU Lal-lo lighting of Funtastic ChristMasterpieces and inauguration and

grand opening of a "A Christmas Story", Lallo, Cagayan

December 1 Regional Consultation for the Philippines' Preparation and Participation to the

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20 - RD Licas

to give Synthesis, Crown Pavillion

December 1-2 1st National Occupational Safety and Health Networks (OSHNet)

Conference, Ickhinawa Hall, OSCHC Cmpg, QC

December 2 POPCOM Regional Executive Board (RPEB) - Regional Inter-Collegiate

Population Debate

RDC2-Committee on Development and Administration

3rd quarter meeting, NEDA-R2, Tug. City

DOST orientaion seminar on Intelectual property,

CSU Carig, Tug. City

DOST orientation on automatic rain gauge, DOST-R2, Tug. City

Joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Cagayan Valley- Regional

Peace and Order Council (CV-RPOC) meeting, Crown Pavillion

Nov. 28/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Nov. 28/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16

Nov. 28/ 9:00 am Laoag City Staff Meeting Nov. 28/ 2:00 pm Vigan City Council Session Nov. 28 Sangguniang Panlungsod (Pangasinan) Regular Session Nov. 28 La Union Infocen’s PIA News Desk Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Development

Plan Nov. 29/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Nov. 29/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Nov. 29 Pangasinan Infocen’s “Pantongtongan Tayo” Radio Program over DZMQ Nov. 29 Pangasinan Infocen’s Basketball Goodwill Games and Entertainment Nov. 29/ 2:00 pm Sangguniang Panlungsod (Vigan City) Regular Session

Nov. 29/ 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB Nov. 29 La Union Infocen’s Population and Development Week

Nov.29 La Union Infocen’s PIA News Desk Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Development Plan

Nov. 30/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Nov. 30/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Nov. 30/ 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB Nov. 30 Pangasinan Infocen’s Monitoring of Celebration of Bonifacio Day

Nov. 30 La Union Infocen’s PIA News Desk Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Development Plan

Dec. 1/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Dec. 1/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Dec. 1/ 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 1/ 4:00 pm La Union’s Infocen’s “Ammuentayo” Radio Program over DZNL Dec. 1 Pangasinan Infocen’s KBP Forum Dec. 1 Pangasinan Infocen’s Journalism Seminar for DepED

Dec. 2/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Dec. 2/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Dec. 2 Pangasinan Infocen’s Media in Action Forum

Every Thursday

PIA Hour, DZWT, Bonifacio St. Baguio City

3Dec 5 10:00AM-12:00NN

Dec 6 9:30AM

Dec 6 3:00-6:00PM

December 6-11 440th Aldo ning Kapampangan (Pampanga Day), Province of Pampanga

Dec7 9:00AM DTI Kapihan

Focus Group Discussion on the Study of the Knowledge and Utilization

of Iodized Salt in Region 3, Hotel Gracelane, San Agustin,

City of San Fernando

Used Paper Project Year-End Regular Project Coordinators Meeting,

DepEd-R3, Diosdado Macapagal Government Center, Maimpis

City of San Fernando

Business Conference for the micro, Small and Medium Enterpris

(MSMEs) of Pampanga, Benigno Aquino Hall, Capitol Compound,

City of San Fernando

Dec 6-8 First Luzon Council of Human Resource Management Practitioners (CHRMP)

Convention, Fontana Leisure Park, Clarkfield, Pampanga

Dec 7 6:00AM Press Briefing on RP Energy's Coal-Fired Power PlantMeat Plus Café, Subic Bay

Freeport Zone Bldg. 65 Sampson Road, Olongapo, Zambales

Dec7 8:00AM 4th Quarterly Meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental

Health (RIACEH), Pampanga Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando

Dec 1 Lighting of Christmas Tree, Session Road, Baguio City

Dec 6 Balili River System Revitalization Coalition meeting

Benguet Sate University

Dec 7 RDC Executive Commitee Meeting with CAR Congressmen and Governors

Sulo Hotel, Quezon City

Dec 12 Enhancing Social Contract Thru Transparency & Accountability Forum with

Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales Baguio Country Club

Dec 16 111th Itogon Foundation Anniversary

Dec 16 CARE-CESG General Assembly and Year-end Assessment

NEAP Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio Cit

Dec 15 4th Quarter Meeting RLECC & Christmas Party, Log Cabin, PRO-COR, Camp Dangwa

Dec 7-8 Pre-Retirement Counseling Seminar, DTI-R3, Angeles City CSC-R3 Training Room,

Diosdado Macapagal Gov't Center, Maimpis, City of San Fdo

Dec 11 5:00PM Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards 2011, Bren Z. Guaio Convention Center,

City of San Fernando, Pampanga