"Pasko sa V. Rama" launched

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama launched the “Pasko sa V. Rama 2010” competition yesterday, branding it as “the mother of all Christmas celebrations.”

The contest is divided into four categories for the decoration group namely: Entry Decoration, Cluster Decoration, Best House Decoration, and Establishment Decoration Contest.

Prizes vary for each category.

The first three winners in the entry decoration contest shall receive P25, 000, P20, 000, and P15, 000.

In the cluster decoration, winners will receive P20, 000 for the 1st prize, P15, 000 for the 2nd prize, P10, 000 for the 3rd prize.

Prizes for the Best House Decoration will be P7, 000, P5, 000, and P3, 000 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placers respectively.

Consolation prizes of P2, 500 will be given to 28 clusters and 17 houses.

Winners for the Establishment Decoration Contest shall receive plaques.

Jescilla Palacios and Kenneth Tan, chairmen of the event, said the total budget for the contest this year is the same as last year’s, which is P800, 000.

According to Palacios, each cluster got P5,000 as seed money to support their expenses.

“You know the government. If you need the money, sometimes ma-delay,” she said.

Initial judging for all entries is scheduled on the first day of December and on December 18 for the final judging.

Tan also named the new judges for the contests who are from the design and law professions.

They are Gina Sumbre, Rowell Juban, Dodong Bandibas, Mark Masa, and Sheila Solon.

“We made sure the judges don’t reside in V. Rama,” Tan said.

Awarding will be held on the first week of January at Teatro Casino, Waterfront hotel in barangay Lahug.

Mayor Rama said the elements of community involvement and volunteerism spirit are observed in this event.

“The spirit is the one being highlighted. It is more than money,” Rama said.

He said the event preserves culture and tradition.

Tan also supports the mayor’s idea and said people who walk along the avenue enjoy the view.

“What happens if we stop Pasko sa V. Rama? How can you explain to a child why we’re not decorating V. Rama anymore? This has become a tradition,” he said.

This year, 100 lanterns are expected to be seen along V. Rama in which half of the number would come from the Cebu City Jail.

“Pasko sa V. Rama” celebrates its fifteen years of beautifying the avenue with creative decors during the yuletide season.

The avenue was named after Vicente Rama, the father of the Cebu City Chapter.

He was also the first mayor of Cebu City and the grandfather of the incumbent city mayor. (FREEMAN)