Exactly nineteen (19) days before Christmas, Panabo City officially lit its Giant Tree of Hope and the city’s newest and most awaited Christmas attraction, the “Tunnel of Lights” during the opening program of Paskohan sa Panabo.
 
According to City Tourism Officer Cher Bastida, over 4,000 people flocked to the City Hall Grounds on Thursday night, December 7 to witness the lighting ceremony.
 
The Giant Tree of Hope stands at 55ft. tall, while the Tunnel of Lights has a circumference of 161 meters. Aside from the two eye-catchers, the City boasts of its LED roses, which sits at the center of the Christmas village.
During the LIVE broadcast of Paskohan, Department of Tourism XI Regional Director Robert Alabado invited everyone to experience Panabo if they want “instagrammable” photos this Christmas Season.
 
“If you want to get instagrammable photos for Christmas, I would like you to come over to Panabo and look at their Christmas village. Dito makikita niyo how instagrammable and picturesque the design of their Chrismtas Village is,” Alabado said.
Further, Bastida explained that it is the first time that the Christmas Village was installed in the City Hall Grounds to feature the City Hall and its new garden, and give a new environment to visitors and the Panaboans.
Meanwhile, during his Message of Hope, City Mayor Engr. James G. Gamao reminded to share love and hope not just through mere gift giving of material things, but through actions that will imprint a lasting memory in one’s heart.
 
“Love, hope, kindness, and compassion will always be appreciated when shared and makes the giver and the receiver genuinely happy,” Gamao said.
 
The Paskohan sa Panabo Christmas Village is open to the public from 6.pm. until 12:00midnight and will last until the Feast of the Three Kings on January.
 
By Vikki J. Amorio – CIO Panabo