Christmas at the plaza

Today is the first morning of the traditional nine-day Misa de Gallo, which millions of Filipinos are anticipate and observe during Christmas. The Bacolod public plaza, with its beautiful fountains, is beginning to shine, with every post having a bell lantern and four quadrants. The first quadrant represents the Filipino community, the second - a huge box of Christmas gifts, the third represents Nativity or the Birth of Child Jesus, and the last, representing the reindeers. The theme of the celebration this year is "Ang Pang Pamilya nga Paskua sa Plaza."

Be sure to watch the nightly cultural programs there.

The exterior and interiors of the Bacolod Cathedral are twinkling with different colors and shapes.

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The Bacolod Dance Academy presented a dance drama, "Rose and Beatriz" at the Agape Theater, Mt. Carmel, in Mandalagan recently. It was the second staging of the BDA.

Marichit Arrieta Hofileña, the founder and directress, gave the opening remarks and Alex Dabao gave the invocation.

The presentation had two parts: The first consisted of all the basics, performed by the Pre-Primary up to Grade V levels. The second part was the dance drama "Rose and Beatriz."

Set in the European Renaissance period, "Rose and Beatriz" is a fairy tale about a widow and her two little girls, who, one day asked their mothers for a walk in the forest, and they got lost. Along the way, they met various characters, some friendly, and some villainous, noted a fairy helped them out of the woods. A celebration followed. Watching them dance, one can't help but admire the children, aged 3 years only but disciplined in posture and movement.

Congratulations to Chito Crispino, the choreographer, to John John Ditching, the costume designer, and Marichit Arrieta Hofileña for producing the dance drama.*

Remember: "When you walk down the street, life will seem twice as sweet, if you smile at the people you happen to meet!"