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Zamboanga City ushers in Christmas with holiday festival

Philippines | National

Zamboanga City ushers in Christmas with holiday festival

By Liza Jocson

ZAMBOANGA CITY – This city officially ushered in the Christmas season with the launching of the Festival de Navidad holiday festival on Thursday, Dec. 1.

THE Zamboanga City Hall lights up during the ceremonial switch- on of the Christmas display on Thursday, Dec. 1. (Zamboanga City LGU photo)

Mayor John Dalipe led the annual ceremonial switch on of the Christmas display at the Zamboanga City Hall with the traditional countdown and cheers from hundreds of people in the background.

Plazas and parks surrounding the City Hall, including the popular Plaza Pershing, became alive with glittering Christmas lights and decorations.

The switch-on ceremony was preceded by a parade of city government employees wearing holiday-themed costumes and bearing Christmas props and ornaments from Paseo del Mar leading up to the City Hall hoping to win various prizes awarded by Dalipe.

Roads were temporarily closed to give way to the festival from Dec. 1 to Jan. 5 under an executive order issued by Dalipe.

This year’s Christmas festival is the first under the leadership of Dalipe.

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