Revelers at the Christmas lighting ceremony at Carmona City Park on Nov. 24 (Photo from the City Government of Carmona/MANILA BULLETIN)
CAVITE – The city government of Carmona officially welcomed the holiday season with a Christmas lighting ceremony and the launch of the Sorteo Festival 2025 at Carmona City Park on Sunday, Nov. 24.
The event was led by Cavite 5th District Rep. Roy M. Loyola, Mayor Dahlia A. Loyola, and other local officials.
During her speech streamed live on Facebook, Mayor Loyola announced that the city government is set to receive its eighth Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in December.
She emphasized that this achievement, along with other local, national, and international awards, was made possible through the collective efforts and contributions of every resident.
“Panatilihin natin ang pagmamahal hindi lang sa loob ng pamilya, kundi sa komunidad na ating ginagalawan (Let us uphold love not only within our families but also in the community where we belong),” the local chief executive said.
Attendees enjoyed performances from local artists, including the Carmona Symphonic Band and the Carmona Performing Arts Group.
The Carmona Performing Arts Group presents at the Christmas lighting ceremony at Carmona City Park on Nov. 24 (Photo from the City Government of Carmona/MANILA BULLETIN)
Local music artist Dindo T. Diago performs at the Christmas lighting ceremony at Carmona City Park on Nov. 24 (Photo from the City Government of Carmona/MANILA BULLETIN)
Modern updates on Sorteo Festival
During the event, the local government unit (LGU) announced the updated mechanics for the Sorteo Festival 2025.
A long-running triennial event, Sorteo, a Spanish word that means raffle or draw, started in 1861 during the Spanish colonization as a way to raffle off communal agricultural lands among bona fide residents.
The Carmona Performing Arts Group delivers a performance of the Sorteo Festival's official music (Photo from the City Government of Carmona/MANILA BULLETIN)
For the upcoming festival, the LGU is raffling off tax-free cash prizes, with the following rewards up for grabs:
- 450 prizes of P50,000 each
- 50 prizes of P100,000 each
- 5 prizes of P200,000 each
- 5 prizes of P300,000 each
The city government said the community tax certificate or cedula will no longer be a registration requirement, making it more convenient for participants to join.
A new Sorteo ID or QR code system will also be introduced. This system will serve as proof of registration and allow participants to easily check their raffle status.
