BALANGA CITY — The city government of Balanga officially opened the Christmas season with the Grand Switch-On of Christmas Lights at Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga in Bataan on December 2, highlighting community unity, local creativity, and support for small businesses.
Themed One Heart, One Home, One Family, this year’s celebration transformed the plaza into a vibrant holiday destination.
Families and visitors were greeted by illuminated arches, star-themed decor, a light tunnel, shooting star installations along the road, and other festive light displays.
Mayor Raquel Francis Garcia said the annual lighting ceremony reflects the collaborative spirit of Balangueños and the city’s commitment to meaningful celebrations that strengthen community ties.
She highlighted that the decorations are not simply ornamental pieces but the result of teamwork and dedication by City Hall employees who devoted time and effort to bring the festive attraction to life.
“Every year nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga City department heads sapagkat hindi na po tayo nagha-hire pa ng external partners para magawa ang mga napakagandang palamuti natin. Nagtutulong-tulong po ang lahat ng departments dito sa City Government of Balanga. Napaka-talentado po ng bawat Balangueño at naniniwala po kami na mas magiging makahulugan kapag nagsasama-sama po kami para maibigay ang best namin para sa inyo (Every year, I am grateful to the City department heads because we no longer need to hire external partners to create our beautiful decorations. All the departments here in the City Government of Balanga work together on this. Every Balangueño is very talented, and we believe that it becomes even more meaningful when we come together to give our best for you),” Mayor Garcia said.
She added that the celebration reflects the city’s shared commitment to remain united in building a caring and admirable community.
“Ang bawat Balangueño nagkakaisa sa adhikain natin na maging kahanga-hanga at mapagkalinga. Ito pong Balanga ay sarili nating tahanan at isang pamilya tayong nagsasama-sama sa hirap at ginhawa (Every Balangueño is united in our aspiration to be admirable and caring. This Balanga is our own home, and we are like a family, coming together in both hardship and comfort),” she said.
Garcia encouraged residents to use the plaza as a space for creating new memories with loved ones throughout the Christmas season.
“Hindi lang po ito panahon ng pagdiriwang. Ito po ay panahon upang gumawa ng panibagong mga alaala kasama ng ating mga mahal sa buhay at kaibigan. Hinihikayat ko po ang lahat na gawing isang lugar itong plaza kung saan kayo makakapasyal pagkatapos magsimba at dito gumawa ng magagandang alaala (This is not just a time for celebration. This is a time to create new memories with our loved ones and friends. I encourage everyone to make this plaza a place where you can stroll around after attending Mass and create beautiful memories here),” she said.
She added that acts of kindness this season serve as meaningful gifts to Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day.
Christmas activities in the city also include a food bazaar featuring local micro, small, and medium enterprises, giving residents and visitors a chance to enjoy a variety of foods.
This initiative aims to boost local livelihoods and provide small business owners opportunities to benefit from tourism and business activities during the holiday season.
Mayor Garcia expressed hope that the spirit of kindness and compassion will continue to guide the community throughout the season.
“Sana po ay patuloy po tayo na maging kahanga-hanga pero higit sa lahat nais ko po na sana po lahat tayo ay maging mapagkalinga. Isang maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat. (Hopefully, we will continue to be admirable, but above all, I hope that we will all be caring. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas),” she said.
The event in Balanga City demonstrates how local government initiatives can combine culture, creativity, and community spirit to foster holiday cheer while supporting local businesses, leaving residents and visitors alike with memorable experiences.
