Holiday cheer is in the air in Himamaylan City with its public plaza all lighted up a week before Christmas Day.
Thousands of Himamaylanons and visitors from nearby towns gathered at the new and improved Himamaylan City Public plaza during the grand “Paskwa sa Maylan” Christmas lights on celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 17, a press release from the city said.
“It is not only a lights on celebration filled with diverse performances, but also a soft launching of our new and improved Himamaylan City Public Plaza,” Mayor Raymund Tongson said during the event.
Tongson said flooding has been a problem in the plaza for decades and its condition had never improved but “under this city administration, it has been solved and the area has improved even more.”
The celebration featured Drag Race Philippines Season 3 winner Maxie Anderson together with the Bacolod Drag Queens.
Spectators also witnessed the performances of barangays who joined in the Christmas Carol Competition.
The celebration was capped with the ceremonial lighting of the public plaza and a fireworks display.
“Many of the performers are women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is another way to promote the rights of women, especially in condemning all forms of violence against them,” Tongson said.
This is also in support with the recently concluded nationwide 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Tongson said.
While more improvements are underway for the plaza, Tongson said the opening of the public space signifies more blessings awaiting Himamaylanons.*