How Lights Make You Thrilled in La Carlota

December 15 is the opening of the Festival of Lights in the small city of La Carlota, Negros Occidental, Philippines and will culminate on January 1, New Year's eve.

Nativity 2015

It is a tradition among the Mangkasanons, native of La Carlota to have a Festival of Lights every year to usher the coming or the birth of Jesus as religious observed by the Catholics and to welcome the New Year.

The plaza is filled with sea of people coming from nearby cities and municipalities to see the various glistening, glittering lights all over the place. You could overhear anyone's cheers, the wow, the amazement which the lights displayed.

From its starting date until New Year's Day, there would be a nightly Christmas presentation of songs, dances and tableau to entertain the visiting tourists, visitors and even the La Carloteños themselves. Schools, religious sectors and other people's organizations are to share their respective best entertainment.

The Theme: NEODELIC

Last year theme was "White Christmas".

This year's theme as mentioned is "neodelic" which is a combination of "neon" and "psychedelic". It could be interpreted as I see it as lights playing thrill in ourselves as we are overjoyed by the spirit of Christmas which our Father in Heaven's love through his Son.

Neodelic could make everyone in the public plaza of the small city of La Carlota mesmerize by the time all the lights on the trees, 2 main edifices are on after a short program.

The theme was conceptualized by the Tourism Department of the City with the collaboration of various artists.

The Lights

Now the plaza in this year's Festival of Lights:

The plaza in last year's Festival of Lights:

See you there.

Many Faces of Inday Carissa

Ma. Carissa Trenuela-Camporazo, we fondly call her Inday Carissa is celebrating her 22nd birthday today, December 6. She is the wife of our youngest son, Gilbor Camporazo, Jr.

Inday Carissa lives in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, Philippines. She is the 3rd of the 4 daughters of Ronie Trenuel and the late Melanie Trenuela. There are 4 of them all in the family. She is the youngest daughter.

She has the ambition to be a successful accountant someday.

The different moods and many faces of Inday Carissa with our granddaughter:

With her hubby:

Balabag Elementary School Facelifted

 Balabag Elementary School, a humble public elementary school in the Division of La Carlota, which is located at the Barangay Balabag, 7.5 kilometers from the city proper of La Carlota has improved her physical facilities in preparation for the evaluation for Seal of Excellence of the Division.

Faculty President Raffy P. Medes initiated the cleaning of the surroundings with the cooperation of the parents of the pupils. Other teachers of the school followed suit. They also maintained the cleanliness of their assigned ground and garden.

Faculty Vice President Jose Erwin Navio provided the plain sheets for the notice of nature advocacy, polite greetings, among others.

 School Guidance Coordinator Mailyn M. Miguel updated the recording data of the school from her comparative enrollment of three years, pupils academic performance, and extra-curricular activities.

Mr. Mike Pabalate and her wife, Roselyn together with Mrs. Angelica Tuala, Ms. Sarah Adenix updated the documents intended for the curriculum, minutes and resolutions adopted by pupils' organization and school governing council.

School science coordinator Ma. Juvy Tadlan took care of her medical garden with the help of her advisory pupils. Grade one teachers Ms. Mahal Demabildo and Ms. Gerose Bedlan also updated their SBM documents. Kinder teacher Mrs. Rima Jane Cadena printed out the composition of school disaster risk reduction management in blow up tarpaper.

Grade two teacher Ms. Jocelyn D. Tolosa and Grade six substitute teacher Ms. Ana Rey Abad weeded out and cleaned their ground assignment, replanted new ornamental plants and repainted the plant boxes.


Punong Barangay Joel Rumbines provided the bushcutting of tall grasses on the school ground. As overall physical improvement of the school, gratefulness is due to the PTA officers led by Mrs. Mary Jane Ramo and to the Supreme Pupils Government (SPG) led by Rainier Medes.

The school has created her image, conducive to learning, safe to the learners, and clean to the eyes of the community residents and school stakeholders.

Word of Thanks

To the pupils, parents, PTA officers, teachers and the Barangay officials, as a school principal, your services and cooperation are beyond compare. What you have shown as the physical improvement of the school is concered. I repeat this is your work, our work and everybody's work that we have made our school, a real one.