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.

Why City of La Carlota Glitters Every Night?

by Gil Camporazo

It is now a tradition among the residents of La Carlota City to illuminate their plaza with Christmas lights every Yuletide seasons with a nightly Christmas presentation from different groups of the community including the religious and education institutions.

One of nightly presentations

Every growing tree inside the city plaza is decorated with firefly bulbs to light them every night.

This is a yearly activity of the city to usher the coming forth of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is usually done every 15th day of December leading to the following early morning mass officiated by the Catholic priest. This is traditionally known by Filipino as "misa de aguinaldo" or "misa de gallo".