LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—”Seeing the eyes through the eyes of a child is the purest joy anyone can experience.” This is what the theme for this year’s Pangasinan Capitol Christmas celebration, “Paskong Ang Galing, Bida mgaTsikiting,” denotes.
A call for Pangasinenses to enliven the spirit of pure intentions and grateful appreciation of all the countless bounties received, the theme is likewise a homage to the province’s youths.
In the Christmas Lighting Ceremony Program on November 29, Governor Ramon V. Guico III enumerated in his speech the gains that the province achieved in the past two years of his tenure that uplifted the lives of more than three million Pangasinenses.
Giving priority to the healthcare program, Gov. Guico stated his desire to register all Pangasinenses, young and old alike, in the provincial government’s Guiconsulta program and eventually transform Pangasinan into the healthiest province in the country.
Gov. Guico values the future of the younger generation and has directed his administration to provide free education for deserving youth beneficiaries.
Designed to provide opportunity for Pangasinense families to have at least one professional in their homes, the establishment of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC) is a dream come true for the governor.
With children as the centerpiece of this year’s Capitol Christmas celebration, the governor expressed his full concern for them.
“It’s always special that we highlighted yungmga kabataan at mga chikiting natin. It’s an inspiration that several of all the things that we are doing are for the children or the next generation,” Gov. Guico said.
Working hand-in-hand with the provincial government are the members of the First Spouses League of Pangasinan spearheaded by the governor’s wife, Mrs. Maan Tuazon-Guico.
“Our theme today is more festive ang dating so that it would be more attractive to the young generations, especially our kids,” the Pangasinan first lady stated as she added that the beneficiaries for this year’s lighting ceremony are the Indigenous People (IP).
It can be recalled that since December 2022, the FSL launched several community projects to provide social services to fire victims, centenarians, or senior citizens and for the IPs in Pangasinan. Outreach projects include the provision of potable water and solar lights to the remotest areas; the conduct of medical missions; and feeding activities to different far-flung areas hardly reached by social assistance.
This year’s beneficiaries, Mrs. Guico disclosed, are the IPs in need.
“’Yung IPs na talagang nangangailangan which are in the GIDA areas or those places na you will have to travel one and a half to five hours just to get there with no transportation going there. Yun ang gusto naming isuyod kasabay ng ibibigay ng First Spouses League through the pledges,” she cited.
Aside from the lighting of the spectacular 50-feet. Christmas tree and the Nativity scene (Belen) in front of the Capitol building. One of the program highlights was the awarding of winners for the LGU MTV-making contest, wherein the local government unit of Rosales emerged as the 1st placer.
Other highlights include the fireworks display and the lighting of some of the structures that transformed the Capitol Complex into a kidskingdom.
Joining the first family in the Christmas lighting ceremony were Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino and his wife, Atty. Melanie Lambino; some members of the provincial board; various local government unit heads and representatives; heads or representatives of different line agencies; provincial government department heads led by Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II; chiefs of hospitals; provincial government employees; and other guests. (Ruby F. Rayat, Joey Olimpo, JP De Vera/PIMRO)
